Myanmar Adventure

gshajisg · Jan 3, 2013

A few of my friends have been planning on a ride to Myanmar since early 2012. After many talks with the embassy officials here in Singapore and after a few rejections of the proposed routes, everything was finalized in Dec 2012. We will be riding in Myanmar from 7 Jan to 18 Jan 2013. There will be a police escort throughout our journey. We will be going in through the border at Mae Sot in Thailand. Our first stop will be at Pa'an. Then on to Kyaikhto - Naypyidaw - Mandalay - Bagan - Pyay - Yangon - Bago - Mawlamyine and back to Mae Sot.

11 Bikers for this ride.

1. Loh - BMW R1200GSA
2. Eric- BMW R1200GSA
3. Chris - BMW R1200GSA
4. Cliff - BMW R1200GSA
5 James - BMW R1200GSA
6 Terry - BMW R1200GS
7 Steve - BMW R1200GS
8 David - BMW R1200GS
9 Ivan - BMW R1200R
10 Cherie - Kawasaki 650 Versys
11.Shaji - Kawasaki GTR1400.

Ivan was the first one to leave. He left on the 26th, brought his bike to Bangkok and flew. He will fly again to Bangkok on the 5th of Jan, ride his bike to Mae Sot and meet us there on the 6th.

Cherie left on the 28th . She hung out in Malaysia over the weekend and New Year. She crossed into Thailand yesterday and is resting at Hua Hin.

Loh, Chris, Eric and Terry left this morning and have stopped at Ipoh, Malaysia for the night. They will proceed to Hatyai, Thailand tomorrow.

The remaining five of us David, Cliff, James, Steve and myself will leave tomorrow morning and meet up with the rest at Hatyai tomorrow.

KHVol · Jan 3, 2013

Looking forward to the RR..

Comrade Arturo · Jan 3, 2013

Have a good trip and post pics when you can

lefert86 · Jan 3, 2013

Swee la.....campng here

Steve canyon · Jan 4, 2013

Looking forward to this one......

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

KHVol said: ↑

Looking forward to the RR..
Click to expand...

I will try my best.

6gear · Jan 4, 2013

Wish you a great ride.
I hear it's a beautiful country.
Also with regards to developmental preparations they are raising the price on everything for foreigners and accepting only crisp new US Dollars.

Ride safe.

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

We moved off at 630 am. It was an uneventful ride. Just cut across the length of Malaysia and reached the boarder around 3 pm. We caught up with the guys that left yesterday morning. They left late from Ipoh, Malaysia and took a leisurely ride. For our group we were averaging around 150 km per hour. Total distance covered today, 872 km.
The helmet cam I ordered failed to arrive before I left. When I called back home, I was told that it arrived today. My friend Ivan was kind enough to drop by my place and collect it for me. Good thing that he went early and left his bike at Bangkok. If not I wont be having a helmet cam for this trip.
By the time we got to the hotel, we were starving as we skipped lunch. So after a good shower we went had some food or rather a feast, I would say.

Cherie messaged to say that she rode to Nakhon Sawan and would move on to Mae Sot tomorrow. As for the rest of us we will take a train tomorrow evening and arrive at Nakhon Pathon on Sunday morning.
[FONT=&quot]Sorry there isnt much ride pictures now. Those will come once we enter Myanmar on the 7<sup>th</sup>. Till then enjoy some food pictures.

Hmp. The net sucks. Will upload them when the connection is better.
[/FONT]

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

6gear said: ↑

Wish you a great ride.
I hear it's a beautiful country.
Also with regards to developmental preparations they are raising the price on everything for foreigners and accepting only crisp new US Dollars.

Ride safe.
Click to expand...

Thank you. They have some really nice places in there. Its good that we are able to go in before everything gets commercialized. Yep we were told about the currency. :)

makad · Jan 4, 2013

Great Stuff!
Looking forward to hearing about all the details. The Map sure helps visualise the journey.
....now if only we could transit through to either India or Bangladesh

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

makad said: ↑

Great Stuff!
Looking forward to hearing about all the details. The Map sure helps visualise the journey.
....now if only we could transit through to either India or Bangladesh
Click to expand...

One of the first route we applied for was to enter via Thailand and exit via Bangladesh. But it was rejected.

makad · Jan 4, 2013

One day....one day....but i think it will be in my lifetime now that the "circus is back in town".

KMC1 · Jan 4, 2013

I am naive to that part of the world, but why are you being required to get permission from the government for your route, and a police escort, for a dozen people to take a ride?

And why are they charging U.S. Dollars - and more for foreigners?

This doesn't sound like a very safe place to bother going to?

:huh

vander · Jan 4, 2013

KMC1 said: ↑

I am naive to that part of the world, but why are you being required to get permission from the government for your route, and a police escort, for a dozen people to take a ride?

And why are they charging U.S. Dollars - and more for foreigners?

This doesn't sound like a very safe place to bother going to?

:huh
Click to expand...

Because Myanmar is a military dictatorship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma#Human_rights

KMC1 · Jan 4, 2013

vander said: ↑

Because Myanmar is a military dictatorship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma#Human_rights
Click to expand...

Ah.
That would explain a lot.... Guess ye 'ol google is my friend, eh?

Well, the Thailand part of the ride sounds great anyway!

KMC1 · Jan 4, 2013

Oh wow. I just read that link you posted. :eek1

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

KMC1 said: ↑

I am naive to that part of the world, but why are you being required to get permission from the government for your route, and a police escort, for a dozen people to take a ride?

And why are they charging U.S. Dollars - and more for foreigners?

This doesn't sound like a very safe place to bother going to?

:huh
Click to expand...

Myanmar has been a closed country for quite some time. Its only recently that they started opening up. Many places are still out of bound for foreigners.
US currency is used for exchange. The notes have to be without any folds or marks. They are also accepted as payment in some places as its easier to handle. 1 US dollar is around 700 to 800 of their currency.

gshajisg · Jan 4, 2013

Bikes parked at the hotel.

Having a feast. Roasted suckling pig.

Prawns.

Hor Fun

Squid

Duck feet.

The meat of the suckling pig is fried after the crispy skin is consumed.

Walking around the streets after dinner.

Street fare.

KHVol · Jan 4, 2013

This is going to be great..........

KMC1 · Jan 4, 2013

You had me at "fried piggy".....

Thanks for clarifying my questions - it's strange to me that I'm so oblivious to Myanmar - I try to learn about other places so much, and it's a weird relization that I know nothing about it.

This is why I LOVE reading these ride reports though. You learn about the REAL country, not the nonsense on the "news" or from politicians. Just look at that food! That's one example right there - you read that wiki link, you would never think the food could be good.....

I can't wait to read about it, and to see more pictures!

Log in or Join

Myanmar Adventure

gshajisg Storm-rider

KHVol Long timer

Comrade Arturo Veterinario

lefert86 Vararaider

Steve canyon Adventurer

gshajisg Storm-rider

6gear n00b

gshajisg Storm-rider

gshajisg Storm-rider

makad P/T Shed Dwelling Hermit

gshajisg Storm-rider

makad P/T Shed Dwelling Hermit

KMC1 There is no spoon.

vander full-time dreamer

KMC1 There is no spoon.

KMC1 There is no spoon.

gshajisg Storm-rider

gshajisg Storm-rider

KHVol Long timer

KMC1 There is no spoon.

Log in or Join

Useful Searches

Myanmar Adventure

gshajisg Storm-rider

KHVol Long timer

Comrade Arturo Veterinario

lefert86 Vararaider

Steve canyon Adventurer

gshajisg Storm-rider

6gear n00b

gshajisg Storm-rider

gshajisg Storm-rider

makad P/T Shed Dwelling Hermit

gshajisg Storm-rider

makad P/T Shed Dwelling Hermit

KMC1 There is no spoon.

vander full-time dreamer

KMC1 There is no spoon.

KMC1 There is no spoon.

gshajisg Storm-rider

gshajisg Storm-rider

KHVol Long timer

KMC1 There is no spoon.