"KAWTHOUNG: SEA GYPSIES AND KICK BOXERS." Top 5 Page for this destination Kawthoung by Hmmmm

Kawthoung Travel Guide: 26 reviews and 41 photos

The Waterfront OF The Pakchan River. - Kawthoung

JUST ANOTHER BORDER TOWN? I CERTAINLY THINK NOT! KAWTHOUNG IS A FISHING TOWN SITUATED ON THE SOUTHERN MOST TIP OF MAINLAND BURMA (MYANMAR). Actually its 1hour 30 south of Yangon by plane. Kawthoung Is a bustling town, full of day tourists, Thai visa extenders, freight haulers who constantly cross the frenetic Pakchan Estuary, shop keepers, money changers, and ubiquitous, omnipresent tauts arranging trips and scams for tourists and Burmese alike. A visit to Kawthoung on a sunny day is a feast for the senses.

AN ABSOLUTELY AUTHENTIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Burma in Yellow, Red road to Ranong.

I had come to Thailand, flown into Phuket, for the sole purpose of crossing into Burma overland. I didn't have long, and I squandered a lot of what time I did have on Patong Beach, soaking up rays by day and getting almost inebriated at night.

The trip was relatively easy. I caught a local A/C bus from the Phuket City bus terminal and headed north for 5 hours to Ranong. Which by the way is a bit of a destination itself. It is well regarded by Thais as a Place to de-stress in thermal springs. How ever Ranong does tend to smack a little of a border town.

A day later, using a mixture of Mototaxis, boats and personal steam, I found my passage accross the broad Pakchan River Estuary to the Burmese Border town of Kawthoung.

Burmese Boys. Photo: Aaron Irving

I am a New Zealander so I got a rather generous 3 days for my $5 US visa and not the usual 1 day express pass that I was expecting after reading my lonely planet and talking to other tourists. So that was great.

The trip over the Estuary itself was for me even better than arriving at my destination (See my travel Log 'Crossing Pakchan Estuary'). Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to see Burma. As a child I watched movies and read books about old stuffy English Gentlemen moaning about the heat as they surveyed Bagan. And now I was finally here. This little trip to Kawthoung is but a tiny little trip. And by no way can I profess to visiting Burma proper. But Kawthoung is in Burma, and it represents a part of Burmese culture I cannot see when I head North to the Cultural Capitals of Yangon and Mandalay. In Saying this I know I have to see Kawthoung again, because there are still a couple of things left to photograph.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great. Unique and authentic. Great surrounding Islands.
Cons:Tauts everywhere, and Ongoing Transportation is limited due to Bandits north.
In a nutshell:Do It! For the experience, for you!.

Last visit to Kawthoung: Jul 2003
Intro Updated Nov 30, 2003
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Reviews (8)

The Frenetic Kawthoung Harbour. Pic Aaron Irving - Kawthoung

The Kawthoung Waterfront: A Hive of... Things to Do (4)

more travel advice

The Straight to Snake Island. Pic: Aaron Irving - Kawthoung

Snake Island: Buddhist temples and... Off The Beaten Path (1)

more travel advice

Hmmmm Nightlife? Pic: Aaron irving - Kawthoung

Kawthoung Nightlife. Nightlife (1)

Night life is pretty much non existant, well nightlife as I know it anyway. Well, lets just say, that you can sit down... more travel advice

Bronze statue of King Bayinnaung. - Kawthoung

The Bronze Statue of King Bayinnaung. Things to Do (4)

This statue Immortifies one of Burmas most famous and respected Kings: King Bayinnaung. The local guys who were showing... more travel advice

Shopping (1)
Souvineers and Local Crafts.

Transportation (1)
Getting to Kawthoung From Ranong,...

Travelogues (1)

Written Dec 2, 2003

8 photos

Crossing The Pakchan Estuary To Kawthoung.

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Comments (7)

iandsmith Dec 24, 2006 at 1:00 PM Report Abuse

Mostly five star tips, excellent. Having trouble understanding the following though "they were to nearly as many wives)". As Pauline Hanson would say "please explain". Cheers.
Hojusaram Sep 2, 2004 at 9:44 PM Report Abuse

Azza, your pictures of Burma are vibrant and really well taken. I was very impressed. Really!!!
pepples46 Feb 25, 2004 at 11:19 PM Report Abuse

you have a real special way presenting your pages.....all good, Aaron. like this one too. thanx for sharing
keeweechic Dec 17, 2003 at 9:02 PM Report Abuse

I have a real desire to visit Burma... home of my grandfather. This area is fabulous. Interesting the difference in Asian buddha's. Great page, wonderful info and pics.
ncfg Dec 14, 2003 at 9:36 AM Report Abuse

Hmmmm, Kawthoung seems a great place to explore. Nice info and pics. Thanks.
jenniferchin Dec 14, 2003 at 12:40 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting writings. Will eventually do the Burma Crossing as well ~ Thanks for valuable insights :-)
ettenaj Nov 30, 2003 at 6:49 AM Report Abuse

97 children wow he was a busy man!