Myeik, sometimes known as Mergui, is off the traveller’s circuit in southern Myanmar.

While tourism potential abounds the infrastructure hasn’t been established yet, apart from comparatively expensive day trips to nearby islands. Other day trip options exist, but weren’t available in early November during my brief stay.

Foreigners are not quite the novelty they once were, but few are still encountered and you will receive curious glances, smiles and hellos (though, “Hi” is the preferred greeting by younger locals). Myeik is more about those moments.

Try to void travelling here overland from Kawthaung – the journey is long and arduous, and arrival times all seem to be in the middle of the night (it became another entry in my mad minivan series). Better to approach via Dawei, or to fly.