An e-mail on the 26th Jan. With a new tour offer, as Pandaw members a 20% applied. Thus trolled their web site and found something interesting. No flights and an e-visa could be obtained online for Burma. After 3 weeks tied down with house reno's, prompted us to book this tour scheduled for 4th Feb. Plus it's an easy drive to Rayong - 500+K's up the coast to join our tour vessel.
Preliminary details
7 NIGHTS ON BOARD A CLASSIC 1960'S MOTOR YACHT
THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO
THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO
The Mergui Archipelago with its 800
islands is one of those areas that remain almost totally unvisited by
foreigners. Though now some live-a-board dive boats and yachts venture with
special permission into the southern islands from their bases in Thailand, the
bulk of the archipelago has remained unvisited since colonial times. During
that period when the archipelago was first charted most of the islands were
named after colonial civil servants, a number retain these quaint names to this
day.
The local population is Mokkein,
often called sea gypsies and sometimes called pirates. During the Burmese
socialist period the Mokkein controlled the smuggling routes and would prey on
shipping. Nowadays they have reverted to fishing and fish curing. They are a
people with their own language and culture who entirely live on the sea and
have evolved a remarkable way of life. We will visit Mokkein islands such as
Lampi in the Sullivan Islands.
The ship carries kayaks and
snorkelling equipment for free use.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
KAWTHAUNG
Passengers
embark at the border port of Kawthaung. After lunch explore the town of
Kawthaung and surrounding area. Sail on evening or morning tide.
DAY 2
NAUNG WEE ISLAND
Sail
on to Naung Wee island to visit a Moken (sea gipsy) village and learn about
their extraordinary water bourn life. Sail all night.
DAY 3
SAILING THE ARCHIPELAGO
Sail
all day north through the archipelago with a stop to swim and snorkel and
explore ashore on an island of interest.
DAY 4
MERGUI
All
day ashore to explore this fascinating colonial port city. Afternoon voluntary
trip by car to the rarely visited town of Tanintharyi (Tenasserim), once
capital of this region.
DAY 5
LUN LE ISLANDS
Morning
sail to Port Maria to visit the Karen communities there. Swimming and
snorkeling off a desert island in the afternoon. Sail all night.
DAY 6
LAMPI MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Visit
the Lampi Marine National Park with its mangrove forests and diverse bird life
including the hornbill. We go up river by kayak deep into the mangroves with
excellent bird watching and return to the beach to swim or snorkel. Afternoon
visit to Mokkein sea gypsy villages.
DAY 7
COCKSCOMB ISLAND
Sail
to Cockscomb Island with its limestone caves and hidden lagoon accessible only
on the ship’s tenders. In the afternoon we will move round to the South Bay
where we can kayak and swim off pristine white sandy beaches and watch the sun
go down as cocktails are served on the beach.
DAY 8
KAWTHAUNG
Arrive
at Kawthaung in the morning and disembark for your onward journey.
2nd Feb. 0545hrs on the road to Rayong 540k's up the road so to speak.
Now this is not what you expect on Asia Hwy 4 _____-
Now this is not what you expect on Asia Hwy 4 _____-
Yes! an over sized Kangaroo - how ever the owners are some what geographically challenged
This is the hotel attached to servo! At least they could have had Aussie flags to support the Kangaroo!!
Deep fried chicken and sticky rice for lunch
Our camp prior to our tour.
Biggest hotel in town and well located
Check out the graphic on the bus. Our wheels parked up for the week as we will overnight on our return.
Sue had developed a a rather nasty cold and was not exactly feeling her best - Andaman Clinic soon sorted that out with an intravenous injection of some potion and a hand full of drugs.
04/02/18
Pawdaw
rang 0905hrs – running late, cargo from market. No drama until Thai Immigration
– Sue’s needs a Burma visa – land boarder, airport no visa required = Bugger!
Agents got it sorted within ½ an hour.
Thailand let Sue go, long tail boat ride to
Burma 40 minutes.
Pandaw agent sorting our Sue’s visa.
Our bum boat via Thai immigration check point.
Burma pre-arrival check point - our deckie just holds up our passports.
Interesting hotel name
10 minutes rubber ducky to Andaman Explorer, drink on arrival, cooled our heels and walked the decks. Into our room 1200hrs – magic, except the tar smelling laminates in the bedroom. We also have a sitting room/lounge.
WiFi on board
Our lounge
Bed room
and massive bathroom
Lunch for 2, at the other 7 pax arriving from Yangon by plane 1400hrs.
Lunch for 2, as the other 7 passengers arriving from Yangon by plane approx. 1400hrs.
Lunch
Lunch
Lentil soup with tomato salad and toasted bed slices
BBQ Chook portions
Fish with beans and a veg curry.
Fish with beans and a veg curry.
Pine Apple and Water Melon
Cinnamon and Apple cake
The air condition rather cool = COLD
Soon sorted that out!!
Soon sorted that out!!
Lube oil delivery
Day 1 - Dinner
You get the idea it was great food all week.
Rubber ducky launch
Tour briefing
Lounge and open bar
Just a few islands to explore!
Here's a mud map of our tour
A couple of spares
Inspecting the engine room - squeaky clean
1961 Royals Royce V12 engine - notice the temperature gauges on all the pot's
Photo's don't do the marble floors and timber work justice
Lounge and or dinning room if the weather deteriorates on the open air deck
Bridge tour
Village tour, the local on the right was a Burma Gov. official making sure the tour operator stayed within their permit areas
How old are you?
School room
Not quite a 7/11 store, but__
Yep! on the phone!
At least an all weather path thru the village
Drying fish
All the mod con's, got to keep the TV going
Only 375 steps
Worth the walk up the hill - the steps sure made it easier
Riding their bamboo poles for fish traps out to their boat
Yep! that's the 375 steps
Our tour guide
Don't put your feet down
Only 9 on this tour - besides us - 5 Aussies, 1 POM, and 1 American
Most of the trip we had the rear upper deck to our selves
good size generator - 5Kva
Click on this link for more information - LAMPI Marinr National Park
Guess what - WiFi!! on this side of the Island
Locals connected
Off for a paddle
Calm sea's sure makes it somewhat easier to get folks onto the gang way
We were lucky enough to get a top deck forward berth
Blew the engine on one of the rubber duckies
Onto the beach for lunch
No shortage of food - then off for a swim
Followed by a fresh water ___
cold shower
A 20 minute hike thru the jungle to a secluded dive beach
The only under water photo I got as the camera had issues with water ingress - Bugger!
www.boulderasia.com check it out for your next adventure, it sure is remote and still relatively untouched
Thirst quenching
Yeah! I had 2 crays as Colin the POM does not eat seafood!
We woke up with this cruise vessel parked 200 meters away, we missed the crowds coming and going
Certainly different accommodation
Waiting for our rubber duckie
Off for a paddle
As you can see we did not go hungry
Farewell party
The crew preformed some local songs
Our favorite - Mangrove Jack
We pig out on the sea food - alas
Margaret diet was very restrictive
The hustle and bustle of departing Burma immigration
Ah! the Thai flag is a good indiction we are in the right place
Don't drop Colin's or Sue's case!
It all works among the mayhem
Our taxi air con!
Soon into our Hotel to chill out before the drive home - took 8 hours 15 minutes and no rain!
