The "Hinterland" of the very scenic area around Putao
are the Burma 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. Burma 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), Burma’s
and South East Asia’s highest peak at 5,900
meters,
is located in the northern most
Burma, it's Kachin State. The mountain was
conquered for the first time in 1997 by a
team of Japanese and Burma 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 Burma.
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 Rangoon.
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.
Burma Himalaya Trekking
