Myanmar scouting trip

[KTMphil]

10 bikes, a few mild drama's so far to keep it interesting. This is a fantastic country that's just opened up and ready to explore.


...more to come when I get a better connection.

 

[oldbloke]

That'll probably be when you get back to Thailand, Phil - at least that was MY experience. The only time I got decent speed [good enough for no-lag video skyping in fact] was at a FREE!! wifi in a bus-stop cafe eastside of Pyin Oo Lwin. We figured that was because the major military academy is just nearby, so there's probably a nice fat optic fibre link for them! The rest of the time it is REALLY slow!

 

[KTMphil]

Bagan, truly gob-smacking beauty

Oil leak on Glenn's 990, looking for the source

Internet is painfully slow, will try more uploads tomorrow.

 

[2wheels]

Hope you can get up in a balloon at dawn or dusk Phil.

 

[KTMphil]

Many war wounds on the Myanmar roads today

 

[KTMphil]

Hope you can get up in a balloon at dawn or dusk Phil.

Photo Ken Wong

 

[bsacbob]

Looks like you having your all having your fair share of mechanical issues on this trip, i hope it does not spoil your fun.

 

[KTMphil]

A few drama's make things interesting - everything all fixed, we're ready to go tomorrow.

 

[MastaMax]

Really amazing and still looks unspoiled!

 

[KTMphil]

So, 10 of us have planned to meet up in Mae Sot and enter Myanmar at the Myanmar international border crossing, Mywadaddy.


A quick BBQ pork brick in Mae Sariang on the way down there

 

[bsacbob]

Out of interest Phil were all the bikes plated ?

 

[KTMphil]

Everyone on time in Mae Sot, there were supposed to be 13 bikes, 2 were sick & one changed his mind because his friends were sick, so only 10 bikes


Dinner in Mae Sot at the great Canadian restaurant with Steve Martin

- - - Updated - - -

Out of interest Phil were all the bikes plated ?

Had to be - the only way to get them out of Thailand

 

[KTMphil]

Exit Thai Customs paperwork had all been processed the night before to speed up our Thailand exit

A bit of jumping through hoops and we all exited Thailand pretty quickly and onwards to the Mywadaddy, Myanmar international border

Our Myanmar fixer, lets hope he's got it all under control

 

[KTMphil]

Depending on your group size, it takes around an hour to process the Myanmar entry. West of Mywadaddy the road is one way on alternate days westwards over the mountain. The road is nasty! Lines of trucks that you you have to overtake on a rubbley, single lane mountain road, it's quite a work out.


Over the worst and having a break - we made it!

 

[KTMphil]

It was feeling completely different from Thailand now, everyone really enjoying it.


The thanaka faced ladies helped bring on the local flavor



View attachment 27170




The wood of several trees may be used to produce thanaka cream; these trees grow abundantly in central Myanmar. They include principally Murraya spp. (thanaka) [SUP][2][/SUP] but also Limonia acidissima (theethee or wood apple).[SUP][6][/SUP] The two most popular are Shwebo thanakafrom Sagaing Division and Shinmadaung thanaka from Magwe Division. A more recent contender sold as a paste is Taunggyi Maukme thanaka from southern Shan State. Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be at least 35 years old before it is considered mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings. Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays also available as a paste or in powder form.
Thanaka cream is made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots[SUP][2][/SUP] of a thanaka tree with a small amount water[SUP][6][/SUP] on a circular stone slab called kyauk pyin[SUP][4][/SUP] which has a channel round the rim for the water to drain into.
Application, style and properties[edit]

Thanaka cream has been used by Burmese women for over 2000 years.[SUP][4][/SUP] It has a fragrant scent somewhat similar to sandalwood.[SUP][2][/SUP][SUP][7][/SUP]The creamy paste is applied to the face in attractive designs, the most common form being a circular patch on each cheek, sometimes made stripey with the fingers known as thanaka bè gya, or patterned in the shape of a leaf, often also highlighting the bridge of the nose with it at the same time.[SUP][4][/SUP] It may be applied from head to toe (thanaka chi zoun gaung zoun). Apart from cosmetic beauty, thanaka also gives a cooling sensation and provides protection from sunburn.[SUP][1][/SUP] It is believed to help remove acne and promote smooth skin.[SUP][4][/SUP] It is also an anti-fungal.[SUP][2][/SUP] The active ingredients of thanaka are courmarin and marmesin.[SUP][8]





[/SUP][SUP]Source : [/SUP]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanaka

 

[2wheels]

Phil, was the Monk there to bless the bikes and riders or just passing by?

 

[KTMphil]

Just passing by, but it looks like he likes having his photo taken.

 

[KTMphil]

Internet is painfully slow, more when i get better band width.

 

[oldbloke]

Internet is painfully slow, more when i get better band width.

Great photos!! Thanks so much for your patience in uploading them!! I know YOU've given up on beer, but what's the general opinion of the group on the available brews?

 

[bsacbob]

Not sure if you tried it Phil, but i found Dagon Beer to be the best

 

[KTMphil]

Not sure if you tried it Phil, but i found Dagon Beer to be the best

Only found this so far.

 

[KTMphil]

Our first Myanmar pump, the bright orange bikes caused quite a stir with the locals








White and red ones too

 

[KTMphil]

Completely different to all other regions for sure

 

[Just Bob]

Subscribed. Was in Burma ten or so years ago. Wonderful country. Fantastic people.

 

[KTMphil]

A quick stop to get some Myanmar money, great to see ethnic, tribal dress

In the bank!!

 

[KTMphil]

Lunch - how the hell did they get the pagoda's up there??








Ten's Kawasaki Versys 1000 - he likes it a lot, not a lot of ground clearance though.

 

[KTMphil]

A long first day in Myanmar, we were all fried, great to make our destination


Kyaik Hto Township, Mon State

Lots of power cuts in Myanmar, it's just one of those things



Traditional tribal dress was worn just for us

Stunning

 

[KTMphil]

DRZ 400's throttle had been playing up, Glenn's an ex-superb technician (Rolls Royce) ...so time to take a look







A bit of lubrication with thin chain oil and all seems ok

 

[KTMphil]

Kevin's Radiator

Kevin's radiator bracket had broken, it's awfully close to the exhaust and was a worry. A cut piece of wood with wire ties to keep the two apart might do the job.

 

[KTMphil]

Ken giving the Multistrada its daily bath

 

[KTMphil]

The town of Kyaik-Hto makes the perfect base to go explore the big, golden rock perched on the top of the mountain, Kyaik-Hti-Yoe. The only way up is in open topped trucks, they are ALL owned by one man. This is one of the most sacred places in Myanmar.

From the top its still quite a trek, bag carriers touting for business

You can be carried

Which was Keith's choice

Kyaik-Hti-Yoe

Everything is carried on the head here

A piece of cloth on top of the head spreads the load

There's a hotel right at the top, looks like maybe some things are too heavy for neck compression

 

[KTMphil]

All memorized by the complete change in ethnic people, it took us a while to get to the rock, you need about 4 hours to complete this trip.

Around the bend and out first view of Kyaik-Hti-Yoe, sherpa's scurrying around from the hotel near the summit

 

[KTMphil]

It's one of the most unusual natural things you'll ever see

Wiki:


Legend[edit]

The legend associated with the pagoda is that the Buddha, on one of his many visits, gave a strand of his hair to Taik Tha, a hermit. The hermit, who had tucked it in the tuft of his hair safely, in turn gave the strand to the king, with the wish that the hair be enshrined in a boulder shaped like the hermit's head. The king had inherited supernatural powers from his fatherZawgyi, a proficient alchemist), and his mother, a naga serpent dragon princess. They found the rock at the bottom of the sea. With the help of the Thagyamin, the king of Tawadeintha Heaven in Buddhist cosmology, found the perfect place at Kyaiktiyo for locating the golden rock and built a pagoda, where the strand was enshrined. It is this strand of hair that, according to the legend, prevents the rock from tumbling down the hill. The boat, which was used to transport the rock, turned into a stone. This is also worshiped by pilgrims at a location about 300 metres (980 ft) from the golden rock. It is known as the Kyaukthanban Pagoda or stupa (literal meaning: stone boat stupa).[SUP][1][/SUP][SUP][6][/SUP][SUP][7][/SUP]
Legends also mention that pilgrims undertaking the pilgrimage by trekking from the Kinpun base camp three times consecutively in a year will be blessed with wealth and recognition.[SUP][8]


[/SUP]
The boulder, which gleams golden and popularly known as the Golden Rock on which the small Kyaiktiyo Pagoda has been built, is about 25 feet (7.6 m) in height and has a circumference of 50 feet (15 m). The Pagoda above the rock is about 7.3 metres (24 ft) in height. The boulder sits on a natural rock platform that appears to have been naturally formed to act as the base to build the pagoda. This granite boulder lies on an inclined plane and the area of contact is extremely small. The golden rock or boulder and the rock table on which it is resting are independent of each other; the golden rock has an overhang of half its length and is perched at the extreme end of the sloping surface of the rock. There is a sheer vertical drop in the rock face, into the valley below. A lotus shape is painted in gold leaf, encircling the base of the rock. It appears as though the boulder will crash down at any moment. A staircase leads to the pagoda complex that houses several viewing platforms, pagodas, Buddha shrines, and Nat (spirit) (spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism shrines). However, the Golden Rock is the main attraction for the pilgrims who offer prayers and also stick golden leaves on the rock in reverence. A short distance away, there is a circle of gongs with four statues of nats and angels in the centre.[SUP][1][/SUP][SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][7][/SUP][SUP][8][/SUP][SUP][11][/SUP][SUP][12][/SUP]
A main square close to the golden rock has many establishments that deal in religious paraphernalia for worship and offerings made by the pilgrims. Adjoining the plaza area is the Potemkin village where restaurants, gift shops, and guest houses are located. A new terrace has been built at a lower level from which visitors can get a good view of the rock and the pagoda.[SUP][1][/SUP]
Pilgrimage[edit]


Kyaiktiyo Pagoda or Golden Rock has become a popular pilgrimage and also tourist attraction. At the peak of the pilgrimage season, during November to March, an atmosphere of devotion is witnessed at Kyaikhtiyo pagoda. As the golden rock gleams in different shades from dawn to dusk (the sight at dawn and at sunset are unique), pilgrims' chants reverberate in the precincts of the shrine. Lighting of candles, meditation and offerings to the Buddha continues throughout the night. Men cross over a bridge across an abyss to affix golden leaves (square in shape) on the face of the Golden Rock, in deep veneration. However, women are not allowed to touch the rock so cannot cross the bridge. Pilgrims visit the pagoda, from all regions of Myanmar; a few foreign tourists also visit the pagoda. Even disabled persons who are staunch devotees of Buddha visit the pagoda, walking up the track on crutches. Old people, who can not climb, are carried on stretchers by porters to the Pagoda to offer prayers to Buddha.[SUP][2][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP] The Full Moon day of Tabaung in March, is a special occasion for pilgrims who visit the shrine. On this day, the platform of the pagoda is lighted with ninety thousand candles as reverential offering to the Lord Buddha. The devotees visiting the pagoda also offer fruits, food and incense to the Buddha.[SUP][6][/SUP][SUP][14][/SUP]

 

[KTMphil]

Women are not allowed to touch the rock, up untl about five years ago, you were allowed to push on it and some say you could feel vibrations of it moving, now this is forbidden



It looks like it could fall at any moment

Only a tiny area of the rock actually makes contact with the mountain, its quite amazing

Pilgrims add gold leaf to the stone which can be bought at a daily gold market price at the top of the mountain. Here Eddie, Kevin & Glen adding some bling.

It's carefully watched

Praying

Food in Myanmar is very oily. It's quite easy to get fried noodles and fried rice etc.... meat quality varies a lot

One more rock photo

 

[KTMphil]

............more to come.

 

[flyingdutchman177]

awesome

Did you have to leave your passport at the border?
when i was there, i got a 14 day visa but they told me to stay close to the border......which i didn't of course. Did you get any special permission to travel so far in to Myanmar. Looking forward to more details about your crossing as i too want to rock that big rock

 

[KTMphil]

Did you have to leave your passport at the border?
when i was there, i got a 14 day visa but they told me to stay close to the border......which i didn't of course. Did you get any special permission to travel so far in to Myanmar. Looking forward to more details about your crossing as i too want to rock that big rock

You take your passport with you, there is an approved in-itinerary.

 

[flyingdutchman177]

wow, things have really changed in the past two months......India, here i come!!!

 

[2wheels]

Very nice portraits there Phil.

 

[Gnasher328]

Great write up, especialy re 'The Rock'. Love to know how it actually got there? Oh well, just believe the story I guess.