Blogs from Kalaw, Mandalay Region, Burma, Asia

Trekking am Inle-Lake ...mit Victorine, Jessica, Denny, Veronika und unserem unschlagbaren Guide Ye Lay. während 3 Tagen wanderten wir von Kalaw an den Inle-Lake. in der ersten Nacht übernachteten wir in einer lokalen Village. die zweite Nacht verbrachten wir in einem Kloster. und am dritten Tag erreichten wir den Inle-Lake. ... read more

Today we began a 4-day 3-night trek from Kalaw to Lake Inle, staying with hill tribes overnight. There are not many fellow trekkers at this time of year, the tail-end of the rainy season, as the terrain is not ideal, ranging from slippery rocky paths to soggy tracks where our feet got stuck in thick, sticky mud (reminded me of music festivals) to outright swamps. We were instructed before we set off to buy the comfy Burmese Army shoes, with tyre-tread soles and green canvas uppers, which grip on the rocks and don't disintegrate or weigh heavily when (inevitably) wet through. We also had to buy the tent-like waterproof coats that go over everything, including the rucksack (our large rucksacks were transported directly to Inle Lake; we just carried essentials), and were given bamboo poles, partly ... read more

We were surprised to find ourselves walking in bright sunshine this morning, through very different scenery from yesterday. The day started with an hour or so's walk along the train tracks. There is only one train a day, so there is no danger, but the deep puddles of water between the sleepers and the marsh either side meant we had to walk from sleeper to sleeper or try to balance along the rail, so it was difficult to find a walking rhythm. We stopped at the tiny station to watch the train passing through (it arrived about an hour late so I had time to have a Myanmar tea - a cup of tea made with thick, sweet condensed milk). Despite its size the station was lively and served as a local market, with women and ... read more

And on to what would more or less be my final leg in Myanmar, the highlands of Kalaw in the Shan state, a 8h bus ride from Mandalay. I would be spending two nights here before taking an internal flight from nearby Heho to Tachileik, and then crossing the border from there at Mae Sai in Northern Thailand. What can I say about Kalaw? The moment I arrived and alighted the bus in the dead of the night, even though it was pitch black and I could hardly see anything, I sensed regretting not coming earlier. The weather was extremely pleasant, being cool in the highlands, and such a relief from the intense heat of Mandalay, and non-stop monsoon rains in the south. A small, quiet town set in the midst of ethnic minority villages, I ... read more

Our final day in Myanmar! We were picked up after breakfast by a taxi to take us to our next and final destination in Myanmar: Kalaw. After speaking with Eitan during our first cab ride in Yangon, and hearing great stories from other travelers about this mountain town, I was sure I wanted to check it out. Unfortunately we only had an afternoon and a morning here so we wouldn't be able to do any long treks (the most popular one is from Kalaw to Inle Lake in 2-3 days, or vice versa). After settling in the Eastern Paradise Motel, a comfortable hostel, we walked around town and enjoyed the cool air. Kalaw is set in the mountains and was popular with the British upper class during the colonial days. No surprise, as it really is ... read more