PYIN U LWIN:
- pick-up from Mandalay Central Bus Station: 300 K (2h30)
- Hotel: Dahlia: double bargained to 4$ (reg. price 5$), ventil, bathroom, small breakfast. Very nice. Though a little far from city center, but they drop you there and pick you up on evening on simple phone call. Tiger Beer 33 Cl = 250 K.
- Restaurant : Hlaing Tea Shop: Indian very good, very friendly, lunch = 385 K (1 cheese nan + 1 garlic nan + 1 Tiger)
- Restaurant: dinner in Maymyo = 375 K NOT GOOD.
- Pickup to Anisakan waterfalls on the road to Mandaly (very nice, not to be missed): 50 K one way. In the village, turn right at the sign : "Dat Taw Gyaik Water Fall", then walk 1+ km, cross the railroad (always stay on surfaced road), walk along a temple entry (at rigth hand), path going down to the falls is 50m further on the left. Rather long descent. Possibility to take a dip, 50 K for photographs (!!). You will perhaps have the chance to be escorted by 2 nice girl-guides which will take care of you, and will make you take a shortcut for return: CAUTION: very steep! We were 2 people, we gave them 250 K each one for guiding us and for 1 cold drink.
- Train to Hsipaw : ordinary class = 2$. 1 way: lasts 6h (departure 9am)
HSIPAW:
- Hotel: Mr. Kid (aka Golden Doll) = 1200 K with bathroom and ventil. But we were told Mr. Charles is far better and more friendly.
- Restaurant: Hwai Your = fired noodles + pig + Tiger 0,5 = 370 K Very good (Law Chun, just beside, is quite good as well)
- Restaurant: Banana Pancake (burmese name: ??) = 2 roti with vegetables + 1 banana pancake + 1 soda = 150 K
- You can rent a bicycle at Mr. Charles: 40 K per hour, and take a boat to go 10 km downriver (going to Pyin U Lwin) to the other bank (landing at a village named Solan, spelling?) 100K p/p bicycle included. Cycle towards P.U.L. and after a few km you will see on the right hand side of the road, something like a mill: stop and ask for Paul. He speaks perfectly English, and will make you visit what is in fact an ice factory. Very interesting. Very interesting visit and so friendly. Go ahead: he asked us to send travellers, so...
- Visit of Shan Palace: if you go in Hsipaw, you should go there, no for the palace itself, but to discuss 4h with the nephew of the last prince. Very interesting: he remind you the basic facts of Burmese people life, and will force you to ask you some questions you could have forgotten while travelling...Donation awaited for the palace maintenance and... of the tractor.
- Bus to Mandalay: 700 K (departure at 6am, lasts 7h30). Dokhtaway Express company. Very uncomfortable and very tight.
UPDATE 2001
Transportation
· Bus from Mandalay (6u-15u), 1.250 kt/pp. Good road.
· Return in 1 day to Mandalay : With train fromhsipaw to Pyin U Lwin, 4 $/pp first class. You will pass the spectacular Gokteik viaduct & bridge (****). From Pyin U Lwin with shared taxi to (3.000 Kt/taxi) Mandalay.
Sleeping
· Nam Khae Mao Guesthouse, next to Clocktower (10 minutes walking from busstand), 4 $ (incl. breakfast) for a double if you ask it friendly and show them our foto... "Mister Manager", a boy who lost his legg due to a landmine, is the most reliable, friendly & honest man you can find in Birma. He can help you with everything. And give him all our greetings !
Food
· Mr Food restaurant (to watch the cook), or Miss Rice...
· In same street, you also find a liquer-store (open untill ± 23 h in the evening). Friendly people. Te wife is from the village of Namsang, ask to see her tr
aditional Palaung -clothes ! …and tell her that we'll send her foto's in august !
To see · Info & maps : Mr Book. Easy walk(s) to waterfall and hotsprings.
· Easy walk of max. 5 hours (***, maybe ****) : Local boat from jetty next to the market (dep. at 11h), 40 minutes upriver, to the little village of Son Lon. Then walk for 1 hour, back, just follow the railway-track. After the 3th bridge, turn to the left (little path to San Khaung village), then to Chaung Pein Village, then the road in the direction of the communicationtower (near the Shanpalace) of Hsipaw.
· We didn't have time to go to Namsang, a village one day further than hsipaw. Should also be worth **** of ***** (If the government allows you to go there !) : A lot of traditional Palaungwomen, in the middle of tea- (and opium- ?) mountains !
KALAW: - Hotel: Golden Kalaw Inn: 3$, bathroom, balcony, small breakfast. Very friendly, organizes treks (like almost everybody in Kalaw!)
- Restaurant: Everest (Nepali): 1 sheep curry + 1 beer = 625 K Very good.
- Restuarant: Thiri Gayhar (" 7 Sisters "): good but smarter, therefore more expensive. Expect at least 700 K the dish.
- to go to Pindaya by public transport: 50 K p/p to Aungban, then 200 K p/p to Pindaya (market days, other days expect 300 or 350 K), " horsecart " to go to the caves: 400 K both ways (we were 4 people). Thus expect 600 K p/p on market days (more interesting) for the whole trip. According to the Kalaw Golden Inn, a taxi must be 3500/4000 K both ways including a stop to the caves.
- Pindaya Cave entry : 3$ + 35 K for photographs. Impressive.
- Although LP speaks about a possibility of a trek to see a working elephants camp, it is not possible in May, only in dry season (in this case see with " Mr. Tiger " in the main street)
- SAM trekking: 8$ / day if you are alone.
- 2 day Trek with Eddie from the Golden Kalaw Inn (owner's son): 5$ per day (including food and accomodation). STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: very easy trip and Eddie is very interesting: it speaks continuously about a heap of things, and know very well the hill tribes (it also helps them: teach basic stuffs, installation of water taps in the village, give medical care (first aid) to the children.). Really a good guy. Very nice Trek (although the rain! unlucky): contact with the tribes very interesting, landscape (probably) superb... on sunny days. The night is spent in a refuge held by Nepalai people (in " View Point "). I brought inflatable balloons for children (of the refuge and the villages), which had much success, and also pens and exercise-books (but always ask Eddie before giving anything, it knows when and give these things, and choose the persons in order to be fair, and not create any problem). Great memories: DO IT!!!
- minibus to Nyaung Shwe (lake Inle): 300 K, 2h 30 to Shwe Nyaung (not this is not a mistake: it is the reverse of the city on the lake's shores). At the junction you will encounter hotels touts, with free transport to their place.
UPDATE 2001: Transportation · Take a shared taxi (1,5 h., 1.500 Kt. p.p.) !
Sleep · Golden Lily Inn (3$ pp), friendly Indian lady
- you don't find such a nice lady in India, (Hans)
- and rooms are like a "chalet" in Switserland, good value ! Walking-distance from busstand.
To see · Trekkings (1/2/3 days, soft/medium/hard, with Mister Robin, brother of Lily)
If you have further questions on Myanmar, please e-mail
Geert Van Vaeck
