After months of research, making connections, and verifying sketchy information, it's really happening. The shaky parade and I are going to be some of the first cyclists to cross overland into Burma on one side and out the other.
For a long time we thought we were going to have to fly out of Singapore over to India, since everyone's known forever that you can't cross overland through Burma. But then we started hearing whispers that the rules had changed. Then information started appearing on government websites, and then we started communicating with actual travelers who'd been there.
As it turns out, about 6 months ago, the Burmese, Thai, and Indian governments all changed a lot of their immigration rules. On the Thai side, three strictly controlled border crossings with Burma were opened to thru-traffic. Now, as long as you have a tourist visa, crossing to and from Burma from Thailand is as easy as any other country in SE Asia.
On the Burmese side, travelers with tourist visas can now travel around relatively freely, without guides, and under their own steam. Previously, you had to enter and exit at the airport, and usually overland crossings were not allowed. The only catch is that we have to get special permission (read: pay money) to cross out on the Indian side. That border crossing is not yet officially open to foreign (western) traffic.
Finally, until very recently, the Indian provinces bordering Burma required special permission for foreign travelers to access. All of those restrictions have apparently been lifted, and once we cross into India, we should be able to travel around unhindered.
In just a few days, all 5 of us (Me, Mike, Minsung, Katya, Mirek) should be crossing over into Burma's southeastern border town of Myawaddy from Maesot, Thailand. After that, who knows what will happen! I'll try to update the blog as often as possible, but I have no idea what internet access will be like in Burma, and even though we've all put a lot of effort into confirming with relative certainty the feasibility of this leg of the trip, things could go awry, and if we're denied permission to travel by bike, or can't cross into India, or if some other problem occurs, I'll be sure to report back ASAP. But if all goes well, in about a month or so we should be exiting Burma's extreme northwestern Tamu province into northeastern India. In the meantime, wish a shaky some luck! This is a big deal!
As it turns out, about 6 months ago, the Burmese, Thai, and Indian governments all changed a lot of their immigration rules. On the Thai side, three strictly controlled border crossings with Burma were opened to thru-traffic. Now, as long as you have a tourist visa, crossing to and from Burma from Thailand is as easy as any other country in SE Asia.
On the Burmese side, travelers with tourist visas can now travel around relatively freely, without guides, and under their own steam. Previously, you had to enter and exit at the airport, and usually overland crossings were not allowed. The only catch is that we have to get special permission (read: pay money) to cross out on the Indian side. That border crossing is not yet officially open to foreign (western) traffic.
Finally, until very recently, the Indian provinces bordering Burma required special permission for foreign travelers to access. All of those restrictions have apparently been lifted, and once we cross into India, we should be able to travel around unhindered.
In just a few days, all 5 of us (Me, Mike, Minsung, Katya, Mirek) should be crossing over into Burma's southeastern border town of Myawaddy from Maesot, Thailand. After that, who knows what will happen! I'll try to update the blog as often as possible, but I have no idea what internet access will be like in Burma, and even though we've all put a lot of effort into confirming with relative certainty the feasibility of this leg of the trip, things could go awry, and if we're denied permission to travel by bike, or can't cross into India, or if some other problem occurs, I'll be sure to report back ASAP. But if all goes well, in about a month or so we should be exiting Burma's extreme northwestern Tamu province into northeastern India. In the meantime, wish a shaky some luck! This is a big deal!
