Myanmar Thazi to Shwenyaung (Lake Inle), Myanmar

The train from Thazi to Shwenyaung is certainly a memorable experience. The views along the route are of dense Burmese jungle, and villages to where goods and locals are either deposited or picked up. The views are interesting. It’s not really the best train journey in the world but I’d do it again.

Ours left an hour before the time we were given in Yangon.

We were advised that “for security reasons” we should not put anything in the overhead luggage racks. This seemed curious because there is zero tolerance of crime against tourists. The carriages have been maintained using substandard suspension components and the line is also in a very poor state of repair (there is talk of a new Burma railway being built by the Japanese – history is quirky). The combination makes you wonder how the carriages remain connected. Also, anything in the overhead racks will be thrown out onto passengers below.

The station is not that easy to reach so we had a driver take us early evening from Yangon and get us onto the train. There is a bar across the road that seems to be open and busy all night but there is no waiting room at the station: locals wrap up and sleep on the platform while they wait for their train.

Fly back. There is a local airport with flights to Mandalay etc.