Myanmar by Htee Kee border.

[yempaul]

Myanmar has always enticed me since a couple of years back. Not until they officially allow foreign bikes to enter, I have been contacting with numerous travel agents in Myanmar as well as the Ministry of Trade and Tourism but all with unfavourable outcomes. The only time when I got the closest to Myanmar on the bike was to Tachileik, a small town of Shan State bordering with Mae Sai of Chiangrai. Those 3 occasions only limited us to travel within boundaries of the economic zone.

Big break came in mid 2013 when 3 heads put together to ponder on entering Myanmar from a relatively new border. Streams of emails right after another and eventually 6 blokes turned up at Kanchanaburi's Ban Phu Nam Ron border crossings.

Intact and spotless in terms of originality, Myanmar overland border checkpoints are still considered new in receiving foreign vehicles particularly at this precise perimeter.

Tantalizing scenes with appealing temples, stupas and monasteries.

Enjoy these pictures.

The famous Golden Rock of Kayityo

U-Bein bridge, World's longest wooden footbridge in the world

World's biggest book in Mandalay

11 days of immense blow out. Nothing but great time.

You can catch one of the riders blogs of detailed commentaries

Road To Mandalay Part 1 | Braap Brothers

and video by another at;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yt2U24gtueM

 

[Lone Rider]

A big THANK YOU Yempaul for the outstanding pictures and for "taking us along" on your trip. And another thank you for going the extra mile and opening up other entry points into Myanmar - guess it must have taken quite some time and effort to make it possible. Now going to read the report by the "Braap Brothers" and watch the video

 

[LivinLOS]

Superb..

Can you explain a little more on your border crossing.. Did you need the ministry letter (and guides ?? expensive tour license ??) to get in or just bikes and ownership documents for free travel.

I also note you went to Yangon but am guessing the bikes didnt ??

 

[LivinLOS]

Road To Mandalay Part 2 | Braap Brothers

This part covers the border crossing just saying they used 'fixers' but not much more detail..

 

[yempaul]

Superb..

Can you explain a little more on your border crossing.. Did you need the ministry letter (and guides ?? expensive tour license ??) to get in or just bikes and ownership documents for free travel.

I also note you went to Yangon but am guessing the bikes didnt ??

All the necessary arrangements still applies including the fixers. No problem at Myanmar border but the the Thai side made us wait for 3 hours. Apparently the area is controlled by KNUs with numerous checkpoints to town of Dawei. But passing through was a breeze through the 7 Kayan checkpoints. Road was bad though, the dust took a while before it settles so we maintain some distance.

We stayed at the outskirt of Yangon. About 15 mins away from downtown. That is the closest our fixer managed to arrange for us. So yes we stayed in Yangon, just out of its downtown.

 

[LivinLOS]

So you had to have the pre approved ministry authorization ?? And a full time guide ?? That kind of thing ??

 

[yempaul]

So you had to have the pre approved ministry authorization ?? And a full time guide ?? That kind of thing ??

I would love to get rid of the guide. But yes sir, that's how we did it but hopefully it will change one day which I don't think will come anytime soon.

 

[The Bigfella]

Great photos, thanks

 

[KTMphil]

Just got to a computer and had a change to look at your trip, stunning photo's. Big congratulations on figuring the international border crossing out, looks like everyone else was clueless that it could be used.

 

[yempaul]

Just got to a computer and had a change to look at your trip, stunning photo's. Big congratulations on figuring the international border crossing out, looks like everyone else was clueless that it could be used.

There's words going around that more crossings will open up. Will be interesting.

 

[Tanarthur]

Yempaul.... I am really really hating you more and more with all these spectacular rides and reports!!!!! You are poisonous!!! Anyway to block you and your reports from everywhere?? Lol...Back to the drawing board to try to squeeze Myanmar into my next trip itinery.... Great photos and great job bro!!!!


Let's just ride....

 

[yempaul]

Yempaul.... I am really really hating you more and more with all these spectacular rides and reports!!!!! You are poisonous!!! Anyway to block you and your reports from everywhere?? Lol...Back to the drawing board to try to squeeze Myanmar into my next trip itinery.... Great photos and great job bro!!!!


Let's just ride....

Errrr ... my apologies? Ok off i go for hibernation. Next contribution probably in a couple of months time.

 

[Ally]

Wonderful photos, thankyou so much for sharing them with us.

Ally

 

[oldbloke]

Errrr ... my apologies? Ok off i go for hibernation. Next contribution probably in a couple of months time.

Maybe when you come out of hibernation, you can try for Shan State or Sagaing Division or maybe even Chin .
Looks like you got to ride around Bagan? Maybe there are different rules if you have a special guide/own bike - I was told I couldn't take my bike ( hired in Mandalay ) to Bagan.
Thanks for the great photos. Burma is definitely becoming a motorcycling destination.

 

[Tanarthur]

Errrr ... my apologies? Ok off i go for hibernation. Next contribution probably in a couple of months time.

Joking only... Keep them coming... You are my inspiration!!

 

[yempaul]

Maybe when you come out of hibernation, you can try for Shan State or Sagaing Division or maybe even Chin .
Looks like you got to ride around Bagan? Maybe there are different rules if you have a special guide/own bike - I was told I couldn't take my bike ( hired in Mandalay ) to Bagan.
Thanks for the great photos. Burma is definitely becoming a motorcycling destination.

I can't figure out why you can't take your rented bike around Bagan. I don't see any checkpoints while we were there. But our guide is a
local bloke who knows the area well. Being a university lecturer on geology, he has done extensive research of the area so he knows good spots.

And yes, Shan State is in my bucket list now. I am hoping for more border checkpoints to open up.

 

[blackwolf]

I would love to get rid of the guide. But yes sir, that's how we did it but hopefully it will change one day which I don't think will come anytime soon.

Actually it might change sooner rather than later, but I don't think anyone you ask would be able to give you a precise date. A now former immigration official at the Myawady crossing, which I have crossed three times since that border opened to Myanmar visa holders and not just for border runners told me late last year that it may be possible that by 2015, free travel throughout Myanmar without a guide, with your own vehicle may be possible (except for any locations that may still be restricted at that time). However, based on current restricted areas, about 80% of the country is already accessible and thus if you could just come with your own motorcycle or car, that would really be a day of great happiness for everyone.

I also think that in the interim, if you could just show up with a Myanmar visa (or VOA) and no pre-arrangements for your car or motorcycle doing all the paperwork at the border, but you would be able to hire a guide on the spot at the border without all the hassle of arranging your itinerary in advance that would be a good compromise for now. So even though you would still need a guide to be with you in your car/motorcycle, but you could obtain one on the spot. Win-win for both sides, don't you think? Why can't Myanmar be more progressive in it's thinking?