AboutNancy B Expertise One of my all-time favorites. I`ve been there more than 10 times (for at least a month each time), done the tourist loop five times and travelled to several permit-only areas. Aside from the Yangon, Bago, Inle, Kalaw, Mandalay, Pagan, Pyay route, I`ve travelled twice to Sittwe, Mrauk-U and the Chin areas and then down to Ramree Island, Ngapali and Pathein. Been on the wonderful boat from Bhamo to Mandalay and sojourned in the south a bit past Moulmein. Most recently I trekked in the northern Kachin state, camped and stayed with the Rawang tribe, for 2 weeks on the way to Phonekan Razi to see the Himalayas from the east. I`ve taken nearly every mode of transport--trains, planes, buses, boats, bikes, oxcarts, trekking on foot. I can answer logistical questions about airfare, hotels, restaurants, trekking, trains, restricted/open areas and, especially, cultural/religious sites and their significance.
Experience The world is a fascinating place and nothing reveals this more thoroughly than exploring faraway lands. I've got a penchant for the exotic, a friendly face and a true curiousity about the people, art and life.
Question QUESTION: I have been to Burma twice first in 86 then in 97 when my brother and I tried to go trekking with no luck. I am thinking about going back with one of my daughters later this year and would like to know if its possible to trek independently. I find trekking without a guide far more rewarding.
Thanks for any help you can give
Bruce
ANSWER: Hi, Bruce . . .
I was a bit surprised to get this question. Are you really thinking of going to Burma this year?! You know 100,000 people have just died due to the cyclone catastrophe (that the Indians warned the Myanmar government about and they did nothing), right? That doesn't include what follows, like fun diseases like cholera, dysentery, malaria, malnutrition etc. Friends in Yangon said 50% of their buildings were destroyed. And in the delta, the country's rice bowl, the rice paddies were inundated with salt water from the sea. You're not talking about instant recouping, and unless you're going to help, I wouldn't recommend it. And to use their scare food and fuel for travel probably isn't the best either.
Having said all that, yes, you can trek independently in SOME areas (but not the more interesting Chin area or Kachin area, or Loikaw) . . . like the lovely 3-day walk from Inle to Kalaw, around Kalaw, around Monwya . . . but even then, it's a good idea to take a local person (though not necessarily an "official" one) with.
Take care,
Nancy B
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QUESTION: I actually was planing to go there before the cyclone, but still figure on going in December (the money the locals make on tourism is small at the best of times)I would love to hear about the your trek, who you went with and the costs.
thanks, Bruce
PS are you listed as one of the indonisa experts? I think I have talked with you before about ikat and Posala
Answer Hi, Bruce,
Yep, you talked to me about Sumba . . . and if you have any questions about Thailand, I can answer those, too.
However, I must really stress again, that no matter what you planned about a trip to Burma, I REALLY wouldn't go in Dec. or this year at all. No, I don't believe the money will help the people at this point. You will be further stressing a drastically stressed infrastructure, using fuel needed by others and buying food from meager food supplies.
This is not like the tsunami in Thailand where it hit a tourist area and if you stayed there you were helping people to rebuild. This is a catastrophe of tremendous proportions. My guess is more than 500,000 people will die . . . some have already, but since the Burmese are always living on the edge in terms of nutrition and the ability to afford food, cholera, dysentery, etc. will unfortunately kill many more . . . especially with stacked-up corpses in the villages and home wells contaminated with dead people and dead animals. I'm sorry, but at this time, I can't recommend traveling there. Please think about it.
Take care,
Nancy B
