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From a friend:
I'm looking for some expertise about the rivers of SE Asia. We are researching a return to Shangri-La, this time at least partly by water. We're concerned with the dams China is building/planning and the effects of the lives of those downriver. We were fascinated that some families spend their entire lives on the Mekong, even selling their fish from the boat, birthing, the lot.
We loved traveling near it by tandem (bike), and are considering buying a local boat, and starting perhaps as far up as Yunnan province of China on the Mekong, or near the border with China on the Irawaddy in Myanmar. We aren't planning on any whitewater, nothing we can't line around anyway.
I'm not having much luck finding information on the river state at various locations.
We want to start below any significant whitewaterl. We wonder if you know anyone who has been there, even on the upper river for the whitewater?
all the best,
Bob
PS. Also any sites or personal contacts would be appreciated
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If you want to run the Mekong below any whitewater, you have to start pretty low because there's cray-cray rapids at the southern Lao border: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khone_Phapheng_Falls (btw, endangered 10ft catfish!). You could always portage.
I spent a couple days in the Mekong delta not too long ago. It was interesting. If you go there, the southern part of your trip will feature excellent tropical fruits.
I'd say your first task is to figure out which river you want to run -- the Irawaddy will have very different political logistics. Last I checked your movements in Myanmar are pretty limited w/o special permits. Mekong you might have a few border issues, but should otherwise be able to go where you please.
This is such an interesting part of the world, sounds like a great trip.
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