Mogok
GETAWAY in Mogok Mogok… Welcome to Mogok
Lovers of Burma, stones lovers, we have always hoped to discover Mogok city closed to foreigners.
This magical place so well described by Joseph Kessel in “The Valley of Rubies”.
mythical place of origin of the famous Ruby Pigeon Blood, unique.
With GULLIVER we could reach this dream, despite the difficulties both administrative (permits are rarely given) that access.
Not only they could get the necessary authorizations but Thuzar founder GULLIVER and Kosomo empowered guide Gulliver, accompanied us in our journey and opened many doors for us to make the most of this extraordinary discovery of the Mogok Valley.
Picture number 8
Herve, he had to hold the office during this trip but knowing the area for years was happy to see his friends travel there after a long closure.
After 7 hours drive from Mandalay, in a landscape of mountains covered in lush vegetation on a steep road being repaired and in a downpour, we finally enter the Mogok region, Ruby Land.
The road continues in a first agglomeration or team of Gulliver make us meet their local contact to facilitate us many things during our stay.
We arrived after another 20 minutes of mountain road in the fog in our “Golden Butterfly” hotel overlooking the Mogok Valley. mythical hotel in the area for its stories and its owner author of adventure novels …
basic comfort and food such as we have a cure omelette pepper and white rice! But no matter, we are in Mogok.
If Mogok is the result of a geological phenomenon related to the formation of the Himalayas has become a crossroads of peoples Burmese, Indian, Nepali, Bengali, Chinese and Sri Lankans attracted by the richness of its soil and sub soil.
All stages of the research are stones in this valley of Mogok
Extraction of stones in the mines in search Crushed pieces of marble, then sieved residues
then sorted stones, the best have certainly escaped our eyes
Everywhere the sale is organized, in particular, on the street and in the markets.
Every inhabitant of Mogok always has in his pocket a small folded white paper very specifically and containing raw or carved stones, more or less good quality.
Many spinels, sapphires, rubies few, sometimes a beautiful aquamarine, peridot, garnet …
It is better to know or be it with trusted people, because the sellers themselves confuse spinel sapphire and ruby …
With Gulliver, we were able, guided by their local contact and escorted by the constabulary, visit a ruby mine.
We found the various stages of extraction sorting stones.
The village near the mine works to search the release of marble that serves as a backdrop to ruby, some pieces or fragments of this red stone in order to sell them.
Sales are organized in the context of markets.
Just sit at a table to find themselves quickly surrounded by countless vendors selling stones at us from all kinds of vulgar stone to pretty cut stones
Our two days too short nevertheless allowed us to cut some of our discoveries nearby local tailors.
After a visit to the pagoda overlooking this city of which there is no plan,
we leave and discover the new mountain road
who joined Maymyo
in 5 hours, forbidden road for many years.
An exceptional and magic trip
Thank you to Thuzar, Hervé, and all Zarzar GULLIVER team for giving us this fantastic trip and dreamed.
The dream became reality Veronique and Philippe FAUGERON
For travel information, the Mogok region is well on exceptional to discover and as I remember, the last person to whom I had organized was Christophe Ono-dit-Biot, experience he recounts in his novel “Burmese” .
But I remain skeptical to date to organize mass travel there. It is preferable from 2 until 6 people, knowing that we must be very good company. There is an old road and new road between Mogok and Maymio. Our friends used the new, but again we’ll do that after numerous checks with the authorities for safety reasons. Another travel and extension map and customized according to the vagaries of the moment.
Herve Flejo
