6
MYANMAR (1)
764 Kilometres – 27 DaysMae Sot, Thailand - Myawaddy, Myanmar - 10 km
Mae Sot, Thailand, was a mere five-kilometre bike ride from the
Friendship Bridge, which served as the border control point between
Thailand and Myanmar. Since I already had a visa, I only needed a
stamp in my passport.
It always amazes me how crossing a line on a map could lead to such
a vastly different environment. The people, clothing, food, currency,
and language were all different from what I was used to in Thailand.
After completing customs and immigration procedures, my next task
was withdrawing Myanmar currency from an ATM. The exchange rate
was 1,000 kyats to 1 USD, and I had to buy a new wallet to store all
the notes.
Myanmar surprised me with its unique culture. Men still wore the
traditional longyi, many had red-stained teeth from chewing paan,
and almost everyone used face paint.
The weather was scorching, around 40°C, and by the time my
business was done, it was already past midday. I thought it a good
idea to find accommodation instead of heading over the mountains in
the midday heat, but this decision ultimately proved to be wrong.
Once checked into a hotel, the owner informed me that the road out
of Myawaddy over the pass was in poor condition, narrow, and steep.
This meant that traffic in and out of Myawaddy was only allowed on
alternate days.