Not sure the name of our guesthouse, but maybe it could be nicknamed "the cell". I read Marching Powder two months previous to getting to this place, and I there were prison cells with more charm than here. We stayed in a windowless, depressing dorm cell...I mean room, with a shared bathroom. Actually, they had a bathroom just for westerners and...

After an overnight bus we arrived in Mawlamyine early in the morning. Since the boat to Hpa-An is only twice every week and today is the day it runs we only spent the morning in Mawlamyine and we later took the boat in a scenic trip to up to Hpa An.

Just when I made up my mind about going back to Yangon. Feeling I asked already more than enough time and energy of A Shin M. This man talks to us and tells us we can ride with him to Mawlamyine, a place south of Pha-An. In the area is also some great things to see. After asking him several times and telling him it is oke if he doesn't want, I c...