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"KAWTHOUNG: SEA GYPSIES AND KICK ..." a Kawthoung Travel Page by Hmmmm

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Kawthoung Pages by Hmmmm


"KAWTHOUNG: SEA GYPSIES AND KICK ..." a Kawthoung Travel Page by Hmmmm
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Hmmmm   
ONLY THAT UPON WHICH YOU FOCUS, WILL GROW.


Real Name: Aaron Irving
Lives In: Wellington, NZ
Member Since: Sep 18, 2000
VT Rank: 318

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Page Views: 2,094            Last Visit to Kawthoung: July, 2003      

KAWTHOUNG: SEA GYPSIES AND KICK BOXERS.

by Hmmmm - last update: Nov 30, 2003

The Waterfront OF The Pakchan River.
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.
Burma in Yellow, Red road to Ranong.

AN ABSOLUTELY AUTHENTIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

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.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

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!."
Hmmmm's Kawthoung Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 4 - Photos: 4
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
 
Nightlife
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
 
Transportation
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Local Customs
 
Packing ListsShopping
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips

Hmmmm's Kawthoung Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
Crossing The Pakchan Estuary To Kawthoung.July, 2003 8

Comments for Hmmmm about Kawthoung
iandsmith Sun Dec 24, 2006 21:00 UTC
 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 Fri Sep 3, 2004 04:44 UTC
 Azza, your pictures of Burma are vibrant and really well taken. I was very impressed. Really!!!
pepples46 Thu Feb 26, 2004 07:19 UTC
 you have a real special way presenting your pages.....all good, Aaron. like this one too. thanx for sharing
keeweechic Thu Dec 18, 2003 05:02 UTC
 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.
See More Comments

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