Visiting Assam and Myanmar

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by zahonado, Aug 5, 2015.

  1. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    I am already in contact with Raj who is giving me some help in planning a trip to Manipur, but I wonder if anyone has been recently and tried to do the trip overland into Myanmar . My aim would be to fit in a railway trip up to Mogaung taking in White city , and maybe stopping off to have a look at the Kaukkwe Chaung area if feasible, then go to mAnadalay and Bagan etc. I imagine accommodation is the problem. Has anyone any experience. I don't want to just do a full remembrance, battlefield tour, just pass by the places dad talked about in his diaries....Getting very excited as traveling in the parental footsteps in India took me to so many interesting places, not on the tourist trail!
     
  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I haven't been to India in the last 10 years and haven't visited Burma since 1986 so I expect that things are very different now. However, it is my understanding that there is no land crossing between India and Burma, though I did read that the Indian and Myanmar governments were planning a road to help with trade between the two countries.

    When I visited Burma much of the country was off limits to tourists and certainly nothing further north than Mandalay was allowed with the exception of Maymyo which I visited. I did manage to see Pegu, Prome and Pagan as well as Mandalay and of course Rangoon.

    I never got to north eastern India despite having a permit for Darjeeling which was intermittently open to tourists at the time. I have always wanted to go to Imphal and Kohima but somehow I never got round to it. I do seem to remember that there was a lot of trouble with communists at the time and that travel to the area was not advised. I expect that things might be a lot easier now.

    Simon.
     
  3. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    We need Steve to chime in here, Za...
     
  4. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I found this site on the internet. There is a good FAQ section.

    It seems that you can now fly into Mandalay as well as Rangoon but there are still no land border crossings. It also states that you can get a visa for up to 28 days.



    www.myanmarvisacorp.com
     
  5. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Well, although we have found out a land crossing is possible, it just seem a bit too intrepid for us and involves a long time driving over unmade roads, so we have decided to give it a miss! Hover we are doing tour round the Mogaung Katha Hopin area, and a boat to sail past the Kawkkwe Chaung between Bhamo and Katha, then down to Mandalay.I think Assam is underwater, Manipur certainly is so difficult to arrang things. Am beside myself with excitement, but still need to sort out dates etc. trying to balance my need to visit in dads footseps with the other cultural delights on offer... Please contact me if anyone would like photos, though not sure how many cemeteries we will get to.
     
  6. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Good luck with the trip. Am a bit envious but know the heat would affect me badly. I would love to know a bit more about Katha. I read an article in a newspaper a year ago which said that a group there was trying to save the bungalow or building that was lived in by that well known author, George Orwell when he served with the Colonial Police there. They had seen the tourist potential of such a property but it was in a pretty bad state. It did cross my mind to try and make contact with the organiser and also let her know that the whole area was the scene of fierce battles in the war and that too might attract visitors. I understand Katha was totally wrecked in the fighting so I was surprised to hear that anything from that date had survived. I wonder if there are any finds made by locals such as badges or discarded equipment? Probably all consumed by the jungle. I will see if I can find the article re Orwell.
     
  7. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Thanks for that snippet Sylvia, I would be interested to see the article about Orwell.But I think we will have anopportunityto wander around a bit . Details still to be finalized of course!
     
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi zahonado,

    Been on my hols for the past ten days or so. We went to the USA and I was impressed with their coverage and observation of VJ Day.

    I have delayed returning to Burma myself until it is possible to travel through the interior, especially the Shan States, as the next time I go, I want to retrace my grandfather's last footsteps as a Chindit soldier. Things are beginning to open up, but certain areas are still 'no go'.

    I would love to see some photographs of the area around the Kaukkwe Chaung. It would be fantastic for you to sneak inland and up stream to Buwa. I'm being a bit cheeky here, but if you pass the riverside village of Zinbon, which sits or at least did sit on an Irrawaddy meander travelling west from Bhamo, but before the Kaukkwe Chaung, then it would be wonderful to have a photograph of this location.

    Best wishes

    Steve
     
  9. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Chaps, I just thought I'd say that I'm thoroughly impressed with your past and planned travels. Nowhere that featured in the 1940 campaign in France and Flanders which preoccupies me is more than about half a days drive away but it still feels like an adventure.

    It was noticeable that whilst the Overlord and VE commemorations were, in general a celebration of a victory, VJ for the survivors and the descendants has much more as a focus those who didn't come home and who are so very far away.

    Keep up the good work !
     
  10. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Yes we thought you went Awol, Steve,hope you enjoyed your trip. Of course I willtry to get photos of the area you mention, but not sure whether traveling east of Bhamo will be possible but will do my best re Buwa and Zinbon. I will need to check those invaluable maps again. DO you have one ofBhamo at all? Have seen some moving tributes in the media but missed most of the events on Saturday .
    Book sales slow despite offer to donate profits this month to the BL. Oh well. THank you Steve and Sylvia for your reviews.
    Rich , not everyone here is a chap you know! But thanks for your comments!
     
  11. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    No offence intended ! I tend to use 'Chaps' in a non-gender specific approving sort of way, probably a pseudo-old-fogeyish affectation on my part, but Americans seem to get away with 'Guys' for everyone.
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Yes, had a fantastic time thanks. San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and then Las Vegas.

    Attached a map of the area around Bhamo and the Irrawaddy travelling west, which then leads to the Kaukkwe Chaung confluence (just off of the map). I'd be interested to see any photos of the places you visit.

    Best wishes

    Steve

    Bhamo NG47-13.jpg
     
  13. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Re your book sales, I know how frustrating it is when you spend so much effort on producing a book which you know people would enjoy reading, only to find sales are slow. The problem is that traditionally publishers did a lot of publicity, sending out copies for review and raising the interest of the public. Signings of books at bookshops etc all helped. If you go down the self publishing route you have to do all the PR yourself and it is time consuming and without PR experience, ( i haven't any) you have to learn new skills. I made myself a long list of things to do to publicise my book and I am still working through it. I have spent time contacting my local newspaper and have just had a phone call back. They sound interested and are promising to send a photographer round.... but I timed my email to them for VJ day and if something else attracts their attention tomorrow... the story will just vanish. I think your books work well as a trilogy and have a great human interest angle. Have you thought about writing article about them and why you published? Hope this helps....maybe not.
     
  14. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    The Internet is a wonderful thing but today I had a handwritten letter with cash enclosed from New Jersey! Apparently they kindly put it in Dekho.... Did you see it Steve?
    Buwa is mentioned in the diaries so if I can sneak up there will do. From your map Zinbon looks easy...great map...all making a bit more sense now! We are flying into Bhamo so maybe do a recce then.....
    Sylvia, I have had a lot of views but maybe the price is wrong. This month because of VJ Day, I am giving any profit to British Legion who have a branch here...I may give a talk there in September....too hot to move at the moment! Good luck with your article. I saw that the BBC and women's hour are doing a series called Writing the Century, and are creating short dramas out of diaries and memoirs. I sent mine in but haven't heard anything... Worth a punt maybe?
     
  15. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I did see your book in this issue zahonado. I thought maybe they would have sent you a copy as you had input within!

    Here is a scan:

    Dekho 2015.jpeg

    The area around Okkyi and Buwa was important in 1943 for Chindit Column 8. It was near the village of Okthaik close to the Kaukkwe Chaung that they were ambushed by the Japanese and suffered their greatest number of casualties.
     
  16. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Thanks Steve . Is the list of names surviving Chindits? Or anyone that served in Burma?
     
  17. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Sadly, this is the list of those Burma Star holders who have passed away in recent months.
     
  18. Matt Poole

    Matt Poole Member

    Zahonado,

    I have a great friend in Burma who now resides in the capital, doing translation work related to business, I think. She has led veterans on tours to waaaaaaaay out of the way places in Burma, with great care, and compassion, and success. I asked her if she might be able to offer you help, and she responded:

    "Please forward my contact details to the member on the ww2talk forum, Matt. Depending when he will visit Myanmar, hopefully, November elections will not result in any negative outcome. He can visit Mogaung and Katha but would be best to enter the country from Yangon. KAUKKWE Chaung is not open for tourists to visit and may need a permit."

    I'll send you her e-mail address privately. She is the BEST -- highly regarded as a tour guide. She speaks multiple languages, has been educated in the west, and she is just devoted to helping those, like yourself, who wish to retrace steps or to connect with the history of World War II in her native country. Her father was a pilot in the Burmese Air Force, trained by the RAF. A wonderful woman. Street smart, highly intelligent, practical, and devoted to others.

    Cheers,

    Matt
     
  19. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Hi Matt, thank you very much for this contact..She sounds a great woman indeed, and I would have loved the opportunity to have a female tour guide, as I am very interested in women's lives in other countries. However, I have already booked this part of our tour with another company so won't be able to take her up on the offer. But would really like to meet her on our way through Yangon. Now to the pm!
     
  20. Matt Poole

    Matt Poole Member

    Oh, too bad, Zahonado, as Khine would have been ideal for you (if she could break away from her regular work to lead you). She led Peter Heppel and family to Broadway a few years back. You can read about this in the pinned "Google Earth BROADWAY" thread.

    Happy travels in a wondrous land.

    Matt
     

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