The "Hinterland" of the very scenic area
around Putao
are the Myanmar Himalayas, the perfect environment
for adventure tours and trekking.
It is a particular part of the famous mountains
because almost no foreigners until now have been
there, only some British adventurers during colonial
times. Myanmar Himalayas are for the more adventure
oriented explorer who have been everywhere, seen
everything but want to have a controlled risk on
exploring new frontiers, not ending up with some mad
people like in the many other countries when leaving
the beaten tracks.
Mt. Hkakabo Razi (picture below), Myanmar’s
and South East Asia’s highest peak at 5,900
meters,
is located in
the northern most Myanmar, it's Kachin
State. The mountain was conquered for the
first time in 1997 by a team of Japanese and
Myanmar climbers. The closest town is Putao,
a small, quiet place, surrounded by
snow-capped mountains stretching from Tibet
in the north-west all the way into Myanmar.
Snow caped Himalayan mountain with plenty of
snow all year long, glaciers and pristine
environment, no cable cars, no roads only
some tracks, nothing gives disturbance to
mother nature. There are talks with some
Thai investors to open a ski resort for
winter fun all year round, but nothing
happen yet, its probable better when it
stays like this.
The higher region is populated with the
usual pine, hemlock and silver fir mixed
with some larch. From 2,700 metres to 3,700
metres almost pure conifer forests cover the
slopes. There is a abundance of
hardwoods further below like oak,
maple, birch, walnut, chestnut as
well as rhododendron and others, but
only at regions not accessible by
roads, if a region is accessible all
trees are immediately cut be Chinese
and local poachers.
Steep fields in the valleys around
are cultivated. There are gardens of
hill rice, maize and millet within
patches of colocasia, mixed with
cereal crops, cucumbers, gourds and
huge marrows.
Only slopes facing south to west can
be cultivated and the yield is
rather poor. Fences have been
erected to keep deer, pigs, monkeys
and others animals out of the
fields.
The
people in the valleys catch fish
in thorn-lined conical fish
traps, with nets or harpoon.
They also eat barking deer,
gooral, serow, pheasants and
monkeys. When these food sources
are scarce, the valley
population will eat anything
from snails and frogs, to
lizards, snakes and wasp grubs.
Cold weather mist hangs
over the peaceful and serene surroundings
almost 6 months of the year.
Flowing streams and rivulets, straw roofed
houses and fences of pebbles and creek
stones provide a pleasant, pastoral contrast
to the scenes and sights of
Himalaya Hkakabo Razi
mountain river bridge
Yangon. Peoples of the
Rawan, Lisu, Khamti-Shan,
Jingphaw and Kachin are
represented in the
region. Simple, direct,
hard working and
hospitable, they make a
living in the lower
areas by growing paddy,
fruits, roots and
medical plants.
Grape fruit, American
lime, Washington navel
fruit, varieties of
peaches and oranges
grow.
Ginseng and musk are
plentiful.
Many species of orchid
and other exotic flora
and fauna such as musk
deer, takin and flying
squirrel are native to
this region.
