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Australia: Denmark to Byron Bay | Through the Middle via ‘the Outback Way’

It’s been a while since i took a holiday. In less than three weeks I’ll be setting off from Denmark (WA) to visit the folks in Byron Bay (NSW). I’m travelling ‘The Outback Way‘ aka Australia’s longest shortcut. Google maps tells me the journey is 5,556 km, not including any detours. I’ll be travelling unsealed outback roads (such as the Great Central Road), some dirt tracks, and probably a dry riverbed or two. There is plenty to see along the way, including the Olgas, King’s Canyon, Uluru, and numerous gorges and national parks.

The Landcruiser is in good shape and ready to go. I’m now busy sorting out camping gear, recovery gear, maps/apps, communications devices, and permits to access aboriginal land.

I’m not sure how long it’ll take, but i’m guessing it’ll be just under three weeks. And then I’ve got to drive back again.

Myanmar: Sights Around Myitkyina

Prem and Raj have a friend with a car, and they arranged a little tour for my last day in Myitkyina. The first stop was a temple approximately 30km from Myitkyina off the road that follows the Irrawaddy River (25.63733, 097.50020). The temple has a large world globe at its centre, which isn’t something i have seen before. The view from the temple is pretty good, and the dwellings that can be seen from this viewpoint are mostly inhabited by the villagers that were relocated here to make way for the Myitsone hydroelectric dam project. The Myitsone Dam is a a joint venture between the Myanmar government and Beijing-based China Power Investment Corporation. The Myitsone dam project was suspended in 2011 by President Thein Sein, due to concerns over safety (the area is prone to earthquakes), and environmental and social problems.

We were offered food at the temple. The food had been donated by people in the surrounding villages and was really delicious.

We then went to a really nice place at the river to have a beer and something more to eat (25.62730, 097.51328). This place is quite close to Myitsone – the scenic confluence of the Mayhka (N’Mai) and Malikha rivers which marks the start of the mighty Irrawaddy river – so could make a great place to stop on the way back from there. Bamboo platforms are built over a small beach, providing a great place to relax and enjoy the view.

Our final stop was at Jaw Bum (25.50467, 097.44555), which is lookout tower with views across Myitkina and the Irrawaddy. It’s a popular destination with locals at the weekend. Sadly, around a dozen monkeys are kept in cages in appalling conditions. It was really heartbreaking to see them kept like this. We then returned to the River View restaurant in Myitkyina for dinner and our final few beers, before i returned to the YMCA for my final sleep before starting my journey home.

The next day I checked out of the YMCA and caught a motorbike taxi to the Myitkyina airport (K2,000). The immigration desk could find no record of me entering Kachin State. I told them i had arrived by train and a different file was examined, but still no record could be found. I had arrived in Myitkyina at 5am, so it was quite possible there was an immigration desk at the train station but i had been too sleepy to spot it.

The immigration officer was very nice however, and offered me a cigarette before going to find the captain. The captain was also really charming and asked me a few questions on where i had been in Kachin State. Their main concern is that you have been areas off-limits to foreigners. I got out my map and showed him the route of my entire holiday, which resulted in him pointing out the area he was from and giving me some tips on places to visit in that region for my next holiday. in Myanmar. They filled in their records based on my account of my travels, and i was allowed into the departure lounge just in time to board the plane to Mandalay, where I would catch onward flights to Bangkok, then Kuala Lumpur, and then home to Western Australia. My holiday in Myanmar was fantastic and I cannot wait to return. In particular, i am keen to come back to Myitkyina to explore the regions further north. At time of writing, you cannot access these areas on a tourist visa, but Myanmar is opening up at such a rapid rate i feel it will not be long. So long Myanmar, thanks for everything! What a wonderful country, with even more wonderful people.

Myanmar: Makhanti Village Tour

On the far side of the Irrawaddy River from Myitkyina are a line of villages called Makhanti (also called Makhundee). They are known as Makhanti 1-4. Prem and Raj kindly offered to take me on a village tour, so I rented a motorbike through the YMCA and we set off. I took the back seat of Prem’s bike, and Raj rode my rental, which we nicknamed ‘the Harley’ due to the noise it made due to a missing exhaust silencer.

Before crossing the river we quickly checked in on the progress of construction at Raj’s house site, and then visited to Raj’s father-in-law. His father-in-law has a large property and grows plenty of crops. After knocking down a couple of young coconuts and drinking the water we set off to catch the boat across the river.

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We planned to cross the river and drive north, through the villages, and then return via the Myitkyina Bridge. The boat crossing would be difficult to find if you don’t know where it is. The boat leaves from here (25.36091, 097.36115) and drops you off at the other site here (25.35067, 097.35965). Boats run approximately every 45 minutes. You can take motorbikes; you just park them on the shore and they are driven onto the boat for you. Our boat had around ten passengers, eight motorbikes, and one cow.

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Prem and Raj are both grew up in Makhanti and have many relatives there. First we visited the house of Raj’s parents, before moving on to visit various other relatives.

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At the house of Prem’s parents, i took the opportunity to photograph Prem’s grandmother. Although 92 years old and now blind, she was in really good health and high spirits. [Prem – if you are reading this you can download a high resolution copy of this photograph here]

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Driving south-east around the river bend, we stopped at a very old Hindu temple which, although i didn’t photograph, is well worth visiting. It can be found here: 25.32849, 097.38342

Moving further along the bank of the Irrawaddy, we entered Katcho village, where we ate at a small restaurant (25.32832, 097.40062) famous for it’s pork noodle dishes. It was not long after that our progress was stopped by the most fantastic parade. A huge procession of villagers were moving down the road carrying young boys who were about to start their training at the Buddhist monastery. Shinbyu, the Burmese term for the novitiation ceremony, is a very important step in a child’s life so celebrations are very lavish, and the young boys are carried to reflect the importance of the occasion. As the procession passed, I was greeted by a multitude of smiles and waves. As we made our way back to Myitkyina, i knew that today had been an incredibly special part of my holiday.

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Myanmar: Myitkyina’s Finest Gentlemen

Before writing about my final two days in Myitkyina, I need introduce you to a couple of people. But first, I’ll describe where and how we met.

The River View restaurant/beer bar is the best place to eat and drink in Myitkyina. As well as great food and beer, the location allows you to look across the mighty Irrawaddy. In the early evening, you can watch kingfishers hunting over the water close to shore. As darkness falls and more people arrive, the atmosphere can get very lively.

It was early evening and i was sitting at a table overlooking the river and waiting for my beer to arrive. I had a feeling it had been forgotten, and asked the waiter if he could check on my order. The waiter was having a little trouble understanding me, and the two gentlemen at the next table asked if they could help with translation.

With the confusion now resolved, the two gentlemen asked where i was from. They had heard me call the waiter ‘mate’, so thought i might be Australian. But then they thought my accent was probably British. After explaining my links to both Australia and England, I was invited to join them.

Prem and Raj are originally from Myitkyina, but now live in Bangkok. They went to Bangkok around 13 years ago to look for work due to the limited opportunities at home. They are now employed as tailors in one of the tourist areas and were returning to see their families, and to start off the construction of two houses. These houses would be finished for when they were ready to return to Mytikyina permanently with their families.

I have to say that these guys are absolutely brilliant. We had a great evening, and enjoyed various local dishes and probably a few too many beers. I was absolutely blown away by their hospitality. They told me that they would be a little busy the next day, checking on the progress of construction at their house sites. However, as the night came to a close and i prepared to wobble home, they decided they could settle their matters in the morning, and take me on a tour of the villages across the river. Of course, this would be extremely enjoyable and interesting for me, and so I accepted their kind invitation. As we would mention many time over the next couple of days, if it was not for the confusion over my missing beer they may never have started conversation with me. I’ll be forever grateful for that missing beer, and also to Prem and Raj who really went out of their way to make sure my final days in Myanmar were so much fun. These are great guys, and now good friends.