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The expedition starts on the 6th of January in Malaysia, on the Cape Piai, the extreme southern point of continental Asia (1°16' N. lat and 103°30' E. long). During first days we travel around the peninsula Malacca. Its south belongs to Malaysia, north – to Thailand. Tropical jungle on wavy terrain (to 2187 m, mountain Tahan in the national park “Taman-Negara”) is general for the central part of the peninsula; coastwise there are waterlogged lowlands and mangroves. Mostly paddy fields and coco plantations occupy culture territories. Main roads are of a very good quality; minor roads and forest roads can be impassable because of pouring rains. The unusual climate (stationary temperature +26-28°C is typical for equatorial regions all the year round) represents the most danger on the line of march, it also means attendant diseases, exotic insects and reptiles, plus unknown plants that can be poisonous. The majority of night stops is planning to be at a camping site, roadside inns. If there are no some, then the night beaches and other coastal territories are the most fit places for passing. The capital of Malaysia is Kuala-Lumpur (pop 1.2 mln.). The city was built at the end of XIX century. There are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and European quarters in the central part. There is also a tenable variant of traveling around of the capital along the less inhabited eastern part of peninsular – through Mentakab, Pasir Mas, along the borders of the national Park “Taman-Negara”. Possibly we shall visit it. Park fauna includes elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, and gibbon. On the territory of Thailand mountains get lower, here and there lowlands extend in all width of the peninsular from Andaman Sea on the west till the Gulf of Siam of South Chinese sea on the east. In the region of Ranong and Langsuan the width of Malacca diminishes to 55 km. Northward dividing Bilauktaung Range serves as the boundary between Myanmar (former Burma) and Thailand. Motorway, railway and all more or less important inhabited localities stretch along Thailand coast of the Gulf of Siam. Bangkok is a capital of Thailand (pop 5.9 mln.) and one of the most exotic cities of Indochina and the whole world. The lion share of all industrial production of Thailand falls to it. The city is situated at the mouth of a river Mae Nam Chao Phraya 30 km away from the Gulf of Siam. Bangkok is an Asian Venice, the channeled city. The part of its floating quarters, the poorest ones, is located on the water. The king’s palace Chakri, Buddhist temples Pho, Rajabophit, Benchamabophit (XVIII-XX). Bangkok is a religious center of Thailand. The road tending north goes along valleys of the rivers Mae Nam Chao Phraya (Mae Nam), Ping and Wang, known as – Mae Nam lowland. The climate is subequatorial, monsoon. Average monthly temperature is +29°C. Complications and dangers are the same as the ones on the territory of Malaysia, with the exception of the acclimatization problems – it must be over to the moment of entrance the Thailand territory. Out of the town Lampang (pop 45.000) the road leaves the lowland and goes up to the plateau Fipannam (to 2031 m, which belongs to Shan plateau). Lands at the turn of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos are called Golden Triangle; it serves as one of the biggest center of narcotic plants growing. Having come down the plateau Fipannam “the Hundredth meridian” participants find themselves on the Myanmar’s extreme north. Plicate-basin (broken by young faults into separate lumps) ranges (to 2563 m, m.Pannon) are general for this part of Shan plateau. Karst is well developed. The plateau is split to parts by narrow valleys and by canyons of Mecong rivers (the biggest river of Indochina, its length is 4500 km, catchment basin area is 810 thousands of sq.km) and Saluin (its length is 3200 km, catchment basin area is 325 thousands of sq.km). We cross the last one over the bridge (or by ferry?) near localities Mцng Nawng and Ta-kaw. The bottoms of mountains are covered by deciduous and evergreen forests (palm, Eugenia, bamboo), till 1200 m there can be found chestnut, magnolia, cypress, higher – pine forests. Savannas are typical for the valleys. The hottest month is April; it is up to +29°C (in the valleys – up to +32°C). In the May the south-west monsoon period begins with rainfalls increasing water level in rivers by 10-15 (!) m. It causes regular season floods. One more place of interest is the waterfall Mansam which is situated on the deep river Namtu at a distance of 32 km. westward from Nampawng. Myanmar is not so rich country as Malaysia and Thailand. The service industry is less developed, that’s why we can’t rely on staying in camping-sites and inns, especially because the expedition does not visit big inhabited localities on the territory of Myanmar. It should be given consideration to night stops organization. There can be some complications concerning pavement state, especially on the section Tanong-Nampawng. Beyond the locality Mцng Hawn – China frontier. |
The movement curve on the stage:
