Просмотр исходного текста страницы Ten Minutes In A Myanmar City

Ten minutes.<br><br>That's all we have to explore [https://indochinatours.asia/myanmar-package-tours/ myanmar tour]'s southernmost city.<br><br>After sailing through the deserted Myeik Archipelago for the week, we motored back into port on a Sunday morning before the long journey back to Phuket.<br><br>Through our binoculars and camera zooms, we spy long boats zipping through the port and [http://www.speakingtree.in/search/motorbikes%20weaving motorbikes weaving] through throngs of people on the street.<br><br>The white quayside buildings with ornate balustrades had been cracked and blackened by decades of tropical downpours.<br><br>The newest building in town is a giant mauve cube, the name Honey Bear Hotel in huge black letters on its facade.<br><br>Palm trees march up the surrounding hills to golden Buddhist stupas or radio antennas.<br><br>It's April 20, the first day of Thingyan - Burmese New Year - which is celebrated the same all over Southeast Asia: with huge water fights.<br><br>[https://www.myanmartour.com myanmar tours] immigration officials aren't on holiday, however, and we're forced to hand over our passports while we take look around town.<br><br>The pockmarked alleys have been partially eaten away by the tropical weather.<br><br>Loud chanting sounding like the Muslim call to prayer blares from a sidecar carrying an enormous dusty brown gramophone speaker.<br><br>A teenage girl appears in front of me holding a bowl of water.<br><br>"Excuse me, sir, may I?" she asks, clearly wanting to tip it over me.<br><br>I think about six hours in a van to Phuket wearing a wet shirt and politely decline.<br><br>Our guide, Hein, walks us into a store selling all sorts of knick-knacks and negotiates a good price on my behalf for a traditional longyi dress, which is worn by both men and women.<br><br>An elderly man appears with a plastic packet containing glittery angel wings and a wand, optimistically suggesting I add it to my purchase, but Hein waves him away.<br><br>Most shops are closed for the holiday, but hardcore German techno music pumps out of some of the open ones.<br><br>A stall selling Western hipster sunglasses has a pair of Wayfarers on display so big they'd fall off Andre the Giant's face.<br><br>Further up the street, a tiny girl, soaked from head to toe, is chucking bowls of water at anyone who passes her.<br><br>Two scantily clad Australian tourists armed with water guns are engaged in a skirmish with a group of children holding little water pistols on the other side of the road.<br><br>Back at the dock, a smiling, grandfatherly immigration officer gleaming with medals shoots a young boy in the back with a water pistol.<br><br>He then refills the green, red and yellow weapon at a nearby tap.<br><br>The plastic pistol goes nicely with his bright yellow-and-blue flip-flops, but clashes with his dark green uniform.<br><br>Another officer pulls up on a scooter and gives our passports back - it's time to go.<br><br>Our lighting tour of Kawthaung is such a teaser, I wish we had longer here.<br><br>IF YOU GO<br><br>GETTING THERE: It's quite difficult to get to the Myeik Archipelago, but Intrepid Travel offers people a chance to explore with its Burma Sailing trip is from $1,895 a person. The nine-day trip ex-Phuket includes six nights on board a sailing catamaran and two nights in a hotel with most meals included.<br><br>STAYING THERE: The [http://search.about.com/?q=catamaran catamaran] has cosy cabins with hatches leading to the main deck. The bed is two single mattresses pushed together, with a curtain dividing them. So unless you travel with a partner or friend, you might have to share a large double bed with a stranger. Most time is spent on deck, anyway.<br><br>PLAYING THERE: Intrepid offers short walking tours of Kawthaung upon request at the end of its nine-day Myeik Archipelago tours. All you'll need to bring is a pair of shoes, your camera (wrapped in a plastic bag if it's the water festival) and spending money if you want to buy anything.<br><br>For more information, see intrepidtravel.com.<br><br>* The writer was a guest of Intrepid Travel.