Myanmar, Burma, travel, islands, Andaman ,Sea, diving, cruising,
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Kawthaung, casino and islands.

Kawthaung is opposite Ranong Thailand and a  somehow interesting destination. A few islands around invites to play Robinson. Take a tent and have some time on the beach.

If you want to loose some money you can go

gambling in the casino on the Casino Island.

The owner, a Thai offer free rides with a private ship out of Ranong. In Thailand, gambling is prohibited -but almost everyone gambles- this drives a lot of  money into the underground gambling industry, this gambling industry in turn is controlled by shady -influential- people, which means .. well I guess you know what.

Kawthaung is a typical small harbor city where not much has changed since British colonial times. A partly rotten environment where everyone try to make some money with the people coming in from the seaside, smuggling and fisheries.

The daily trips from Ranong to Kawthaung are also attractive for Thai people since Kawthaung somehow functions as a duty free area. That means beside the "Visa Run" out of southern Thailand -about 200 people per day- paying each 10 dollars to the Myanmar immigration in Khaw Thaung a continues stream of Thai coming in to buy cheap cigarettes, cheap whisky and other stuff.

In resent years Kawthaung become also known for the nice girls from all of southern Myanmar who travel to Kawthaung for some business.

They very pretty girls and the prices are quite low.

So Kawthaung is somehow a heaven for guys who wanna have fun -yes not only girls wanna have fun- as Cindy Lauper wanted to tell us !

Kawthaung island temple                                              Kawthaung waterfront

Kawthaung pagoda                                                         Kawthaung

This Thai businessmen made a deal with the Myanmar authorities to get the island on long term lease
and this brings in a lot of money.

Kawthaung hotel

ranong harbor opposite Kawthaung south Thailand

Kawthaung is also the destination for the very popular  - visa run -. From Phuket, Samui, Phangnga
and around one can easily get a bus to go to Ranong, exit Thailand, go to Kawthaung for an hour and come
back to get a new entry visa into Thailand.

Kawthaung Water Front 1                                                                 Kawthaung City Center

Kawthaung Water Front 2                                                                 Kawthaung Boat Landing
Kawthaung 2 Boats                                                                            Kawthaung Boats 3

Kawthaung Boats 1                                                                            Kawthaung Boats

Kawthaung Colorful Boats                                                               Kawthaung Immigration on Sea

Kawthaung Jetty                                                                                 Kawthaung Jetty waiting for clearance

 Kawthaung Jetty with Passenger Ships                                      Kawthaung Tidal Fisherman

Kawthaung waiting for custom clearance Thai side                  Kawthaung waiting for immigration clearance Thai side

Kawthaung Water Front                                                                    Kawthaung Pax Ship

 MAP OF THE ISLANDS AROUND Kawthaung and MERGUI or MYEIK

Myanmar southern map

 all at e-books