Myanmar Cyclone – Pandaw’s Extraordinary Efforts to Help
My company, Red Lantern Journeys, has been marginally affected by the Nargis Cyclone in Myanmar. American visits to Myanmar have been just a trickle anyway due to the recent crackdowns against monks protesting and the continuing house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet, I’m enraged by the willingness of the Myanmar dictatorship to let their own people suffer. On the other hand, I’ve been extremely impressed by Pandaw River Cruise’s efforts to raise money (over half a million dollars!) and convert their own river cruise ships to hospital ships and supply carriers and to donate their use to charities distributing relief. They’ve also used the extra money to purchase a motorized barge that will be converted to a floating medical clinic plying the rivers of the remote upper Irawaddy after the need for cyclone relief has passed. Please visit the Pandaw web site for more detailed information about their amazing effort. I’ve never met him, but Paul Strachan, the founder of Pandaw, is now a hero of mine. Read Paul’s blog for an amazing insight to what’s happening in Myanmar.
Tourism is still alive and well in Myanmar, and the locals are desparate to see people return. Hotels in Yangon have recovered and other areas of the country outside of the delta area were unaffected and are as beautiful as ever. If you haven’t been to Myanmar, it is one of the most beautiful countries in SE Asia with wonderful people. Go and visit and come back and tell their story to everyone you know.
[...] Myanmar Cyclone – Pandaw’s Extraordinary Efforts to HelpThe Bagan Plateau My company, Red Lantern Journeys, has been marginally affected by the Nargis Cyclone in Myanmar. American visits to Myanmar have been just a trickle anyway due to the recent crackdowns against monks protesting and the … [...]