"Hidden in Burma/Myanmar" a Burma Travel Page by Restless-in-kl

Mixed emotions ... that was what I experienced. On one hand, I felt liberated, pleasantly remote from the rest of the world. As far as the eye can see - vast open vista dotted with windswept rocky outcrops emerging from the sea.

Wild, beautiful and yet .... haunting and sad. Burma is such a closed country. I came here to dive and this was as close to Burma as I could get in safely since the country is still politically unstable.

This is Kawthaung, a small town bordering Thailand and Burma. This is where US$200 per person visa fee was collected from me so that I can
dive in Burmese waters but not allowed to go on land. Together with the other guests from the liveaboard dive boat I was on, we were only allowed to walk around the town for 30 minutes.

Managed to catch a few pictures of what I can see in that short time (see travelogue for photos). Such a shame ..... as the hard working people of this town could sure do with some tourist money as I'm sure the exorbitant visa fee only goes into the government coffers.

As you can see, it's very expensive to go diving in Burma as the easiest way is to go on a dive liveaboard boat from Ranong, Thailand. Is it worth it? Yes and no.

The good thing is that there is never a crowd of divers as most often than not, we were the only boat there and I was staying on a really luxurious boat (MV Philkade). The bad ... most of the reefs have been destroyed by local dynamite fishing and though this was supposed to be the best season to dive Burma, visibility was not very good.

The only saving grace is really this beautiful leopard shark who stayed quietly for a long time and let me get close.

Would I go back? Not really unless I can explore the topside of Burma countryside the next time around.