Beauty and the Beach

In a new area where you've never touched down before, and if there are lots of restaurants similar in appearance, you'll surely be indecisive to pick up a decent one for your lunch, without a local's recommendation. That's what I've experienced in Chaung Thar, one of the most beautiful beaches along the Bay of Bengal, to the west of Yangon.

     After one-hour drive from Pathein along the hilly two-way express route mounting from the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, there appeared a group of coconut trees in sight. As soon as our group arrived at Chaung Thar, we came across countless of hotels including Golden Beach, Oasis, AMBO, etc. Finally we'd decided to settle at AMBO, just beside the sea shore. Along the wide sandy beach lined by stalls selling coconut drinks, seafood, palm hats, crafts and pictures featuring sea creatures, and many more.

     For lunch, we had to choose a restaurant in random; the service is bad, with no green tea, no hot rice, no extra dishes like traditional nga-pi and vegetables. For dinner, we were advised by a local to dine at Hla Bo, on the way to a low-profile bus compound, and it's great offering all the above criteria, and the price is also reasonable, let alone hospitable services.

     In fact, I've never been to any beach in Myanmar. The sea under the blue sky and the astounding sunset at Chaung Thar is very beautiful, rimmed by shallow tides on which everyone visiting enjoys to surf. You just cost around K8000 to visit Chaung Thar from Yangon with express buses via Pathein. Most of them take about 6 hours of drive, halting for tea at Nyaung Tone and Pathein a while. The scenery in Chaung Thar exemplifies a Myanmar's exquisite tropical resort, comparable with no more than a few dozens all over the world.

     Photos taken at Chaung Thar are all bluish grey in print; that's what makes the beach stand out and the natural beauty beats all the other ones, indeed. That can be seen all along the lengthy sea shore of many kilometres, and also at nearby place Kyauk Maung-hna-ma, meaning the rock brother and sister, where tiny rocks and huge boulders line the beach near a stupa above the hill, and a symbol of mermaid the sea princess is resting nearby, the architecture isn't impressive though. Delicious seafood, cold breeze, broad sandbank, blue water, fresh coconuts, playful tides, all at one place. Like getting so many discounts in just one shopping spree, and I'm sure to take this kind of tour at another time also.