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 I want to travel from yangon to sittwe in november,i dont want to fly if possible, what is the best and cheapest way to travel.boat or road, can you advise me. thank you
Answer Sorry for the delay Winston. Your question got waylaid! Ok, boat from Yangon to Sittwe . . . nope, sorry! (Yangon to Pagan, yes, at SOME times, and if they ever open up the road from Salay to Mrauk-U, you'll be able to get there from near Pagan by road.) Good news is you can go by boat from near Ngapali Beach (hydrofoil, which is quick . . . well 6 hours, or slow ferry which is LONG but more entertaining, but can take DAYS) . . . but to do that (and not fly), you'll have to go from Yangon to Pyay by bus (5 hours approx.) and then across the Rakhine mountain range to get to Taunggok. The "Rakhine Yoma" are also an intensive security checkpoint region for the government . . . so here's how it was when I went . . . the bus from Pyay was late, so it didn't arrive til 11pm . . . when it did we all waited for the bottom foot of the entire floor of the bus to be loaded with rice sacks, so our feet were hiked up when we sat down . . . the gov't checkpoints were every hour and a half all through the night . . . as the token foreigner, I didn't have to get off, but all the Burmese did and then "role-called" back on to the bus . . . the road's precarious and it's dark! Ok, if all that sounds like fun to you . . . you're in business! No view, no socializing, danger, cramped conditions made it more torture than fun for me, but maybe you'll be lucky!
My suggestion, fly to Sittwe, take the boat to Mrauk-U . . . or the ferry back to Kyauk Pyu island (not too long) and then on to Ngapali. Much nice stops, much more entertaining (and quicker) . . . though the gov't hotel at Kyauk Pyu's nothing great (though they do grow their own shitake mushrooms!).
Have fun,
Nancy B
