I enjoyed your trip report. I chuckled over your comments about the horsecarts at Ava - they are the worst I've ever encountered. Our horsecart in Bagan was much more comfortable.

Your photos and account of your train ride confirmed all I've heard about the trains. I'm glad we passed on that experience.

Enjoyed your Balloon Festival photos. I'd love to see it some time.

Thanks for posting.

thank you for posting these. will review in detail as am planning trip this november

Thanks! Great blog

Burma remains problematic.

As of the past few days there is apparently new unrest in Kachin province, and there's continuing difficulty with Rakhine. The authorities aren't saying much about Kachin, but do not depend on being able to travel to remote areas. The authorities will tell you where and how you may go. We couldn't go beyond a day north of Katha in early January. No explanation, but you get the drift.

Be aware that Burma hasn't opened up nearly as much as certain people say on this blog. You can't travel freely outside of certain travelled places, although they're great places to go.

You can't get to border areas very easily, so don't try to bribe the locals, you'll only be causing them trouble unless they're related to the military. If they have family in the military you will get there for a price and it will be safe, if that's what you want.

There's a lot of faith being placed in Aung San Su Chi, but I have little to no faith in some of her people in the National League For Democracy. They're already doing deals with the generals.

I wish I was more confident, but we've lived and worked in various parts of Asia, and underdeveloped places like this with a somewhat established urban infrastructure are prime ground, as we saw particularly in Rangoon.

My view of Burma is that, yes, go and travel there, but either keep your eyes open or keep them closed, depending on the type of travel experience you want to have.

If you're geopolitically aware, it's still best not to admit any media connections.

The one good thing about Burma is that it's 97% Buddhist, 2.5% Christian and 0.5% Muslim. There is no obvious sign of the repulsive child sex trade that exists in it's neighbours Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, as repulsive Asian factory workers haven't got there yet.

In case anyone reading this piece wants to know about the foul men who buy little girls and boys for sex in Asia, they're almost completely low-class factory men from Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan.

Western men are are disgrace to themselves in this trade, but not the worst.

I truly hope the children of Burma aren't next in line (I surely must have seen the worst of Asia if I can say that).

Meanwhile, love the country, it's truly wonderful.

>Be aware that Burma hasn't opened up nearly as much as certain people say on this blog. You can't travel freely outside of certain travelled places, although they're great places to go.

As the blogger, I don't recall making any such statements. I followed the obvious tourist route of Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle and some places between. I did my research in advance and was well aware of the restrictions on travel in the border regions. I did not attempt to go to the dangerous regions. I felt quite safe and never felt threatened at any time in the places I chose to visit.

>My view of Burma is that, yes, go and travel there, but either keep your eyes open or keep them closed, depending on the type of travel experience you want to have.

As in every place I travel to I keep my eyes wide open but I also try hard not to judge local customs with Western eyes. That includes both the government and the people. It can be difficult in some places. For example, in Burma I had difficulty accepting their practice of sending children into monasteries as monks at toddler age. But I had to accept that is their way and maybe those children were better off than if they had grown up with a "normal" childhood, possibly in poverty.

I saw that you chose the Shwekeinnery boat to go from Mandalay towards Bagan. Was wondering what the difference is between that boat and the Malikha? Any information you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks