THE ROAD WAS APPALLING. Women carried baskets of rocks on their heads, while others broke them down by hand to lay the base for the new road. Switchbacks, ditches, mud, detours. There was every chance if I didn’t get turned back by the military, the car just wouldn’t get through.5 hours bouncing and sliding through dirt and over rocks, and 160km from Mindat, we checked into a small guesthouse next to one of the many churches in town.
And now, I don’t even remember why I wanted to go to Mindat. I’m glad we did though!

As far as I know there are no "sights" in Mindat, though I (later) read about Bungtla waterfall, 20km away.

The town itself is the sight, with a very rural based economy, street markets, churches packed all hours of the day, and people hanging out.

Apparently there are 6 different Chin ethnic tribes/groups in Matupi -the Matu, Mara, Dai, Zotung, Lautu and Khumi. Everyone was really friendly, whoever they were.

Villagers, mostly women, trekked in from nearby farms, with traditional baskets on their backs (or heads).

And when all the work was done (or before), a tea shop nearby serves for a gossip and some breakfast.

Like elsewhere in Burma, there was no trouble finding more substantial fare. Even if options were limited, they were good.

The birds of prey hovering overhead knew it was wedding season, and Porky's fate isn't looking good.

Roasting the pigs over fires in the street falls to the younger men. Somehwere out of sight, the women would have been just as busy.

Walking out of town, we could see the precariously built stilt house, clinging for life to the mountainsides.

A little further on, there are pleasant forests (with an uncertain future under a rapacious regime).

I spotted this deer about 2 mins from the main road. Wildlife tourism has enormous potential in Burma, but I doubt the military agrees.