The Golden Triangle Rider

Captain_Slash · Posted: 09.01.2008, 20:14 Post subject: Burma-Myawaddy Visa Trip

I did my visa run today at Mae Sot and crossed over the friendship bridge to Myawaddy, its a piece of piss doing the run here, I only saw two other people doing the same visa trip compared to the hordes at Mae Sai

One of the first things I did was eat, heres the cute Burmese girl who served my breakfast

Lots of different pots to choose from

Here comes mine now, I have always liked moo hungly or Burmese pork curry as it gets called and I thought it should be good here, I was wrong, instead of the ginger and garlic that I am used to it was just pork which although it tasted okay it also tasted like there was a couple of ounces of salt in it. I ate it and as it was only 20 Baht it was also cheap

I got off the main road and walked in amongst the locals quite often, they were ever so friendly

I was a bit worried that this wonky old bridge wouldnt support a fat bastard like me, but luckily it did as I didnt fancy falling into that foul smelling swamp

One of the first things I found out about the Burmese was their love of being photographed, as soon as they saw the camera they all wanted to be photographed

The vast majority of vehicles here are all motorbikes

I walked for over a km west of the bridge then I saw a sort of compound as it had barbed wire in places and gates with spikes to stop people climbing over. I walked in and the places seemed better then some of the shacks in town, I had a good walk around then heard a voice shout hey you, I looked around and a man in uniform was signalling for me to stop. I carried on and turned behind a house but then another man in uniform came the other way and stopped me. The first one arrived then and I was escorted out of the compound, later on in the day I was passing one of the entrances to the compound and there were well dressed people there, I asked them what it was and apparently its Police and their families who live here and they obviously didnt want riff raff like me in there

Rather him than me in that stinky water

These people motioned for me to take their picture

These saw me take the other one and wanted theirs taken

As did these

An elderly lady was lifting water out of this well, I couldnt believe how deep it was, it had to be at least 25 metres to the water, sod falling down there

No trip report of mine would be complete without a snake picture, the people at the house just brought it out to show me, I think they were hoping I wanted to buy it as they kept pointing to my rucksack and then to Thailand

Rather you than me mate, it might not be venomous but it can still bite.

I carried on walking around and was motioned to sit down and given some orange fanta at another house by some kind Burmese people, I was amazed at the general welcome I received here, apart from a couple of people who wanted to be my guide outside immigration I was completely unhassled all day. Compare that to Mae Sai, I stopped and got a haircut along the way back, I was pleased to see Singha drinking water on sale at one mini market, but alas not in the fridge, sadly no 7-11, well not yet anyway. I think this will be my place to do visa runs in the future as it was a very nice day made good by very sweet people
_________________
If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

Davidfl · Posted: 09.01.2008, 22:51 Post subject:

Captn Slash, you got me again. Liked your pix in Myawaddy. Looks like I'll have to catch up to you with that one too.
But you didn't do the Mae Lamaeng road, R1267 on the way down from Mae Sarieng - how come you missed one?

I also never knew you were fascinated by snakes.

Hope you do the Mae Ramat - Tak loop out of Mae Sot too, as that is an awesome ride.
_________________
Davidfl
Keep The Power On

SilverhawkUSA · Posted: 10.01.2008, 12:32 Post subject:

Captain, Captain........... I thought you only took photos of tarmac and roads!

And some very nice photos they are...........Good Job! Laughing

_________________
Dave Early

Ever notice that "What the Heck!" is usually the right answer?

Ian Bungy · Posted: 10.01.2008, 13:52 Post subject:

According to the "Snakes and other Reptiles" Guide Book the Snake you Photographed Captain Slash is a "Short, or Blood Python" which is the Smallest and Least Common Python in our Area. Shame it probably ended up Dinner for the Villager's who have No Conception of Conservation and couldn't care less!!! Great Photo's though, Real Shanty Town area reminded me of Indonesia and South Africa.
_________________
Cheers Ian

Captain_Slash · Posted: 10.01.2008, 21:17 Post subject:

I forgot to mention that I took all my bike documents with me on the off chance that I would be allowed to cross but the Thai authorities said that the Burmese wouldnt allow it

David
I rode the 1267 last year, I will probably put it on the schedule on the return from Mae Sot to Mae Sarieng, there are another couple of side roads along there too that I tried last year, but no camera then

Ian
yes I expect the python will get eaten, it would have been nice to have bought it and released it in the river if only to have seen the look of disbelief on their faces
_________________
If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe