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Eco Tourism.
Among the geographical beauties of the Union of
Myanmar, many treasures are in the depths existing beneath the archipelago
waters to this day. Myeik Archipelago located in the southernmost part of
Myanmar, comprises over 800 beautiful scattered islands, parallel to the
coast of 480 kilometres long Myeik Peninsula on the Andaman Sea. Due to
its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an
amazing diversity of flora and fauna.
Myeik Archipelago is famous and well known because of its crystal blue
water, untouched coral reef and uninhabited islands clustered close to one
another. Pearl diving and breeding are also the traditional works around
the Islands of Myeik Archipelago. The Myeik Archipelago is still
relatively unexplored and largely uninhabited. The only human inhabitants
in this beautiful area are the sea gypsies, a nomadic seafaring race known
as Salons. They live on boats during the dry season surviving their living
by fishing, gathering and selling of natural marine products. However,
they remain on land during raining season when the weather is strong and
rough. At that time of the season, they manage to stay slovenly on the
nearest islands they could find. They built long legged huts made of
bamboo, cane or anything that they could find useful for building huts.
Their life style is very simple and has changed very little over the
years.
The sea gypsies have been the sole inhabitants of the Myeik Archipelago
over the years and they still use the same fishing and boat building
techniques, which they have been using for many generations. Being
affectionate to the sea, they are expert in swimming, diving and
submerging in the sea. The Salons do not live on agriculture or farming,
instead they roam in the sea near the coasts. Their boats, made of light
wood are convenient and appropriate to go in the sea. Their customary way
of living in the sea is extraordinary as they take all the household
things such as utensils, food rations and including dogs, cats and
chickens with them on the boat. Their society has different cultural
values from those offered by modern society. They are locked in the value
system that they believe to be their own. As their ways of life and
customs are so characteristic, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism launched the
Salon traditional festival to attract international tourists as well as to
operate marine eco-tourism around the islands in Myeik Archipelago.
Kawthaung formerly known toas Vicria Point, is the southernmost town of
Myanmar. It is situated 921 kilometres from Yangon. From Kawthaung
visitors can take 20 minute boat trip to Ranong, a border town in
Thailand, for sightseeing and shopping. Andaman Club on the Thahtaykyun
Island is located west of Kawthaung. There are regular flights taking only
45 minutes from Yangon to Kawthaung while traveling by special boats take
about 2 days. Almost some half of Myeik Archipelago is located in the
area of Kawthaung. Offshore fishing is an important business in Kawthaung
and people here is busy to trade with Thailand for fishing, raw rubber and
cashew nuts.
Among the pleasant and enchanting islands lying in the Andaman Sea, the
renowned Lumpi offers a great variety of breathtaking scenery and
wildlife, with more luxuriant evergreen forests, beach and dune forests,
tidal mangroves, magnificent beaches and spectacular coral formation. A
diving trip in Myanmar is something special that will leave a lasting
impression of natural beauty above and below the water. The surrounding
waters of Lumpi are rich in bird life, fish marine, dolphins and marine
turtles. Thus, the Lumpi Island and the surrounding groups of islands with
expansive beaches of high quality sand and offshore corals make Lumpi
Island worthy of being designated as a nature reserve and also being
developed as a tourist attraction for Marine Tourism.
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Nat Ma Taung (Mt. Victoria)
The Chin State forms a substantial parts of Myanmar's western borders with
Bangladesh and India. In the east, it meets Sagaing and Magwe division while
Rakhine State lies to south. The whole region is made up of high hills and
deep valleys and there is hardly any plain or plateau. The average elevation
varies between 1500 and 2700 meters and the highest peak is Nat Ma Taung or
Mt. Victoria in southern Chin State, reaching a height of 3100 meters above
sea- level.
There run many rivers including River Manipur, River Kaladam in the southwest
of the Chin State which starts in India going through Chin State into River
Rakhine. The rivers in the state are full of rapids and white waters. And
thus, they are not suitable for navigation. Only small boats and canoes can
travel in certain sections, mostly downstream.
Nat Ma Taung (Mt. Victoria) national park is located in Kanpetlet, Mindut and
Matupi townships of southern Chin State. It covers an area of 279 square miles
and is established in 1994. It is also known as Mt. Victoria, which was given
as a present to Queen Victoria of England in commemoration of conquest on
Myanmar. It is now regarded as the best bird-watching spot among enthusiasts.
Globally vulnerable and nearly threatened species of birds are recorded in
this area.
Ministry of Forest is making concerted efforts to conserve the scenic beauty
of natural forests, mountain ecosystem, and to preserve rare species of birds
which can be found only in Myanmar, other native and migratory birds'
habitats. Mt. Victoria is relatively easy to travel from the Bagan
archeological site to Kanpetlet, a small town at the foot of Mt. Victoria. The
core area around this peak has been notified as a national park.
Forest enroute to the peak is dry and with regenerating teak forest, a mosaic of pine
trees, broad-leaves evergreen, oak and rhododendron forest, flowers with sweet
smells and views with scenic beauties of wonderful flowers that stretch along
the way to the top. The whole area is covering with green forest. Winter times
are the most wonderful views in Myanmar, and that can never be seen in other
parts of the country. Approach up to 2743 meters by car and then climb up to
the mountain peak about three and a half hours walk which is suitable for soft
adventure and will surely offer vistas of unspoiled charm.
In this region, one can go on excursion to tribal Chin villages to observe the
life of four different ethnic Chin minorities with tattooed faces. This
tradition still remains in Mindut and other Chin villages. Especially young
women of the Munn tribe in Mt. Victoria region are keen to do this customs.
I would like to take this opportunity suggesting you to have a glimpse of
unspoiled scenic beauty of Mt. Victoria, globally vulnerable and nearly
threatened species of birds and charming beauty of tribal Chin minorities with
tattooed faces.
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