Page 160 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

158 SoutheaStern MyanMar Myawaddy
DIreCtory
Banks Both CB Bank on Thitsa Rd and KBZ on Zay Tan St 400m south of the roundabout. There’s no English sign –
offer currency exchange and have ATMs. look for the Myanmar flag outside.
Post office Hpa-An’s post office is on Padomar Rd, about

Myawaddy

One of the more convenient checkpoints on the Thai–Myanmar border, the border
crossing between the busy town of MYAWADDY and Mae Sot in Thailand is relatively
accessible from major cities on either side.

Migyaung Gon Pagoda
3 • Just off Nat Shin Naung St, 400m south of the main road • Daily 5am–10pm • Free
Just 1km southwest of the border, the central shrine at Migyaung Gon Pagoda rests on
the back of a vast concrete crocodile, making it one of the more bizarre photo
opportunities in Myawaddy, and the only one worth searching out if you’re stranded
here for a day. Women aren’t allowed on the crocodile itself, where the chapels hold a
collection of Burmese- and Thai-style Buddhas as well as murals relating the story of
the pagoda’s construction – a princess hid her jewels in a crocodile’s nest for
safekeeping, and later donated the jewels to the monastery.
arrIVaL anD GettInG arounD MyaWaDDy
By shared taxi Minivans to Mawlamyine (5hr) and inside the immigration office, also arranges minivans to
Hpa-An (6hr) leave from the main road just beyond the Yangon for K45,000/person.
border post when full. It costs K10,000 per person to either By motorbike taxi A motorbike taxi costs K500/person
destination. A branch of Vega Travel (T09 0440 9590), for a ride anywhere in town.
aCCoMMoDatIon anD eatInG
Myawaddy Hotel Bayintnaung St T058 50519. A Ngwe Setkar Hotel Chit Kyi Yae St T058 50756. The
great-value and well-run hotel a minute or two on foot only budget option in town that accepts foreigners, Ngwe
from the border post. The rooms are plain and functional, Setkar is quite a hike from the border, but the rooms are
but kept in good condition. As there’s no lift, those on the decent enough for the night if you’re a little tired. Breakfast
fourth floor will bag you a $10 discount. The breakfast is not included. K12,000
very avoidable. $30
DIreCtory
Banks The KBZ Bank has an ATM as well as currency baht. To change baht, you’ll need to stop in at the Vega
exchange upstairs – the rates are better than the branch of Travel desk inside the immigration office, or take your
CB Bank opposite, but neither bank will exchange Thai chances at one of the roadside booths.

MYAWADDY–MAE SOT BORDER CROSSING
Since the Myanmar government removed a rule requiring foreigners to leave their
passports at the Myawaddy–Mae Sot border crossing in 2013, numbers of overland
travellers using this border have increased dramatically. The Myanmar border post (daily
6am–5.30pm) is on the west side of the Moei River. Foreigners can use a small immigration
office, rather than queuing with the locals. From here, it’s a short walk over the Friendship
Bridge to the Thai side of the border (6.30am–6.30pm Thai time) and a 50 baht pick-up ride
to Mae Sot’s bus station, from where there are direct buses to Bangkok (6 daily; 8hr) and Tak
(hourly; 1hr 30min). From Tak there are direct buses to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang
and Mae Sai.

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