Pandaw boosts Burma fleet

Pandaw, the Asian riverboat company, is stepping up services to cater for increased demand following the generals’ apparent moves towards democracy.

While some say it’s just a sham, Burma is the hot ticket today. Flights into Rangoon are heavily booked, hotel rates have shot up, and popular tourist spots such as Pagan and Inle are packed.

Worse still, says Pandaw, thousands of new cars are being imported and traffic in Rangoon is total gridlock.

However, life goes on as normal in the riverside villages, and this is what Pandaw passengers see. Also they can fly into Mandalay, avoiding Rangoon airport and domestic flights, but still go everywhere with Pandaw, for this is what the riverboats of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company have been doing for 150 years (see Up the Mekong River below).

Two more vessels join the Pandaw fleet in Burma this year, and more excursions are being offered.