9 days on the Chidwin river in Myanmar

[Phuketrichard]

Had a great trip
flew up to Khamti from Mandalay on the twice a week prop flight, did daily trips on boats as far as Kalewa, than mini bus as the boat down to Monwya is 12+ hours an runs thru the night, mini bus was 6 to cover 180 kms.

stayed in; Thamnthi, , Homalin, Mawliek, (met U Thint Zin,a well know Burmese man amongst those that travel up there, a great old guy that teaches the locals english , 76 years old an still going strong and full of interesting info), Monwya ( the ONLY place that had anything for tourists) with the world tallest Buddha
The least expensive gh was in Mawliek --5,000 kyat, ( 1,230=$1) most expensive was in Mandalay but a great room for 36,000 kyat, 50% of the time, no attached bathroom an no shower but bucket. NO TOURISTS for 6 days!!! Most of the places only had electricity from 6-9:30 or so but it was fairly cold at night an had to sleep under a blanket
This part of Myanmar gets less than a few hundred tourist/year

Comparison;
the Irrawaddy is much more interesting as a river trip and Katha is a must stay
the villages along the Chindwin are really cool and friendly people, but the river scenery is not as good, very dry and flat much of the way

If you want to really experience Myanmar and the people an not just see tourists places ( Mandalay, Bagan Inle lake, Yangon) i recommend it!! this trip is way off the tourist trail.

Planning on a motorcycle trip back up thru the Chin state in late Nov.

[Davis Knowlton]

If you look at this thread, click "View My Pics". Spectacular photos!

[PeeCoffee]

Absolutely astounding , Richard. Thank you for sharing !

I am going to find the time when I can to look over your whole collection. Great pics !

Surely Natl Geo , their assorted publications and others surely would be interested in some of your work IMO.

[barrylad66]

Fantastic...itching to go now
Thanks for sharing mate...

[somtamslap]

Yes. Tremendous. Superb shots.

Thanks.

[barrylad66]

Forgot to say,green sent...

[katie23]

Superb pics. Thanks for sharing them!

[blue]

put the photos here

[Kurgen]

If you look at this thread, click "View My Pics". Spectacular photos!

Thanks Dee Kay, I would have missed that link, some amazing shots there.

Thanks Richard.

[Chittychangchang]

Top pics mixed well with the Doors.

[Phuketrichard]

I am humbled :-)
thanks

give me 2 weeks or so to get the most recent trip photos up.

PS: back in the early 80's after 18 months on a bicycle in SE Asia I took my best 500 slides to Nat Geo in DC.

They loved them but told me they want to see 10x that amount, I told them not easy to travel with 200 rolls of film on the road.

Just curious;

I am thinking of planning a motorcycle trip with my Friend Zach who runs tours out of Mandalay up to Chin state in Nov hopefully.

Mandalay-Pakokku- Gangaw- Sitlai- Hakha- Falam- Kalaymyo-back to Mandalay either by road or stick the bikes on a boat. There is public transport all over up there now. Would be not hard ( more than a novice rider thou) but u will need to be able to handle a dirt bike ( wither 125 or 250's) Figure anywhere from 8-12 days. Just in the idea stage right now. Ignore the timing on the google maps;

This area gets at the most 100 tourists/YEAR>>
anyone adventurous spirits out there??

https://goo.gl/maps/gSZemT3uPUB2

[barrylad66]

^
Would love to do it by bicycle Richard. I plan to do a fairly big tour around June taking in Myanmar, to celebrate my half c entuary on earth ,and before my body gives up . I have always wanted to go and your pics have now spurned me on ....

[Chittychangchang]

Sounds like a trip of a lifetime, would love to go but ...commitments.

20 hr 14 mins,Bradley Wiggins would struggle with that..

Look forward to the pics.

[Phuketrichard]

^
Would love to do it by bicycle Richard. I plan to do a fairly big tour around June taking in Myanmar, to celebrate my half c entuary on earth ,and before my body gives up . I have always wanted to go and your pics have now spurned me on ....

I met a guy last dec when i went from Yangon to Kawthoung on a bicycle.
it can be done

I spent 18 months back in 82/83 around se asia ( Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia) on a bicycle.
best time of my life

[OhOh]

Thanks for your photos.

Did you take local boats upstream on a daily basis or one boat/tour all the way. If daily what's the procedure, if one boat can you recommend/suggest boat firms who navigate the river? Thanks.

[Phuketrichard]

down stream;
took different boats all the time stopped at all the places i mentioned above.( 2 times stayed 2 nights) you just ask at the jetty when/where the boats go and book

I do NOT do tours LOL

[OhOh]

^Thanks

[Mr Earl]

Great stuff!

[Phuketrichard]

here ya go, just finished up editing the pics;

Shots of U Bein Bridge at sunset; starts at shot 98 if you don't wish to see previous shots of Mandalay,
Richard Reitman Photography | Mandalay city & nearby Ancient cities, Sagaing, Inwa, Mingun, Amarapura ( U Bein Bridge)

Chindwin River trip;
Richard Reitman Photography | Chindwin River Trip

Heading back in Nov to do a 8-10 motorcyle trip thru the Chin State

[Iceman123]

Great pics, fantastic capturing of the moments.
I feel like throwing my camera away when I see how it should be done!

[palexxxx]

I am humbled :-)
thanks

give me 2 weeks or so to get the most recent trip photos up.

PS: back in the early 80's after 18 months on a bicycle in SE Asia I took my best 500 slides to Nat Geo in DC.

They loved them but told me they want to see 10x that amount, I told them not easy to travel with 200 rolls of film on the road.

Just curious;

I am thinking of planning a motorcycle trip with my Friend Zach who runs tours out of Mandalay up to Chin state in Nov hopefully.

Mandalay-Pakokku- Gangaw- Sitlai- Hakha- Falam- Kalaymyo-back to Mandalay either by road or stick the bikes on a boat. There is public transport all over up there now. Would be not hard ( more than a novice rider thou) but u will need to be able to handle a dirt bike ( wither 125 or 250's) Figure anywhere from 8-12 days. Just in the idea stage right now. Ignore the timing on the google maps;

This area gets at the most 100 tourists/YEAR>>
anyone adventurous spirits out there??

https://goo.gl/maps/gSZemT3uPUB2

Hi Richard, in the above post are you asking for anyone interested in joining you on this adventure? I am interested and perhaps a friend of mine too. I'll send you a PM.