A Few Questions About a Katha Pandaw Cruise in Myanmar (Burma)
Mar 25th, 2013, 03:35 PM
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A Few Questions About a Katha Pandaw Cruise in Myanmar (Burma)
I have already booked on a Katha Pandaw cruise later this year. Recently, I discovered this forum and after much noodling about discovered the trip reports of Dogster and Ekscrunchy. I am now afraid, very afraid. Have I done the right thing? Have I submitted myself to a boat full of Caledonians? As a reasonably sane ( I like to think so) single traveller I would appreciate any advice as to how to survive amongst this sort of company.
On a less important note what is the best footwear for a trip on the Pandaw Katha? Walking Shoes, it appears are looked down on as too time consuming (donning, removing at temples etc., thongs (flip flops) not very good in muddy conditions, any suggestions as to make and model of footwear?
I also notice that the Australian department of Foreign Affairs has just issued a travel warning for the part of Myanmar that's rioting. Should I be worried about this too?
On a less important note what is the best footwear for a trip on the Pandaw Katha? Walking Shoes, it appears are looked down on as too time consuming (donning, removing at temples etc., thongs (flip flops) not very good in muddy conditions, any suggestions as to make and model of footwear?
I also notice that the Australian department of Foreign Affairs has just issued a travel warning for the part of Myanmar that's rioting. Should I be worried about this too?
Mar 25th, 2013, 06:24 PM
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You've booked the cruise - take it. Many people love the Pandaw cruises. Personally, I feel like I want more time with my feet on the ground, but that is me. Remember that the cruise allows you to travel with your group off the boat - to travel on your own. Take advantage of this option.
There is sectarian violence in that area right now, who knows what will be happening by the time of your cruise. Have no doubt that if there are problems in the area, the government won't let you anywhere near there. The Pandaw cruise people are highly experienced in Burma and will adapt to whatever the conditions are.
Footwear: wear what you are comfortable with, with the knowledge that you have to take off your shoes to enter pagodas/temples/wats.
I wore Olu Kai flip flops our whole second Burma trip - I brought three pains.
There is sectarian violence in that area right now, who knows what will be happening by the time of your cruise. Have no doubt that if there are problems in the area, the government won't let you anywhere near there. The Pandaw cruise people are highly experienced in Burma and will adapt to whatever the conditions are.
Footwear: wear what you are comfortable with, with the knowledge that you have to take off your shoes to enter pagodas/temples/wats.
I wore Olu Kai flip flops our whole second Burma trip - I brought three pains.
Mar 29th, 2013, 06:15 AM
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Hmmm--a boat full of Caledonians? Well, ya never know--but having taken the ten-day Golden Land Pandaw Cruise (on the Katha) I can report that it was one of the best travel experiences we've had. We've never done any kind of group travel, and have traveled reasonably extensively on our own. We're American, but I've lived in a few other countries. Not sure what your nationality is but on our Pandaw cruise, we were the only Americans in a group of 25. Most were Australian, with four of them having lived in Bangkok for the past 12--30 years, two Thai, and the rest British. Just about everyone was exceptionally well-traveled, and more of them travelers than tourists. The age range was from early 40s to mid-70s. They were readers and quite independent minded, curious and congenial.
I can appreciate your hesitation, and, of course, it's always a matter of luck as to what the group will be like, but Pandaw seems to be sui generis. Our guide, Daniel, was terrific--knowledgeable, worldly (he was Burmese, raised in Yangon.) He could put things in a broad context while at the same time delve into detailed explanations when questioned. And he was terrific as a group leader. If one wanted to do independent exploration while on shore, that was fine as long as you were back at the boat when it was scheduled to depart. If you wanted to stay on board and not follow the schedule for the day, that was fine. It's a very loose structure if that's what you want--and if not, the daily agenda is there.
And the crew--uniformly--were thoughtful, personable, warm, friendly, competent. Several of them lived in different villages along the Ayerwaddy and would take shore leave when we stopped at the village. We met their families, saw their homes, spent time in places few tourists were visiting. If you're inclined, you can get to know the crew and learn about Burma in a more personal way than just reading a guide book.
A friend who's a travel writer had gone on another Burma Pandaw cruise in 2011, and as she'd had such a great experience, she had encouraged us to try it . Her boat was larger with about 40 or 60 passengers, I believe. We felt lucky to be on the Katha with the smaller number of passengers. Before signing on, I also spoke to two other passengers from previous Burma Pandaw trips, and their reports were uniformly positive.
As far as the shoes, we just bought some sturdy-soled rubber sandals in the market in Naungshwe, and they were great. You do want something that you can just slip on and off when you're getting on and off the boat and, of course, when you're going into temples.
And I could go on!
I can appreciate your hesitation, and, of course, it's always a matter of luck as to what the group will be like, but Pandaw seems to be sui generis. Our guide, Daniel, was terrific--knowledgeable, worldly (he was Burmese, raised in Yangon.) He could put things in a broad context while at the same time delve into detailed explanations when questioned. And he was terrific as a group leader. If one wanted to do independent exploration while on shore, that was fine as long as you were back at the boat when it was scheduled to depart. If you wanted to stay on board and not follow the schedule for the day, that was fine. It's a very loose structure if that's what you want--and if not, the daily agenda is there.
And the crew--uniformly--were thoughtful, personable, warm, friendly, competent. Several of them lived in different villages along the Ayerwaddy and would take shore leave when we stopped at the village. We met their families, saw their homes, spent time in places few tourists were visiting. If you're inclined, you can get to know the crew and learn about Burma in a more personal way than just reading a guide book.
A friend who's a travel writer had gone on another Burma Pandaw cruise in 2011, and as she'd had such a great experience, she had encouraged us to try it . Her boat was larger with about 40 or 60 passengers, I believe. We felt lucky to be on the Katha with the smaller number of passengers. Before signing on, I also spoke to two other passengers from previous Burma Pandaw trips, and their reports were uniformly positive.
As far as the shoes, we just bought some sturdy-soled rubber sandals in the market in Naungshwe, and they were great. You do want something that you can just slip on and off when you're getting on and off the boat and, of course, when you're going into temples.
And I could go on!
Mar 29th, 2013, 01:29 PM
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Thanks for your comments 520. The "Caledonian" reference comes from Dogster's really good travel report of a trip aboard a Pandaw in India. I think rubber soled sandals are the ones to get. I just hope the sectarian violence has settled by the time I get there. Thanks again
Mar 30th, 2013, 01:27 AM
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Can't think what the "Caledonian" reference is about regarding fellow passengers. It might be that the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was a Scots company that built and operated the boats, and Paul Strachan, the current owner who has resurrected the line is a Scotsman.
We have travelled with the line on most of their river journeys since they started in the 1990s. It has been a bit iffy on some rivers because of local corruption and the need to go with bribery, which is why a lot of the earlier journeys have been dropped.
As for shoes, wear thongs. you can dump them at temple steps or put them in your shoulder bag.
And as for fellow passengers, one of our best trips with Irrawaddy Co involved a week at the dinner table shared with a Kuwaiti oil executive, his swedish wife, a swiss couple who shared german and french language, a spanish couple who had some english and french, myself with some french and spanish, and my husband who only has english. It was brilliant because we all had to delve into our second languages for some hilarious conversations.
We have travelled with the line on most of their river journeys since they started in the 1990s. It has been a bit iffy on some rivers because of local corruption and the need to go with bribery, which is why a lot of the earlier journeys have been dropped.
As for shoes, wear thongs. you can dump them at temple steps or put them in your shoulder bag.
And as for fellow passengers, one of our best trips with Irrawaddy Co involved a week at the dinner table shared with a Kuwaiti oil executive, his swedish wife, a swiss couple who shared german and french language, a spanish couple who had some english and french, myself with some french and spanish, and my husband who only has english. It was brilliant because we all had to delve into our second languages for some hilarious conversations.
Mar 30th, 2013, 07:18 AM
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What fun! What I loved about all our mealtimes, however, was that there weren't any set dining arrangements, so that we wound up getting to spend time with everyone of the 25 at various meals. Everyone was pretty low key, fun, and interesting.
Apr 15th, 2013, 04:20 AM
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Having just come off the Katha Pandaw on April 3rd, I would like to add some comments. I will be sending a report on our fantastic trip in the coming weeks as soon as my body catches up with me.
Firstly, on our cruise I was part of a group of Canadians(who are great people to travel with in my estimation) and the balance were Australian,one English woman and a lovely German couple.
We have traveled the world and I can honestly say that the Burmese people are the nicest we have met including the Pandaw crew.
Because of the smallness of the ship, everyone got along with everyone else and helped each other not only on the ship but off as well. One couple were in their 90's and the crew would always be with them,carrying a stool in case the couple wanted to sit down. They are first class people and the villages we went to you couldn't get to except by the river.
Secondly the footwear. I dislike sandals and especially dislike going barefoot but, I am glad I took sandals as you have to climb the river banks,walk through villages that have dirt roads,ride in carts that kick up lots of dust, so I was glad I had the sandals. There were a lot of people who did not wear them and when you return to the ship, the crew assist you in removing your footwear and clean them for you. We would go back to the cabin and shower our feet. They provide slippers in each cabin but a lot of people walked around barefoot. If you wear socks take extras because they will be filthy and they do go to a lot of pagodas.
Suggest taking a nail brush to scrub your feet because they do get dirty.
At no time was any one looked down at because they had shoes and socks.
Lastly, th political situation. Yes there is violence and yes we did see soldiers on the road from Prome to Yangon but at no time did we feel threatened. Quite the contrary, we were welcomed by everyone.
It is a magical country and now is the time to go. I think 10 or 15 years from now it will probably be another Bangkok, so please consider going now.
That is our opinion, and I am sure some people will say otherwise but if you ask us GO!
Firstly, on our cruise I was part of a group of Canadians(who are great people to travel with in my estimation) and the balance were Australian,one English woman and a lovely German couple.
We have traveled the world and I can honestly say that the Burmese people are the nicest we have met including the Pandaw crew.
Because of the smallness of the ship, everyone got along with everyone else and helped each other not only on the ship but off as well. One couple were in their 90's and the crew would always be with them,carrying a stool in case the couple wanted to sit down. They are first class people and the villages we went to you couldn't get to except by the river.
Secondly the footwear. I dislike sandals and especially dislike going barefoot but, I am glad I took sandals as you have to climb the river banks,walk through villages that have dirt roads,ride in carts that kick up lots of dust, so I was glad I had the sandals. There were a lot of people who did not wear them and when you return to the ship, the crew assist you in removing your footwear and clean them for you. We would go back to the cabin and shower our feet. They provide slippers in each cabin but a lot of people walked around barefoot. If you wear socks take extras because they will be filthy and they do go to a lot of pagodas.
Suggest taking a nail brush to scrub your feet because they do get dirty.
At no time was any one looked down at because they had shoes and socks.
Lastly, th political situation. Yes there is violence and yes we did see soldiers on the road from Prome to Yangon but at no time did we feel threatened. Quite the contrary, we were welcomed by everyone.
It is a magical country and now is the time to go. I think 10 or 15 years from now it will probably be another Bangkok, so please consider going now.
That is our opinion, and I am sure some people will say otherwise but if you ask us GO!
Apr 20th, 2013, 10:19 AM
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worldtraveller2, Burma is a lovely land, but I don't see it becomming anything like Thailand.
There's going to be a bit of development, but if I was an Asian billionaire developer, I would be in with the generals doing what they're doing with mining and forestry in the places that tourists can't go.
Then I would be going in with the generals in refurbishing all of those lovely old colonial buildings in Rangoon, which is what they're doing.
The one thing that hasn't started yet is building resorts on the Burmese islands on the Andaman Sea coast. These islands are exquisite, mostly uninhabited, very similar to the islands around the Thai and Malay coasts, but completely undeveloped. We sailed there once upon a time.
There's going to be a bit of development, but if I was an Asian billionaire developer, I would be in with the generals doing what they're doing with mining and forestry in the places that tourists can't go.
Then I would be going in with the generals in refurbishing all of those lovely old colonial buildings in Rangoon, which is what they're doing.
The one thing that hasn't started yet is building resorts on the Burmese islands on the Andaman Sea coast. These islands are exquisite, mostly uninhabited, very similar to the islands around the Thai and Malay coasts, but completely undeveloped. We sailed there once upon a time.
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