To travel here is to encounter men wear

194

EASTERN MYANMAR

KENGTUNG & BORDER AREAS

The main attraction, though, is the drive up

here through a classically Asian landscape of

dense forests and terraced rice fi elds.

Guide fees start at $15 per day, not in-

cluding lunch. Keep in mind that you will

also have to factor in the cost of getting to

the trailheads by taxi – a further K36,000

to K65,000, depending on how far afi eld

you go. Transportation can be arranged at

Harry’s Trekking House and Princess Hotel.

Recommended guides include Sai Leng

(%09-490 31470; [email protected]),

Freddie (Yot Kham; %09-490 31934; yotkham@

gmail.com) and Paul (Sai Lon; %09-490 30464,

22812).

If you don’t have the time or funds for a

trek, a good self-guided walk can be had

along the former road to Mong La, now col-

loquially known as Yang Kon Rd. The area

is home to several Shan families who earn

a living by making pottery and khao sen

(fermented rice noodles), the latter made

by a laborious process of boiling, pound-

ing and squeezing. Your walk terminates at

Wat Yang Kon, known among locals for the

decorative robes covering the main buddha

statue.

zFestivals & Events

Kengtung’s Chinese community celebrate

the Chinese New Year in early February

with the usual fi recracker-charged festivities.

For Buddhists, the big calendar event is

the Water Festival in April, when everyone

gets a dousing, including visitors.

 4 Sleeping

The accommodation scene in Kengtung

will inspire few postcards home. As is the

case elsewhere in Myanmar, breakfast is in-

cluded in the fee and electricity is scarce;

most hotels run generators from about 7pm

to 10pm.

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Kengtung (Kyaingtong) #e e#
‚
To Harry's Trekking
House (1.5mi); Pin
Tau (9mi)
‚
To Private
Hotel (500m);
Pann Gabar
(1mi); Airport
(2mi); Wan Nyek & Wan
Saen (53mi)
‚
To Ho Kyim
(10mi)
‚
‚
To Bus Station (500m);
Water Buffalo
Market (800m)
0400m
00.25miles