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[vlogabond]

Hey,

We have left the gorgeous island of Tioman, Malaysia, and are now attempting to make our way to Myanmar. With only our lonely planet to guide us we are not exactly certain if entering by land is feasible (or more importantly worthwhile). We would fly for the right price, but would prefer the opportunity to see all that southeastern Myanmar has to offer. Has anyone survived the land trek from the southern border (or northern for that matter), and is it recommended? Any advice sent our way will be doubly rewarded with golden treasures.

Vlogabond:A Travel Videoblog

[Paul]

Hey,

We have left the gorgeous island of Tioman, Malaysia, and are now attempting to make our way to Myanmar. With only our lonely planet to guide us we are not exactly certain if entering by land is feasible (or more importantly worthwhile). We would fly for the right price, but would prefer the opportunity to see all that southeastern Myanmar has to offer. Has anyone survived the land trek from the southern border (or northern for that matter), and is it recommended? Any advice sent our way will be doubly rewarded with golden treasures.

Vlogabond:A Travel Videoblog

Hi I haven't done the trip you want to do, but as you are only armed with a LP you will need all the help you can get. 1st bit of advice, sell the LP to someone or use it to light a fire or for toilet paper or...?

Hmmm, secondly, I am not sure of this, but I think the first land crossing into Burma (Myanmar is the silly name given to the country by its idiotic dictators) is at Mae Sot, and even if you enter there I think you are not allowed to go far into the country. I am not 100% sure of the accuracy of the above, so check into it further, but I think that is the go.

But coming from Malaysia, if you go up the Western Thai coast to Ranong and look around town and the guesthouses enough, you'll find advertised trips by boat into Burma. Or go to the pier at Ranong - that'd be a sensible place to find the aforementioned boats. To go and check that out is on my very long list of things to do, but as yet I haven't done it. Sounds like it'd be a scenic area and a nice trip. Again, I am not sure how far into Burma you are allowed to go if you go this way, but it'd be worth checking into.

Otherwise it seems flying is the way to go, as you can enter Burma and explore it. Is it worth it. From friends (not personal experience) yes - very much worth it.

Last option and most fool hardy would be to head right up to the North Western Corner of Thailand, meet up with the Shan or Kayah or Karen that fight the Burmese and illegally enter Burma with them and film some of their struggle. But maybe not a good idea although definitely a good cause.

Good luck

[peacefrog]

I went last august. Entered through Mae Sai into Tachileik.
Then by land you can go to the next city, don´t remember the name. But that´s all: to go inland you need to take a plane.
Note that the bus is as expensive as the plane, and not always safe, so burmese take the plane too. The local private companies are good (not the state-owned one).
Tachileik is a border town: smuggling, prostitution, and also normal people doing what they can to earn a living. Worth a look, but mind your steps, it´s the kind of place where everyone has connections, and there are almost no travellers, so obviously everyone kows you're there.

Western border: same thing, although I have not been.

As I understand it, the situation in Burma is all about control of ruby mines, heroin and methamphetamine plants. Your life and the hassle of having your cadaver on their hands are definitely nothing compared to having unwanted footage running free. And that is especially true with the hilltribe guerillas, who are drug warlords (among other things).

As for getting in there without proper papers, I would not recommend it, as you can't expect any help from your country´s diplomacy. Moreover, once you get into the country legally, you can go to areas controlled by other armed forces. I went north, passed though a checkpoint that looked more like a border crossing, had to show papers etc...
Have photocopies of your passport + visa + any authorisation, it makes it faster to go through. Have several, cause you leave them at the checkpoints.

As for the LP: It is the most rubbish guidebook I ever used. It is just two guys travelling once in Burma, who wrote down what they did. Lots of false info, so be careful, but: You need it, cause you need MAPS, even false ones. For many cities there are no maps available, and you get ripped off cause they will always tell you you are miles from where you´re going.

There will always be someone who will spend all their time taking you around, partly because they are some of the kindest peolpe in the world, partly because they can get a little something out of it, either from you, or by getting a commision to whatever servie provider they bring you to.
In myanmar more than anywhere else, ask all the time, and crosscheck info 5 times. Half of the people will genuinely help you, but you can´t really tell them apart from the others!

Taxi drivers: I have not met a single one that was not a bastard. Just don't listen to them: ask other people, and once you know, go and take the taxi.
Tuktuk drivers are generally very good, and have loads of info. Usually they are quite humble and hardworking, and if you give them a 1usd tip for their info, it just makes their day.

[Paul]

Sounds like sound advice to me.
I reckon Mae Sai and Tachilek are not what you are after though as you are travelling North from Malaysia.

Look into the boat from Ranong if you have time as I reckon that'd be a good trip, but otherwise go the plane so you can get into Burma and start looking around. It really does sound worth it.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...10000/tpod.html
I have just been looking at the above travel pod and pics - that may help you decide if you think the plane trip is worth it.

[peacefrog]

Forgot t mention, but yuo certainly figured it out: flying from bkk with airasia is the cheapest.


Now, I honestly feel quite alarmed at filming in Burma. Please read a lot and don't start filming until you get a good feel of the place. It´s not as black and white as we see it from outside, but I can confirm a few things with facts:
- people who receive foreign guests in their house can be visited by the army, who will search the house and conduct interogatories, looking for two things: what did the foreigners bring/leave/offer, and what did the locals say.
- a truck can arrive anywhere, the cops go down, arrest someone, and go away. When that happens, you are not allowed to stay and watch, of course.
- you don't know who is a goverment agent or not. Without being paranoid, that is very important: never ever talk about one of your sources to another one.


I think that if you are seen interviewing anyone in Burma, they will get into some kind of trouble. Please do not record anything that is against the govt.
I believe that not filming a discussion but reporting it can be as good a testimony.
Things that look ok to film might not be: maybe the govt says that such a place is dangerous, and if you just film it as being totally ok, there might be a problem.
You could also film that entire village orking on the same field. Very cool? er, unless it is forced labor by the govt, which noone will say, but you might get in trouble for filming it, and your guide might get in trouble for letting you film or even taking you there, and the villagers might get in trouble for just being there, etc...


It's not that bad, basically you do what you want, but I say all that so that you will be aware of the potentially extreme consequences of your filming.
Knowing that, I had no problem. It is down to your judgment, on the spot, but be informed! I don't doubt you are, I say that generally, as we are on a forum.

[peacefrog]

Please check these two entries: burmese ways and to go or not to go

You can also look at my entries, feel free to ask any question.

The main touristic loop, that is definitely worth donig, takes about 3-4 weeks... that leaves you with little time for going off the beaten path.

I took the boat/bus up the ayerwady, to the north, and I recommend it: no other travellers, and great people. Basically anywhere off the main loop seems to be totally rewarding with encounters.

[Paul]

Please check these two entries: burmese ways and to go or not to go

You can also look at my entries, feel free to ask any question.

The main touristic loop, that is definitely worth donig, takes about 3-4 weeks... that leaves you with little time for going off the beaten path.

I took the boat/bus up the ayerwady, to the north, and I recommend it: no other travellers, and great people. Basically anywhere off the main loop seems to be totally rewarding with encounters.

Those entries are good - recommend to anyone contemplating Burma or SEAsia travel to have a look.