Hsipaw, a rural town north-east of Mandalay, has become Myanmar's hidden hiking hotspot. A highlight of my hike through tribe villages and the rainforest was the stop in this village's school that only recently opened. Even though public schools are not free on Myanmar, the government doesn't spend the money to hire teachers for every village, so many kids in rural areas grow up without going to school. This is school is operated privately, but free for the kids to attend, paid for by an individual from Hspiaw who is earning well from tourism and giving back to the community.
