Page 113 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Ngwe SauNg The DelTa anD wesTern MyanMar 111
Slightly further away (around 45min by motorbike, with one ferry crossing en route),
SINMA village is another good place to see the morning’s catch being landed, as well as
vast quantities of fish drying on the beach.

Bird Island

The trip out to Bird Island, about one hour offshore, makes for an interesting half- or
full-day excursion. Despite the name, the island is best for snorkelling rather than 2
birdwatching, with plenty of colourful fish and live coral, and the boat ride out
through the crashing waves is also fun. Trips through a tour operator cost around
$75 for a boat seating five or more, though you might be able to negotiate a good
per-person rate (from as little as $25) from a boatman on the beach.
arrIVal anD DeParTUre nGwe saUnG
Ngwe Saung lies at the end of a twisty road from Pathein, which winds its way through hills that only a few years ago were
blanketed in lush rainforest – unfortunately, they’ve now been almost totally logged.
By bus Old and cramped minibuses make the journey from Ngwe Saung directly from Chaung Tha overland by
Pathein to Ngwe Saung, and there are also comfortable motorbike taxi (K20,000), which involves a fun, if bumpy,
express buses direct from Yangon’s Hlaing Thar Yar bus 2hr ride with three small ferry crossings en route.
terminal. Buses tend to drop off passengers all along the Alternatively, you can hire a boat (K120,000–150,000)
main road before terminating by the junction between the seating five-plus people – a great way to arrive if you can
village and the beach strip. get a group together to share the cost. Transfers by boat
Destinations Pathein (3 daily; 2hr); Yangon (3 daily; 6hr). and motorbike can be organized through local tour
By motorbike taxi and boat It’s possible to get to operators (see box, p.110).
GeTTInG arOUnD
The beach area is very spread out – it’s at least 6km from the village to the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club, for example. Some guesthouses
and hotels have bikes for rent (K3000/day), though motorbikes (K10,000/day) can also be rented from tour operators.
A few motorbike taxis and rickshaws tend to meet arriving buses, but other than this, transport is thin on the ground.
aCCOMMODaTIOn
Hotels and guesthouses are strung out along the beach. Most are located south of the village, although there’s a further
cluster of large and more upmarket resorts north of the village, too. Pretty much all Ngwe Saung’s restaurants and
shops are concentrated in the village itself, which also boasts a few places to stay if you want to be in the thick of things
and don’t mind being a walk or bike ride away from the sand. Note that the majority of places are closed May–September,
and that the government electricity supply only runs (erratically at best) from 6pm–6am. More upmarket places have
their own generators, but in budget establishments expect to be powerless during the day.
IN THE VILLAGE T042 40218. This is one of Ngwe Saung’s best-looking
Hotel Lux 40 Myoma Rd T042 40252, Wwww resorts, right through from its thatched lobby to the
.hotellux.com.mm. Attractive mid-range resort in the immaculately manicured gardens and attractive swathe of
middle of the village, set in a modern white-and-cream sand beyond. Accommodation is in a cluster of spacious
building backing onto the beach. It has a smallish pool, wooden villas (from $169), plus there are cheaper rooms in
which sits right above the sand. Rooms are spacious and a two-storey block behind – nice enough, but lacking the
attractively furnished – oddly, they become cheaper the wow factor you might expect at this price. Facilities include
higher up the building you go. Those at the top are very a spa, a nice restaurant and decent-sized pool. $140
good value. There are also a few fancier suite-sized
bungalows ($140) almost on the beach, with private SOUTH OF THE VILLAGE
verandas overlooking the ocean. $70 ★ Emerald Sea Resort 2.5km south of the village
T042 40247, Wemeraldseahotel.com. One of Ngwe
NORTH OF THE VILLAGE Saung’s most attractive and affordable resorts, set around a
Aureum Palace Myoma Rd, 1.5km north of the village pleasingly landscaped, palm-studded lawn backing onto

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