Hsipaw (Sip-awe). A jumping off place for trekking. Hmm. That wasn’t happening. We were there for the lack of foreigners & too see what the area was like.

We were probably 200kms from China and it showed. There was more Chinese food around, more Chinese writing. Even a Chinese section to the cemetery. And there was a serious lack of longyi’s worn by then men. It seemed (if possible) it was more of a modern city. Girls wore skirts or shorts, school bags weren’t the traditional bags – more the cheap Chinese knock offs. Cars were newer and there we different models – not just the standard beat up Carolla. In addition to Buddhist temples, there was also a mosque and Catholic Church in town and for the first time in awhile I wore shorts above my knees! 

But there was definitely a military presence in town. Trucks full of soldiers would drive through the main street. And they had big guns. After all, we were maybe an hour from where the fighting was happening & where foreigners weren’t allowed. 

It was a day of things that weren’t in the guidebook. We had heard about a waterfall just out of town and wanted to find it. With some sketchy directions we set out. But there was the problem of crossing the valley and going through the fields. No worries, ask a local. I assumed that they know where we were going as they pointed us in the right direction – after all why else would we crazy westerners be walking through their fields in the heat of the day.

We were literally the only foreigners anywhere to be seen. We walked through cornfields, passed men on oxes (and the oxes weren’t that happy to see us!) and saw the locals washing in the creek.

(Look how far we had to walk in the heat!)

(Water buffalo cooling off while the humans eat in the shade)

The waterfall was beautiful. And cold, which was exactly what we wanted after walking for nearly an hour in 40 degree heat. We swam and enjoyed being the only people for miles. The view was breathtaking. It is such a beautiful place!

We headed back to town and to escape the heat of the day decided to see a movie. Strange? Yes. We had seen a ‘cinema’ as we drove in last night, but no one seemed to be able to find it. Why? Because it was a unique cinema.

It was fabulous. A garage, totally blacked out, decked with super comfy armchairs (all numbered) in front of a 3D flat screen TV. We chose our movie (bonus!) put our 3D glasses on and settled in. There were a few ‘intervals’ when the DVD stopped working, but other than that, a random experience.

I really enjoyed Hsipaw. The heat is intense and tiring but it is definitely worth a visit. There is nothing in particular to see, just a chilled out town with a less Burmese feel.  Drinking pineapple mojitos with new friends in the rain was the perfect end to my time here. Thanks Hsipaw!