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Myanmar, Tribes & The Ayeyarwady:  An Introduction

For decades Burma had been closed to international travelers. Entry was extremely restricted and the government made no provisions for tourism uninterested in the anticipated problems of foreign input.

Today that is changing. In the past foreign visitors could only receive a 24 hour visa, now a four week visa is freely available.

The Asian Development Bank is studying the possibility of linking Myanmar with its South East Asian neighbours with a 1500km road taking in the major sites of religious, historical, and cultural interest. Air Mandalay has since signed interline agreements with Angel Air and Air France. 

Previously un-known and un-visited areas are becoming accessible. Like Kakku; North of Inle Lake and home to the Pa-Oo tribes people.

On the streets of Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay, you can now see foreign business men taking advantage of the free market economy which was non-existent in previous socialist times.

In order to cater for the high demand created by foreigner's countless hotels, bars, restaurants, medical facilities and other businesses are now mushrooming in the city suburbs and tourist trails.

It has never been easier to visit what can only be described as one of the most enchanting nations in Asia and soak up a wealth of unique cultures and history.

The Ayeyarwady (Irrawadi)

Running the full length of the upper and delta country the Ayeyarwady River is the lifeblood of Myanmar. The Mon folk established themselves on its banks several centuries before the birth of Christ

Rising in the southern Himalayas, the river traverses the country north to south for 2170 kms (1350 miles), finally emptying via a vast nine pronged delta into the Andaman Sea. This delta was coined "the Road to Mandalay" by British colonialists who had to travel the Ayeyarwady in search of fine silks, gems and rice.

No where in the world will you find a river that encompasses such drastic climatic and ecological variants as the Ayeyarwady. Beginning in the far north the river runs through the rugged Kachin Hills, the foothills to the mighty Himalayas. At Bhamo (1500 kms from the delta) the river enters the Shan Plateau region. Further down stream, it emerges on the dry plain of central Myanmar. It then cruises past sandbars to the Pagoda and Temple ruins of Bagan, and enters the moister southern stretch of its course. At its huge delta, 240 kms wide and 290 kms long , the river opens up to a vast, seamless swathe of paddy fields.

Puppet Masters in Mandalay