Burma | i dont see the monkey

2: Burmese tea house: Myawaddy

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Patrick Malcolm

Today border crossing Mae Sot (Thailand) to Myawaddy (Burma).

The border crossing was almost completely empty and unstressed. Very different to the Mae Sai crossing in the far north of Thailand.

Not many people cross here, as few make it to this town. Border guards were friendly and helpful on both sides.

I have read bad reviews of the Mae Sot crossing. Do not believe them.

No stress on the Burmese side, except the ‘India like’ traffic (more erratic than Thailand, lots of horn honking) and many stray dogs. It is much easier than Mae Sai and far less hassle.

I sat with the guys in a tea house and they were so polite and friendly.

The Burmese know how to make tea. Better than the English, better than the Thais. This is delicious.

And the ladies smile at you in the street. It makes me want to go back to Burma soon and get to know it more. Granted it is less developed than Thailand and certainly rougher around the edges. But each to their own. From what little I’ve seen, I like this land, and it’s people.

I’m coming back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myawaddy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Sot

1: On the road like Kerouak: didn’t shave, didn’t comb, don’t care

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Patrick Malcolm

Last visa run. Every two months falangs (non Thais) have to travel to another country to redeem their tourist visa. Some do not like this and see it as an unwelcome inconvenience. I take it as an invitation to have an adventure.

This time I am going south west from Chiang Mai to a little known border crossing called Mae Sot. It takes 8 hours by motorcycle. The first stop is Mae Sariang, 3 hours from Chiang Mai.

Once past Mae Sariang on the far west of Thailand, the road south narrows to an almost pathway through an hour of tiny winding roads and dells with tight bends, then up into the high mountains where you are with and above the clouds.

These trails look down across stunning vistas and over blue mountain ranges. Among the peaks are golden temples built on pinnacles. I have no clue how to reach them, only the villagers know. For about 1 hour the road is undeveloped, potholes, huge cracks that will take you off your bike, and sheer ravines. I had large snakes slither across my path, landslides coming out into the roadway (heavy rain today), and discovered a refugee town (Karen Burmese).

Theravadin Buddhist monks walking the jungle in their orange robes and armed checkpoints are the other things you will likely meet along this little traveled way. For hours there was nothing on the road behind me, I was by myself.

Make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle because there are absolutely no facilities for hours at a stretch. I took a few pictures here along the route, but it is hard to capture the experience with a camera unless skilled.