A Trip To Lashio And Muse

I made 5-day 4-night trip to Lashio and Muse on 7 December. This region is located Northern of Shan State near the Chinese border. It is difficult for foreigners to have access to this region. I though I wanted to pay a visit to this region that has a past to be recounted. I had made up my mind to make this trip after hearing about trips and the trip to the region from a Japanese friend of mine.

I came to know about the world war after reading post-war record as a first student of middle school of old education system. The war in Myanmar was one of these. It was very interesting and inspiring. Lashio was expressed in this record. During the China-Japan war, 1153 km motor road to Kumming in Yunnan as Lashio starting point was constructed urgently. This was the road that caused Myanmar war.

Unexpectedly, my wife came to Myanmar. For this reason, I got a chance. After seizing this good opportunity, we planned to start the trip on 7 December. I applied for approval to education department through the university. It was I November. We also needed permission from Ministry of Defence. It might be behind schedule. I thought in peace of mind that I would rearrange the trip if it was so and if we didn't get permission we would not go.

Although, we had decided to go we did not have a map or a guide- book of this region. There were highway buses to the region but their standard was not very high. And it took very long to take buses. So I understood that we would not be able to tolerate it. There were also trains up to Lashio, but departure and arrival time could not be guessed. A friend of mine urged to take a taxi. At last, we set out after hiring a taxi from a tourism company of an acquaintance of mine.

We arrived in Mandalay from Yangon by highway bus on 6 December at night. It was a terrible trip for it took about 24 hours to cover the trip that usually takes 15 to 16 hours. As soon as our bus set out for the trip, it broke down. The substitute bus had a flat tire. All passengers were checked by the authorities before we got to Mandalay. But, it was so strange not to hear any complaint from the passengers.

At the time we got to the hotel I usually stay at, we still had not heard anything about permission from the university. It was very difficult to start our trip the next day. So I was about to give it up when the principal came to the hotel. He said "The application for permission was approved but we haven't received it in black and white yet." I told him that I would put off my trip till we got it. But he said "Please set out as scheduled. But, please call the university if you have any problem on your way". He urged me again and again.

In spite of unhappy mind, fortunately, the tour company had made necessary arrangements as they had thought of difficulties before. Especially, they called a guide, a friend of theirs, for us. For a risky trip like this, a guide is essential because of language barrier. I had not arranged to hire a Myanmar licensed tour guide because I thought that he was not needed for mine was not a visit visa. But, the situation turned out to be convenient.

We started our trip at about 8 am on 7 December. Condition of car was not very bad. Although the back seat jumped often it drove in comfort. I will write about the trip later. We were blamed for not informing Muse checkpoint and the military command in Lashio. We did not able to inform the immigration office in Muse. The trip could not be changed and we had to come back on scheduled day. We got back to Mandalay safe and sound on 11 December.