More to be desired in Myeik

By Stuart Deed | Sunday, 13 October 2013 The Myanmar Times

Excerpt from article:

Courtesy of the hard work of the people at the Yangon Heritage Trust, the colonial-era buildings in the former capital are rightfully basking in the international spotlight – and bringing tourists to Yangon every day. But outside of downtown Yangon I don’t think I’ve seen so many glorious colonial buildings within walking distance as there are in Myeik. Many of them are in excellent repair and in daily use as homes or businesses.

Elsewhere the town is surprisingly bustling – motorcycles zip about the streets from early in the morning until late in the evening. A sizeable fishing fleet calls the town home and an evening walk along the waterfront reveals the charming sight of scores of boats floating on the harbour. Sadly, the same waterfront during the day is rather less pretty – trash cakes the waterline and betel nut-chewing workers and motorcycle taxi drivers loiter.

Myeik is a secular town – there are multiple brightly painted mosques, sedate churches and golden pagodas that glimmer in the sun at the hilltops. Getting around is easy with motorcycle taxis nearly everywhere. You'll struggle to walk for five minutes without at least one offer.

Read the full article here: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/lifestyle/travel/8460-more-to-be-desired-in-myeik.html

The full article on the Myanmar Times site raises some interesting points about the cost of domestic air travel, especially to places like Myeik.

Over the course of many years working in the islands out of Myeik, it was always erratic getting to and from the town. Flights are often delayed by anything up to a few days - and even now you might have to wait a day or two between flights if they are cancelled.

Hopefully the introduction of new airlines and new additional aircraft will help.

I expect this season will be the biggest on record in terms of foreign arrivals.....