Get through the handicap

The I paid a visit to Ngwe Hsaung Beach on a chartered coach together with my Japanese friends living in Yangon during the three-day holiday from 5 to 7 of March.

Our meeting place at six o'clock in the morning was in front of the Traders Hotel and from there we headed for the Ngwe Hsaung Beach, the A-1 beach in Myanmar.

There is a river after driving past Pathein. I think it is a tributary of the Ayeyawady River. We had to cross the river by a ferry because the bridge over the river is under construction. The bridge is targeted to finish at the end of this year. (But, it is better to bear in mind that" next two years" although it is said "next year".) It took us about three hours from Yangon to the river. The ferry berthed not long after we got to the river so we could continue our trip taking the ferry. On the ferry, a staff collected five dollars each from foreigners. Although we were given receipts for the round trip, we felt rather unsatisfied for the money.

Before heading for the beach after driving past Pathein, there were winding roads and roads under repair. Although we could have made it in no time if we were able to drive on a straight road, we had to put up of discomfort of the road. After driving about five hours from Yangon in the same scene, with a sudden change of the scene we arrived at Ngwe Hsanug Beach.

Our group stayed at Palm Beach Hotel and Yuzana Hotel. The former is a high-class hotel with a swimming pool. The latter is owned by a Myanmar national and it was popular among local people. (Please see the details on the respective homepage.)

About 150 visitors were staying at Yuzana Hotel making the hotel almost house full for they could get three consecutive holidays. (There were about 20 foreigners.) At the Plam Beach Hotel also, almost all the rooms were occupied. Only about 50 foreigners were staying there. My family stayed at a room facing the sea at Yuzana Hotel. Facilities in the room are air conditioner, hot and cool bath, television, etc.

On the first day, we took a rest on the beach. One cannot swim in the sea along the beach in front of the Yuzana Hotel because there are stone reefs and it is a bit dangerous. Half of Ngwe Hsaung Beach is rocky reef and half is sandy beach. You can swim in the sea in front of the high-class hotels because there are not reefs. But, beach at the side of local hotels are full of reefs. Although it is not easy to swim, there are a lot of fish near the reefs. Even in the 50 cm deep water where one can prop his legs, there are numerous multi-coloured tropical fishes. It is in some way enjoyable to see them.

On the day two, we gathered at 7 o'clock in the morning. Then set out for an inner island in the sea to go snorkeling and fishing on a chartered boat. We had to swim to the boat because there was no jetty to board the boat. The staff from Palm Beach Hotel carried the things we needed in containers so that they did not get wet. They also prepared soft drinks, beer and lunch for us. A lifeline was connected between the beach and the boat. And life jackets were made ready. But, it would be a bit difficult for those who cannot swim.

After one hour's drive, we got to a place where we could dive. While the boat making the trip, we felt a little seasick due to big waves.We went snorkeling in the environs of the place. The hotel as a free service arranged five sets of snorkels for us. But we were not able to see fish because the sea was a bit rough at that time. Therefore we changed the place. The place was an island with only a few habitats. As we boarded the boat, we had to swim to the island because the boat could not berth at the bank.

It was like an aquarium as there were coral reefs around the island and multi-coloured fishes. It would be always an interesting scene at any time. My three-year old daughter was thrilled to see the fishes swimming in the reefs. We had sandwiches with beer and soft drinks prepared for us from the hotel for lunch on the island.

We left the island at about two o'clock in the afternoon and fished for a while. The hotel staff borrowed fishing gears from local villagers and prepared fish baits for us so that we could fish. Big catches can be got at low tide. But, we did not catch much although we could see fishes because it was high tide when we were fishing.

The Palm Beach Hotel does not advertise this snorkeling trip much and it is little known because emphasis is not much on such trips in Myanmar. We recommend this snorkeling trip if you happen to visit Ngwe Hsaung. But, it is not a smooth trip because there is no jetty to board the boat. But it was enjoyable anyway because it was like an adventure in Myanmar. Moreover, for those who want to dive they can and please try this if chances are given.
http://www.myanmarscuba.com

The most interesting thing in this trip was the seafood buffet dinner served at the Palm Beach Hotel at night on the day we went snorkeling. Before we set out for snorkeling, we saw some fresh lobsters, squids, and others fish in the steel containers at the entrance of the hotel. Although we hoped that they all would include in the buffet, there was any lobster and squid in the meal because they were just for a la carte. A Japanese friend of mine who works for a company, which exports prawns to Japan, said that the prawns included in the buffet were high quality ones which are not easily available in Japan. Although it cost 18 US dollars per head, it was high quality one, which would satisfy diners.

On the third day, my family took a rest on the beach because we were tired from the trip we made the day before. A couple from our group went to the elephant camp, 30 minutes away from the beach. They said they took a ride on the elephant around the village at the cost of 7 dollars per head. So did other foreign couples. They seemed to have a great time. We would also take a ride when wevisit here next time.

We had lunch in Ngwe Hsaung and left there at about one o'clock in the afternoon. We arrived back in Yangon at about six o'clock in the evening.Although Ngapali is famous as the best beach resort in Myanmar, in Ngwe Hsaung we could go snorkeling, which is available in Ngapali. Moreover, water is crystal clear. I should not be wrong if I say Ngwe Hsaung Beach with high-class hotels and local hotels is the best in Myanmar. Guidebooks do not carry information about the beach. Europeans are frequent visitors at the beach. Number of Japanese visitors is also increasing. But, the five-hour drive from Yangon is like a problem. (On completion of the bridge, I think it would save 30 to 60 minutes.) It is Ngwe Hsaung that I would like to visit again.