Cycling in Asia forum

Hi Mike,

I recommend that you check out some of the journals on Crazy Guy on a Bike. They'll give you a fairly good idea of what cycling in Burma is like. Here is the page with the entries for Burma ...

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/locales/?locale_id=35&doctype=journal

Steve Ruelle's journal is the most recent. He writes of crossing the border in Thailand at Mae Sai and trying to go into Burma. He was caught and made to return to Tachilek.

I found Graham Finch's journal to be an excellent source of info. In fact, I recommend reading all of his journals. Not only is he a great writer, but he is also fearless and an excellent photographer.

I have not cycled in Burma, but I have cycled all over Thailand and Laos, and have traveled in Burma and would love to go there with my bike sometime in the next few years. But going overland from Burma into Thailand? Frankly, I don't think this is going to be possible. You'll most likely need to take at least two flights ... one into Yangon, and one out of Burma (probably Yangon again). But having said that, I hope you can do it, and look forward to your report.

Happy Cycling.

Hey Mike,

You might enjoy reading about Graham Finch's travels through Bangladesh. That is one wild ride! Pretty much off the grid for the majority.

I am going to assume that you have cycled all over Bornholm. I have cycled some of the Norwegian coast and islands, but never in Denmark. One day ...

In January I met a French girl in Sukhothai who was cycling from Beijing to France via Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, etc. etc. etc. Her plan was to cross into Burma at Kawthoung and then continue up into the NW part of the country and then cross into either India or Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, she skipped Burma because she wasn't going to be able to cross the border from Thailand and then continue into the country. She would also not be permitted to cross from Burma into India or Bangladesh. So she just hopped onto a plane with her bike and flew to India. She is in China again after cycling from India into Nepal and then into Tibet. I believe she is heading for "the Stans". She's alone!

Good luck with your trip. Maybe you could post it on Crazy Guy?

Best.

I guess that Oz, like Canada, never lets a good name go to waste.

I know what you mean w.r.t. workmates.

And, yes, amazing is a good adjective for her. If you PM me I can send you her website and you can see where she has gone.

I really have doubts if you can enter Myanmar via a bike from the outside world. The only legal way to enter is via air in to Rangon. Unless something drastic has changed since I visited there in Feb 2011.

But once you're in Rangon, check out Soe's Biking in Myanmar.

http://www.bwemtravel.com/

This is run by a Burmese lady named Soesoe and Jeff, her Australian husband. I've met the couple on my Myanmar trip in Feb 2011. Very nice people and have become friends since.

And Jeff is so passionate about biking, he breathes it! If you contact them, tell them I sent them your way.

Rowena

I'm still trying to work out how to do the PM so will get back to you.

"I believe she is heading for "the Stans". She's alone!"

Hopefully she's not one of these crazies who thinks basically everyone is good and isn't planning on cycling through Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran...

Believe it or not, Khazakstan has a decent dance scene.