ZADAN ~ Myawaddy, Burma (Myanmar)

Location: Laos ~ Burma ~ Thailand

Myawaddy

The Road ~ Around Town ~ The Market ~ The Temple

This is Mae Sot, Thailand, we're looking back to where we just walked from, to snap a picture. When we turn back around and continue on our way, we'll be headed to Myawaddy, Myanmar. While your walking on this bridge an old Burmese guy with a hat and an umbrella will stroll up to you, and he'll start chatting, asking where you came from, where your going, and just being conversational. Luckily, we were told in advance that this would happen, because this guys isn't just your normal friendly Asian who just wants to practice his English: he's an agent for the military of Myanmar.

He's kind enough to never tell you this, and while he's chatting away, he leads you into the immigration office at the end of the bridge. He tells you that you have to be back across the bridge by 5pm, and that he'll be showing you where you are allowed to go, and telling you the things you are not allowed to do. For example, there is only one place where you are allowed to take this picture above, only in front of it, and from the middle of the street. You are not allowed to take pictures of any other government buildings, military buildings, officials, official vehicles, and plenty of other things he makes sure to inform you of along your way.

Take note of the trucks, they're important.

Amazingly this school was not on the photograph-restricted list. But really, the telling part of this story is the highway. Look at this big, new, fancy highway. Look at how many big, new, lanes it has. Notice that nothing is moving on it.

This is 4:30pm rush hour. Those 6 big wide lanes are congested, aren't they?

This is the only other street I could find in town that was paved and in good condition. It's probably a lot easier to pedal these taxi's on a smooth street, and I'm sure these guys appreciate it, because some of the dirt and rock roads are pretty rough. But, I'm sure that these guys are fully aware that the pavement, especially the highway, wasn't for them or any other citizens of Myawaddy. The government made it for their own purposes.

This is where the highway turns of into side streets. Rock roads that have concrete curbs. There seem to be spots, like this one, where there's some evidence that there was once a paved street underneath the rocks.

Speaking of rocks... These's guys here are a clue as to what's really going on in Myawaddy. Myanmar is extremely rich in natural resources, especially gems like these and a wide variety of grades of rubies. The military of the country, considers all the natural resources to be their own property. Oh yeah, and this includes the people. Anything of value, anything of use, they claim as theirs. They make the citizens do the work, if they pay them it's barely enough for rice. The military then has them build massive highways, such as this one, so that the military trucks can transport goods in and out of the country. Any incoming money goes to the military.

The people are allowed to work in small commerce, selling vegetables, or bootleg DVD's, clothing, etc. But anything of real value, the military government keeps the profits entirely for themselves. And they are fine with this, because if the people had wealth, then they might have to deal with traffic on their 6 lane highway. They probably prefer it to be empty.

So, let's take a look around town and see what it's like here for the people of Myawaddy. (next page)

Myawaddy: The Road ~ Around Town ~ The Market ~ The Temple

Location: Laos ~ Burma ~ Thailand

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