Civilization quickly passes as I leave Myitkyina behind me, and save for the solitary gold panner digging into a sandbar, I have the spread of river and sky to myself.

• 刚把密支那抛在身后，文明也随之迅速远离，除了孤独的淘金者在沙洲上挖掘，就只剩下浩瀚的河流和天空。