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Two Very Different Countries II

Long distances and very remote. Prepare for unexpected - you won't find a lot researching online about this part of Myanmar which was off limits to foreigners till 2012.



This map was made with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

Myanmar - the difficult part

Welcome to Myanmar! Where am I?

I was positively surprised by what I saw in the border town of Kawthaung. People jogging in the park, kids playing football, clean and pleasant town. I even saw a tourist. Last tourist I saw this week


There seems to be bigger focus on Buddhism here than I southern Thailand. Folding rug - telekinesis?

Going to bed early tonight - tomorrow there's more than 200km ahead of me

In Myanmar you're only allowed to stay in government-approved hotels. The problem is that in the south they are very far apart - that's why today I woke up at 5:30 (which is to become a standard)

Does this look like a good spot for a quick nap?

This was arguably my most difficult day on a bike ever. 35 degrees, 210km over never-ending hills and my app says I need an intake of 7500 calories to compensate 😳

At the end of the day I find rather basic accommodation (for a mind blowing $4). If you don't like it you can always go to next hotel, it's only 150km away

Everyone loves Myanmar beer

Deep-fried kind of doughnuts are the standard breakfast here. Standard to an extent that you get these by default when you ask for food in the morning

Those who know me know that I'm not exactly a morning person. I've seen more sunrises in Myanmar than over last couple of years combined

Did I say that everyone loves Myanmar?

With the exception of Myeik, the only real city in the south, this is the most common type of building I see on my way

Not many foreigners cycle here, so there's no end to waving and cheering.

Palm tree plantations are endless too.

Tanintharyi, one of bigger towns along the way (and this one even has a hotel!). I find it very cozy for some reason

There's obviously a temple, this one on top of a small hill.

Ordering food is rather difficult. All I can do in most of the places is to show that I'm hungry and hope that I'll be given something edible

Shwe Yi may be the nicest hotel employee I ever met 🙂

Holes between planks wider than my tyres - crossing this bridge was an experience

City of Myeik is an interesting mix of old and new

On the shore of Andaman sea it's the biggest port in this area

Even monks are not invincible to temptations of modern technology. One can miss a lot - that's why I decided to be offline for most of the time. Still thinking if I really want to reinstall my Facebook app

The day ends with beautiful sunset. If only I knew what's coming.

Next day adds to the level of adventure. Food poisoning is normal when you travel, right? Today I have the worst food poisoning ever. Or maybe that's something different? Luckily in Myeik hospital there's one doctor who speaks English.

I'm a proud owner of Myeik hospital card now. And a full bag of medicines. I'll be out of the game for next 36h

After another day in bed I'm trying to cycle to next town - the slowest 100km in my life. But how much can you cycle if sugar from coke is the only nutrition your organism accepts?

Have quite a few breaks in the shade today, one of them happens to be on a rubber plantation

Having survived this day next two days I'm spending reading "Arabian Sands" in my bamboo hut on the beach

Alive again, another sunrise. Today I'll try to cross the border back into Thailand. My map shows pretty good road ahead, will be able to make it without any problems. 

Something I've seen only in Myanmar - each morning monks walk along the streets gathering alms (usually in the form of rice)

And there quite a lot of it

My "good quality road" turns out to be better suited for camels than for my bike. I tried, really did, but after 10km of this I ended up on a roadside similng to trucks and pick-ups passing by

Couple of smiles later I'll be on my way. With all this dust and sand it feels like a desert.

The least used border crossing between Myanmar and Thailand. Myanmar immigration officers gave me water and "tested" my bike. Thai officers gave me another bottle of water and tangerines. What??

Mhmm.. that's probably because today I'm the dirtiest man on Earth

Instead of cycling to Bangkok next day I'm only doing a quick ride to Katchamburi and taking a train. I deserve some rest.

So here it is! My rest! Bangkok, coffee, book, where to next?




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Location: Myanmar (Burma)

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