Trucks, bugs and trekking in Myanmar

Myanmar unfortunately keeps a tight reign on those choosing to go in and visit. There were only a very few of us travelers there and the country only allows one to come in for 14 days. The only 4 towns your allowed to go to are: Tachileik, Mong Hpa Yak, Kengtung, Mong La. Tachileik is at the border and most just cross, get their visa stamped to stay in Thailand and go right back over. We skipped Mong Hpa Yak and had a really amazing time in Keng Tung trekking, walking around the lake near the center of town and checking out near by Wats (temples) and Monestaries. Mong La is right on the border of China and you can only use yen. At the border we turned in our passports and were given a TEMPORARY passport (photo to the right) and about 4-5 full sheets of paperwork which was stamped and used at each border checkpoint (about every 30km or so)

We went to the (black) market to change our money in Keng Tung. They spell each of these towns differently on each sign we see so looking them up can be a challenge.

Trekking included waterfalls (above), amazing food, hill tribes (Akha hill tribe photo being shown to the left) and beautiful views. The tribes

make beautiful bags, bracelets, necklaces, and other attire like really intricate head gear (hats). We did partook in some souveniers to keep the

money hopefully in the villiages. The children are so beautiful and take care of each other at a very young age because the parents are working most of the day. And the children (above & to the right) were really really nice.

The water source (the photo below) is a place where they have water captured from waterfalls a ways away and they bring it through the whole village to collection basins along the way to use for drinking, washing and cooking.

The (money) here is Kyat...pronounced JET. It is about 1100 per american dollar and Yen is at about 6 per american dollar. (FOOD) One evening we ate an amazing nut salad of about 3-4 different kinds and veggies with a bit of chilli and fried rice with a side soup that seems to come with everything and tea and the total came to about 1,500 k which transilates into $1.30.... we are proud travelers. (guest houses) Accomodations are not all over the place in a couple of the cities and in Mong La the places where rather terrible looking. In Keng Tung there is only a choice of a couple and most stay at Harry's. It is a bit pricey yet breakfast is included if you call it a breakfast and one can not stay all that long anyway. The way they tie things down is unbelievable. Below is a photo of a small toyota truck like mine at home.

I guess I always thought I could put a lot on my truck.... not. If you think this is impressive, you should see the one of the bus that was covered on top and in back (reallly crazy). And last but not least there are a wonderful amount of incredible bugs in Myanmar. At the market we saw monkeys for sale (very sad to see), snakes, all types of spices, large larva of huge (2 inch long) wasps and much more. Below is a bug we had in our bathroom down the hall. It is about the size of my fist (4-5 inches) not counting the antenni.