I have never seen poverty like this. This military state is very hard for tourists to get into but I figured out a way to do it and that’s through a border town by thailand where a day trip is allowed but only before sundown. We also had to leave our passports at the border and pick them out on the ay out. Anywhere outside of that town is off bounds for tourists. The minute we walked into the town we were surrounded by touts and beggars trying to sell us anything from cigarettes to Viagra. The piracy shops are huge and unregulated, the streets are in derelict. What looks like old colonial villas have turned into craft shacks. The only redeeming factor about he town is the huge temple on top of the mountain made out of gold and the view. I would recommend it for a day trip but not more than that. It’s an experience and I am glad I did it.