When it appears that the COVID-19 disease is more deadly than seasonal influenza, it is obvious that your guests are afraid to travel or consider any other accommodation option safe. 

But, as a hotel, you can adopt a few preventive measures, and assure a safe stay for your guests. 

Well, we have covered the what, why and how of COVID-19 and which preventive measures hotels should take to assure a safe stay to your guests. 

What is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others circulating among animals, including camels, cats and bats

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. This virus was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a dedicated page that has comprehensive information on COVID-19. You can explore more of this outbreak from here.

How does it spread?

Coronaviruses in human spread just like the flu or a cold (from person to person). Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others.

• Through the air by coughing or sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it
• Occasionally, faecal contamination

What are its symptoms?

The basic symptoms of the COVID-19 can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath 
• Runny nose

The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. 

How to keep your hotel safe from Coronavirus?

As a hotel, you should act immediately and start introducing preventive measures. Following are mandatory actions that you should immediately bring into practice:

1. Keep your staff aware of the disease

Though 99% of your staff must be fairly familiar with the outbreak to some extent. We would still recommend you to arrange a meeting and make them aware of it to all corners.  

Educate them about the preventive measures that they should take on your hotel premises. Also, brief them about the guidelines provided by the local health authorities.

2. Check whether any of your staff or guests have been infected

Have the infrared thermometers at your frontdesk to conduct temperature checks on all guests. Your staff can request all your newly arrived guests to measure their body temperature via a thermal scanner placed near the entrance. 

If you find any guests who are unwell with any symptoms of fever, flu or respiratory problems, ask them to consult a doctor immediately. Ask the sick suspicious guests to get their check-up done at the nearest clinic, checking in to the hotel. Take extra care while catering to international guests.  

3. Ensure cleanliness in every corner of your hotel

The COVID-19 virus spreads through the surface as well. So make sure every corner of your hotel is cleaned. 

Especially the surfaces or areas which are used frequently by your guests and staff members such as, the doors, the reception area, the front desk, lift or elevator buttons and so on. You can also apply plastic insulating films on the lift and elevator buttons, and change it every day to avoid germs spreading. 

Above all, if you have an in-house restaurant, ensure the cleanliness of your kitchen. Ask your chefs to wear surgical masks and wash their hands frequently.

All buffet or semi-buffet food should be served in smaller portions. It should be replaced or replenished every 30 minutes to avoid contamination. The crockery and utensils used at the buffet counters, including tongs, spoons and under liner should be changed and sanitized.

Besides, ensure that tableware including salt & pepper shakers, toothpick holders, sugar container, tent cardholders, menus and bill folders are being cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis.  

In addition to this, the main entrance and carpets at the hotel’s lobby are sprayed with qualified disinfectant every hour.

4. Use sanitizers and masks 

Provide your staff members with surgical masks, alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) and gloves to wear. Ask them to always wear masks and use sanitizer frequently.  

If it is feasible, try to install the alcohol-based disinfectant hand rub dispensers at your front desk, reception area, in-house restaurant, cafe, meeting rooms or hotel lobbies. If you can’t, then at least keep big bottles of sanitizers at all these places. 

Keep sanitizers and surgical masks in each hotel room. Encourage your hotel staff as well as your guests to use sanitizers frequently. 

Keep helpful signs of washing hands and using sanitizers in common areas of your hotel.

5. Avoid handshakes. Do ‘Mingalabar’

Well, the handshake is a great way of transferring different microbes like viruses and bacteria from one person to another. So for the time being, ask your staff members to avoid shaking their hands with guests. Also, they should avoid frequent physical contact internally. 

Even the health experts warn that shaking hands is a prime way to spread the coronavirus. You should adopt some different methods of greeting people, like elbow bumps or Mingalabar. 

6. Maintain records

You should maintain accurate guest records. This includes maintaining guest registration records (name, ID Proofs, and other details), data of electronic locks, and security camera tapes. This is especially important if someone in your hotel has been diagnosed with the virus.

These records should be kept for a minimum of 90 days.

7. Check where your supply is coming from

Keep a tab on your suppliers and other outsourcing agencies. 

Ensure megastores from where you are getting inventory for your in-house restaurant is safe from COVID-19. None of your food or beverage should be sourced from Hubei province or Wuhan city, where the Novel Coronavirus originated from.

Besides, check whether the laundry services agencies are taking some preventive measures. 

So, this was all about how you can keep your hotel safe from corona virus.

And most importantly, when you are taking all these measures, keep your guests posted about the same. Highlight these measures being taken at your hotel in real-time on your website and social media pages. So, your guests can know that their stay at your hotel is going to be safe and pleasant. 

You have to take these measures sincerely, to be safe from this outbreak. Along with, as a hotel owner/manager consider these preventive measures for yourself too and be safe.

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The Burmese new year falls on the second week of April as begins on 13th april and will end on 16th april. April always will be the welcomed day of our Burmese New Year.

The true spirit of the water festival is to have nice clean fun with dear friends sprinkling water on the one another. Here are the symbols of “Thingyan Festival”.

“Ah-Tar-Oh”, “Thingyan Pot”

The Pot with its set of flowers and leaves, is called “Ah-Tar-Oh”, ‘Thingyan Pot’.
“Ah-Tar-Oh”, “Thingyan Pot” meaning is that ” pot of flowers put out during Thingyan to welcome the New Year”.In this pot , the seven flowers or leaves are chosen and represent the seven days of the week.
It welcomes our Burmese New Year, especially to the King of the Celestials- Tha-Gyar-Min. Whether he forgets to come or not, we never forget to welcome him with ‘Thingyan Pot’.
We place Thingyan Pot at the suitable place in front of our house and hope that he will see it and let our names be engraved on his Gold plate.

“Shinbyu”, “Novitiation Ceremony”

Novitiation is the symbol of thingyan festival in a Buddhist family. It is one of the New Year activities. On these occasions, boys are sent to the monastery where they become ‘koyins’,or novices .They stay for a week or more at the monastery. Their heads are shaved. They wear yellow robes. They go on alms rounds carrying black alms bowls. They keep sabbath.

Novitiation ceremony; the boy sat obediently middle of his parents, the head was going to be shaved by the monk and his parents with happiness proudly held a snow-white sheet to receive his hair.
The Shinbyu, or Novitiation ceremony, is a coming of age ceremony as in other religions, for boys under 20 years old. The Novitiate ceremony is when boys do their service to Buddhism and are entered into the order of the monks for a week or longer.

“Padauk Pan” ,Symbol of Burmese Thingyan Festival Flowers

Padauk Pan(Yellow Flowers called Padauk) only blossom on April if fortunately given water from celestial(Rain showering). Padauk never blossom on any other Burmese months. In April, Burmese women wear Padauk on their head and also offer before our household shrines. If no thingyan shower for the month of april, we rarely see the beautiful Padauk on Thingyan month.
Famous poet named ZawGyi portrayed about this flower as ‘blossom only on the day of the month of a year, how faithful art thou!’

“Mandat”,Pandals made with Coconut leaves or Palm Leaves

During the Thingyan days, the Mandat, water throwing and playing places are everywhere, not only in cities but also in villages too. In the main city of Yangon and Mandalay, people use water guns, buckets and water hoses to make others wet. Young people would dye their hair to make themselves look cool. They would go around the town in cars to get wet. Some making their own Mandat made with coconut leaves and celebration together the water festival with friends.

On the New Year’s Day people make food donations at various places.All these April days, there is music in the air.While Thinngyan is a time for fun, it is also a time for religious reflection.People keep fast, give alms and do good deeds.

Happy Myanmar New Year for you all !. May this auspicious New Year brings all the best for you.

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The monastery was originally part of the Royal Palace in Amarapura, before it was moved to Mandalay, where it formed the northern section of the Hmannan (Glass Palace) and part of the king’s royal apartments. The building was heavily gilt with gold and adorned with glass mosaic work.

When the capital city was moved to Mandalay, the building was dismantled, transported to Mandalay and rebuild there as part of the new all teak Royal Palace in 1857.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

Shwenandaw Monastery was built in 1878 by King Thibaw Min, who dismantled and relocated the apartment formerly occupied by his father, King Mindon Min, just before Mindon Min’s death, at a cost of 120,000 rupees.

Thibaw removed the building in 10 October 1878, believing it to be haunted by his father’s spirit. The building reconstruction was finished in 31 Oct 1878, dedicated in memory of his father, on a plot adjoining Atumashi Monastery. It is said that King Thibaw used it for meditation, and the meditation couch he sat on can still be seen.

The monastery is also called the Golden Palace Monastery, because it used to be part of the Mandalay Royal Palace and was completely gilded. Both exterior and interior of the monastery are decorated with intricate wood carvings. Some of the carved wooden panels ravaged by time and weather have been replaced with new panels, especially on the outside.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

Well known for it’s teak carvings of Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and roofs. The monastery is built in the traditional Burmese architectural style. The roof lines are decorated with very detailed intricate wood carvings. The roofs bargeboards contain carved depictions of mythical creatures, animals, dancers and flowers.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

Some of the best preserved panels are inside the building, sheltered from weather and sunlight. Among them is a number of carved panels depicting scenes from the Jataka tales, the tales about the previous lives of the Buddha.
Inside the main room in the center of the building is the main Buddha image, with Nat spirits worshipping it. Only men can go inside to worship the Buddha image.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

The Shwenandaw Monastery is located a few hundred meters from the North East section of the Royal Palace grounds, next to the Atumashi pagoda. From downtown Mandalay you can get there by rickshaw which should cost around US$2 or by private taxi at around US$ 4.

Tourist can buy a Mandalay archeological zone ticket at US$ 10, that is valid for a week. This ticket is also valid for the Atumashi Pagoda located right next to it and for a number of sites around Mandalay in the towns of Sagaing, Innwa and Amarapura.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

This is a great place to get an impression of what the Royal Palace once must have looked like. As the Palace was destroyed by fire during the second World War, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the only major original teak wooden building left of the original Mandalay Royal Palace.

Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

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Visitors may observe life-styles of six Naga ethnics such as Tangkhul, Makury, Para, Koka, Laungphury and Khiamniungan residing in Leshi Township and will have the opportunities to interview those people of Naga ethnics directly.

“The traditional houses of Naga ethnics were built with the aim of enabling the people to know their life-styles. After showing them as showrooms at the festival, the houses will be maintained by local tribes” said U Aung Htut.

Naga ethnic people will live at the traditional houses after the festival as part of maintenance. The local and foreign guests to Leshi Township ma stay at these traditional houses together with Naga ethnics.

Source: Yadanabon Newspaper

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Tempels of Bagan Myanmar

Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien Pattaya

Movenpick Siam hotel NaJomtien Thailand

Floating market Pattaya

Baraquda Pattaya

Baraquda Pattaya

Hsinbyume Pagoda

hotel by the Red Canal

U Bein bridge Mandalay Myanmar

Amata garden resort Bagan

old Bagan Myanmar sunset

our favorite sunrise-sunset temple

Bagan Myanmar

Bagan sunrise Myanmar tempels

Mon Chaem area Chiang Mai Thailand

Onse at Mon Cham Chiang Mai

Onsen at Moncham Chiang Mai

Pantare Elephant camp

Yee peng lantern festival

Yee Peng Chiang Mai

Loi Krathong Chiang Mai

Loi Krathong Chiang Mai

• Doi Suthep
• Mon Chaem farms
• Old city temles
• Visit an Elephant farm,chek before ow they threat the elephants
• Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand
• Visit theKaren and longneck tribes
• Bo Sang handcraft village

Dvaree Jomtien beach Pattaya Thailand

Dvaree Jomtien beach

Nusa Chivani Pattaya

Nusa Chivani Pattaya

• Doi Suthep
• Mon Chaem boerderijen in de bergen
• Oude stad en tempels
• Bezoek een olifanten boerderij
• Doi Inthanon, het hoogste punt in Thailand
• Bezoek de Karenen langnek volkeren
• Bo Sang hand werk dorp

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As one of the least visited countries in Southeast Asia, any trip to Myanmar is sure to sure to feel a bit off-the-beaten track. You’ll find ancient temples and monasteries, beautiful handicrafts to take home as souvenirs, and in many ways, a culture and way of life that’s remains relatively unchained for centuries. But in addition to these iconic religious and cultural sites, there are tons of unique things to do in Myanmar to ensure that you have an authentic, intimate, and culturally-rich adventure.

For first time visits, most travelers will make their way through Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations: Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake. Thankfully, none of these cities and towns have yet been overtaken by the tourism industry, so you’ll be sure to have authentic cultural experiences alongside locals anywhere you go. However, if you’re looking for things to do in each destination that are a bit unexpected, consider adding these activities to your Myanmar itinerary.

For my complete Myanmar Guide, download my latest e-book!

 

Yangon: Ride The Circular Train

A far cry from a luxurious mode of tourist transit, the Circular Train (or Circular Railway) is as gritty as it gets, and was one of the most off-the-beaten-track cultural activities I did in Myanmar. The railway is a commuter route that services the small villages in the outskirts of Yangon, and a ticket will set you back a mere 200 Kyats (about 10-20 cents). Along the way, you’ll find yourself in the thick of local life, with all its chaos and color and excitement.

Except to see locals bathing or slaughtering chickens or hanging wet clothes to dry along the train tracks; vibrant markets plopped on the dirt train platforms with eager food vendors that often make their way inside the train cars themselves to sell to commuters; locals making their morning commutes carrying bamboo baskets filled with tobacco or rice or chickens, with their entire families in tow.

 

Consider grabbing a tea or snack from a vendor (fried tofu with chili is a popular option, and I suggest staying away from meat), chatting up the locals, and soaking in as much as you can both within the train and outside its windows.

The entire loop to and from Yangon Central Railway Station takes about three hours and perpetually runs about 30 minutes late. However, I suggest hopping off the train whenever you come across a market or town that seems interesting. Go explore for a while, and then hop back on the next train that passes through (the Circular Train runs about every hour) or get a taxi or Grab back to Yangon.

To find the train schedule, I suggest asking your hotel for help. There does not appear to be an updated schedule posted online, and a visit to the station is possible but may leave you even more confused (don’t expect to find any English speakers working there). Also, note that the Circular Train is notorious for having a rather “elastic” schedule that is more akin to a rough estimate of arrival times.

Mandalay: Take A Day Trip To The Ancient Island City Of Ava

Although once the imperial capital of Burma during the 14th and 19th centuries, a series of massive earthquakes left the little island of Ava, otherwise known as Inwa, in ruins, which is much of what you’ll find there today. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, as even most locals didn’t know Ava existed until quite recently. However, you’ll still find a large handful of people that still inhabit the island, as well as a treasure trove of ancient ruins just waiting for you to explore.

Some of my favorite spots were the teakwood Bagaya Monastery, surrounded by fragrant evergreen trees; the Me Nu Ok Monastery, famous for being made of brick rather than the traditional wood; and the Yadana Hsemee Pagodas, a series of small ruined pagodas from the 1400s. Also be sure to drive past the Nanmyin Watch Tower which was damaged in the 1838 earthquake, giving it the nickname “The Leaning Tower of Ava.”

You’ll find some beautiful and unique souvenirs in Ava, such as antique stone pipes and wood carvings that. It’s a good idea to bargain here, but you’re still likely to get great prices as compared with the bigger, more touristed cities.

To get to Ava, take the public ferry from Mandalay to the Ava Jetty, which runs pretty regularly. The ferry costs about 1,300 Kyats roundtrip, and once you arrive, you’ll need to hire a horse buggy (starting at 10,000 Kyats) or rent a bicycle to get around the island.

 

Bagan: Learn To Cook Traditional Burmese Cuisine

Bagan is most famous for its thousands of ancient pagodas that offer visitors spectacular sunrise and sunset views. However, in between your morning and evening spent temple hopping, you’ll need to find some way to fill your time. Rather than hiding inside your hotel room all afternoon, consider taking a cooking class with Pennywort Cooking Class.

If food or local culture interests you in the slightest, you’ll love this experience. You’ll start the morning by visiting the local New Bagan market — it’s a smaller, more local market than the popular Nyaung-U Market, so there’s a good chance you’ll be the only foreigner there. May, who will be your instructor, will guide you through the market explaining the produce, preparation of dishes, and cultural significance of it all, as she selects items here and there for your cooking class.

I even had the opportunity to walk around the market on my own, picking out strange items that I wanted to try (May can make a meal out of anything, so she really did encourage me to pick out whatever I wanted).

After the shopping is finished, you’ll head over to a nearby tea shop for a break. Sip sweet black tea with condensed milk, accompanied by Chinese-influenced donuts and Indian-influenced chickpeas. May will explain to you about the interesting tea shop culture, where locals come to meet with friends, find work, or hire handymen for the day.

Finally, head back to May’s backyard kitchen to cook up a feast of traditional Burmese salads, tempura, curries and stews, and sweet treats. Except one of the best meals you’ll have while in Myanmar, made with fresh ingredients, loving hands, and great company. The best part? Proceeds from May’s cooking classes help sustain the eight free public libraries that May and her family run around Bagan.

If you’re a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, May can make arrangements to accommodate you. She also offers afternoon classes with a prepared dinner, but I suggest the morning class because it allows you to visit the market with her.

Inle Lake: Take A Multi-Day Trek

Although technically this 2-day/1-night or 3-day/2-night trek isn’t solely in Inle Lake, it’s definitely the best way to make your way to Inle Lake from Kalaw. Along the way, accompanied by an informative guide, you’ll walk past some of the most breathtaking scenery, including rolling grassy hills, vibrant green rice paddies, corn or pepper or pumpkin farmlands stretching for miles, and quaint little villages with no running water or electricity.

This trek will offer you some really beautiful and unique insights into village life and culture, as you’ll pass through tribes of Burmese people that only live in these hills. I walked through funerals, harvests, gambling gatherings, watering holes, and even “rush hour traffic” as all the farmers returned home with dozens of buffalo. And as an added bonus, I think I only saw two other pairs of trekkers the entire time.

One of the highlights of my trek (and possibly of my entire time in Myanmar) was being able to spend the night in a monastery. It was far from luxurious, but it was a seriously beautiful display of hospitality. The monks at the local monastery set up a sleeping mat, blankets, and a pillow, made private by a curtain attached to the interior pillars. They slept on the opposite side of the monastery, and we all woke up early in the morning to the clanging of pots and dishes as locals came to deliver food. Completely surreal. If you’re worried about comfort, my guess is you’ll be too exhausted from the day(s) of trekking that you’ll actually have one of the best nights of sleep on your trip.

In additional to the beautiful scenery and unique experiences, this will also be one of the few times you have easy access to and the undivided attention of a local who (hopefully) speaks excellent English. I had the most interesting conversations, gained the most nuanced insight into local culture, and was able to comfortably ask some of the more difficult questions I had (for example, about Myanmar’s ethnic conflict, while my guide was able to ask me about gun violence in America) while on my trek. The conversations were as interesting, challenging, and rewarding as the physical trek itself.

I can’t recommend my guide enough, who not only hosts travelers for insightful, educational, and beautiful walking treks, but also for cycling tours. You can book my guide, Mr. Qual of Kalaw Trekking & Biking Tour, by sending him an email at jskhual@gmail.com.

Let’s Go.

If you’re planning a trip to Myanmar, my guess is that you have some of the most iconic pagodas, monasteries, and sunrise adventures on your bucket list. But as you head to each of Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations, don’t miss some of these unique things to do in each city. Although perhaps a bit off the beaten track and unexpected, each of these activities were highlights of my time in Myanmar and offered some of the most authentic, rich cultural experiences of my trip.

For a FULL GUIDE featuring more unique experiences like these, as well as safety, cultural etiquette, logistical, and other useful information, download my latest e-book: The Wayfaress’s Guide To Myanmar.

Hotel Recommendations:

The following are hotels I can personally recommend to you, because I stayed there and had great experiences. All include breakfast. Prices vary depending on the room selection and season during which you’ll be traveling (rainy season is generally cheaper).

Budget: USD $0-50

Mid-Range: USD $50-100

Luxury: USD $100+

Yangon

Mid-Range: Esperado Lake View Hotel (beautiful rooftop views, large breakfast buffet with tons of variety, and clean and modern rooms)

Budget: Casa Yangon Hotel (basic but clean and modern accommodations, centrally located in downtown Yangon)

Mandalay

Mid-Range/Luxury: Hotel by the Red Canal (beautiful boutique rooms and garden-filled property, pool, gym, business center with computers, affordable hotel restaurant offering the best Indian food in Mandalay, a cozy underground spa, delicious breakfast, and the friendliest staff — highly recommended!)

Bagan

Mid-Range: Areindmar Hotel (feels much more luxurious than the 3-star nightly rates would suggest, with spacious and well-decorated rooms, tasty breakfast, and conveniently located in New Bagan)

Inle Lake/Nyaung Shwe

Mid-Range: Royal Nadi Resort (located on its own private lake with lovely lake-view suites, but a bit far from Nyaungshwe)

Mid-Range/Luxury: ViewPoint Ecolodge (beautiful eco-friendly stilted suites situated on the water, conveniently located in central Nyaungshwe)

Have you tried any of these activities while in Myanmar? Have any others to add to the list? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

PIN FOR LATER

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Our flight was with “Oriental Ballooning”, an awesome hot air ballooning company in Myanmar that does flights over the Mandalay, Bagan, Inle and Ngapali. The night before our flight I didn’t sleep much as I was a bit anxious for some reason. Hot air ballooning is something that has ALWAYS been at the top of my bucket list and “Hotel by the Red Canal” arranged for that.

I was picked up from our hotel on-time at 5.45am and transferred to the balloon site where we were met personally by the all pilots and given a breakfast of the best pastries we had in Myanmar and coffee and tea. Following a short safety briefing by our pilot (Allie Dunnington with many years balloon piloting experience in many countries), we watched the balloons inflate and then climbed aboard.

We’re going how high today? I said to the pilot of our hot air balloon told us we’d be reaching an altitude of 3000 feet. That’s 1 km in the air!

We’d be going way up, I started to feel my knees go weak.

There were four of us plus our pilot in our balloon, squished in snuggly with just enough room. Our flight took off from a random field up-wind from the monastry call ” Mahar Wi Thode Dar Yone” located in the area of “Nan Shae” near Nan Shae Market. It was early morning with a heavy fog just lifting which gave us some spectacularly epic scenes to capture and the royal moat was as still as could be. It was almost fairy tale like.

The experience was magical as we floated low over near “Kuthodaw Pagoda” and “Mandalay Hill” in every direction, the early morning sun just beginning to bathe them in colour. The peace and tranquillity, the unbelievable sights just below, the strangeness of the situation. This was the highlight of our trip to Myanmar.

It was so calm and smooth, it was as if we were hardly moving. Aside from the off and on loud roar of the propane cylinders firing to keep us in the air and the beep of the altimeter it was a very peaceful experience. That was until I remembered that we still had to land the darn thing… however this also turned out to be quite smooth and easy.

After about an hour or so of soaring and up and down over the clouds and fog our pilot began searching for a nice place to land. This is when I then realized that since hot air balloons can’t really steer in any particular direction and they just float along with the air streams that they also don’t always have a designated landing spot. Or at all. Ever. They just find a piece of land that looks clear, hope for the best and hope the land owners don’t mind.

Our hot air ballooning experience in Lithuania wasn’t over yet though. We were then told about a hot air ballooning tradition after ones first flight. Apparently over 200 years ago in France the first hot air balloon was successfully piloted and upon landing one of the men fell out and got dirt on his face and the other accidentally singed his hair on the ignition in the balloon and to celebrate their successful flight they toasted with champagne. Because of this there is a tradition that is almost like a knighting ceremony in a way. Each of us were asked to get down on one knee and the pilots then proceed to singe some of our hair, put some dirt on our faces and then pour champagne on our heads! This was definitely a new tradition for me.

This was my first ever hot air ballooning trip, and it was absolutely magic! Oriental Ballooning are great operators, being extremely safety conscious and with the most experienced British pilots -ours had been flying over Bagan, Myanmar since 2000! Drifting for an hour or so over the hundreds of Pagodas of the Irrawaddy River plains during sunrise was an experience not to be missed and can book via “Hotel by the Red Canal” tour desk. They can organize for you very well.

Other people that were with me who had hot air ballooned in other parts of the world had never experienced this before, who knows. However it was all in good fun and we all got to celebrate afterwards with a nice glass of champagne.
Now I can’t wait to do it again somewhere else in Myanmar! Have you ever flown in a hot air balloon? Where did you do it?

May Malar Win

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Myanmar est une destination de choix pour partir en randonnée découverte, que vous soyez à
la recherche d’une marche facile ou pour aller à la découverte de ses trésors historiques et
culturels. En effet, ce pays de l’Asie du Sud-Est dispose d’un grand nombre de sentiers de
randonnée qui offrent des vues et des paysages hors du commun, particulièrement dans ses
villes. D’ailleurs, vous allez découvrir quelques spots de randonnée célèbres dans les villes
birmanes.

Balade dans la ville de Naypyidaw, la capitale birmane

Capitale du Myanmar depuis 2005, Naypyidaw regorge de lieux d’intérêt à découvrir en
randonnée. Partir en Birmanie pour parcourir la ville de Naypyidaw, c’est comme réaliser
l’une des visites les plus marquantes d’un séjour dans le pays. Pour ajouter une touche
d’originalité à cet itinéraire, la balade dans la ville débute par son incroyable parlement. Il est
à noter que le parlement ne peut être approché sans un guide officiel. En avançant vers la
pagode d’Uppatasanti, les amateurs de la marche pourront apprécier l’architecture de cette
structure bouddhiste moderne.

Sise sur une colline artificielle, la pagode d’Uppatasanti ressemble à celle de Shwedagon à un
détail près. Celle-ci fait 98 mètres de haut environ, soit 30 cm de moins. Pour terminer la
marche en beauté, il n’y a rien de mieux que de flâner sur l’herbe tout en écoutant le
ruissellement de l’eau dans le Naypyitaw Water Fountain Park. Situé à plus de 8 kilomètres de
la pagode d’Uppatasanti, ce parc est constitué de cascades, de fontaines ainsi que des aires de
jeux.

Explorer la ville de Mandalay et ses alentours durant un voyage en Birmanie

Située au nord du pays, la ville de Mandalay est un passage obligatoire de tout voyage à
Myanmar. C’est l’une des anciennes capitales royales du pays. Ainsi, ce parcours comprend de
nombreuses étapes dans ses sites historiques et culturels. En commençant par le centre de
Mandalay, on trouve le marché de Zegyo. Il s’agit du plus important marché de la ville qui a
été établi sous le règne du roi Mindon. Il convient de faire un tour dans ce marché afin de
découvrir certaines facettes du pays.

Juste à proximité de ce marché se trouve une tour d’horloge. Ce qui la caractérise des autres
tours, c’est qu’elle est comparable à la tour de Pise en raison de son inclinaison. En continuant
le chemin, les voyageurs atteindront la Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur de Mandalay. Cette
cathédrale néo-gothique est le siège de l’archidiocèse de la ville. Puis, à une quarantaine de
minutes de là se trouve le palais royal. Érigé entre 1857 et 1859, ce palais est le dernier de la
monarchie de la Birmanie.

Flâner à Yangon, la plus grande ville de la Birmanie

Cette ville est célèbre pour son paysage urbain alliant l’architecture moderne, l’architecture
coloniale britannique ainsi que les pagodes bouddhistes dorées. Au départ du quartier colonial
d’Yangon, les explorateurs iront à la rencontre des lieux importants tels que les hôtels de ville,
le Télégraphe, la place de l’indépendance, etc. En étant toujours dans le quartier historique
d’Yangon, les randonneurs admireront la pagode de Sule. La particularité de cette pagode
datant de plus de 2 000 ans réside dans la forme octogonale de sa base qui se transmet à la
coupole dorée. S’étendant sur quelque 6 hectares, la pagode de Sule est sans conteste l’une des
plus belles au monde.

Puis, à près de 6 kilomètres de cette pagode se trouve le temple Chauk-htat-gyi Buddha. C’est
notamment la figure de Bouddha couché qui fait sa réputation, car elle fait partie des plus
vénérées du pays. En gravissant la colline de Singuttara qui se localise à plus de 3 kilomètres
du temple, les adeptes de la randonnée contempleront la pagode Shwedagon. Cette dernière
est réputée pour être le centre spirituel de la ville.

The post Séjour au Myanmar : Radonner dans les villes incontournables du paysages appeared first on Hotel by the Red Canal.

This was the start of my real Adventure stories.

Let me start with a little background. I’ve never been particularly athletic—even as a kid, I’m the one who could never do a criss-cross jumping rope during gym class, never mind doubles. I didn’t play high school sports also.
Let’s just say if you ever met me in the customer service area, you’d never think to yourself, “There goes a woman who would crush a bicycle tour.” This is actually happening. Unexpectedly I got a chance to do Cycling Adventures together with Jolly Adventures collaborate with Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay.

It was awesome to have Bicycle Adventures. Truth: I was prepared for a little heckling when I mounted my Bike. But I’m looking around at my bicycle tour comrades and I realize—we’re in this together. And I’m not the only one on a Bike. And no one even cares! My inner three-toed sloth is doing a celebration dance. And I know this trip is going to be awesome.
This trip take a morning ride to the outskirts of Mandalay. We grab a bike, leave the hotel and cycle to the northeast of Mandalay. Our team first, ride to a local teashop for the breakfast because we woke up early and no one have their breakfasts. I looked at the time and it was 7:00am already.

When we arrived the local tea shop, I looked around the shop. I feel it was a bit strange because of my first time sitting in local tea shop with cycling guys where locals sit and sip steaming cup of Chai (Indian Tea) with flat breads such as Naan or Paratha, while chatting, watching the football matches or reading the daily newspapers there.
Then embark on a quiet ride to Patheing Gyi, leaving the metropolis behind for a rural area where you will see the big smiles of villagers, the warm greetings of locals, the farmers on their farms and real beauties of natures. The people in my tour group are amazing , very funny and helpful.

We ride across the green fields, farms and ponds, I can’t stop watching the picturesque scenario of natures, the flowers, the birds, the blue sky and green trees and plants. I meet up with the people from the villages on our route, they surprisingly looked at me, greet me and appreciate on me that I am a lady who is not a foreigner .They clapped at me as soon as they noticed me was Myanmar young lady. I don’t know about the other guys, but I kind of feel like a celebrity when they saw me , greeted me and treated me like that.

From personal experience, I can tell you that a bicycle adventure will change you for the better, both physically and mentally. Of course, physical preparation isn’t just helpful for bike tours, it can have a positive impact on many aspects of your life.

I think it’s important to state up front that physical fitness doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. So many of the activities that contribute to a healthy body can be done right in the privacy of your home, like strength and resistance training, stretching, and even cardio.

The work you do toward preparing your body pays benefits in all sorts of unexpected ways, whether you’re training for a bike tour with the family or just want less stiffness and more stamina when you’re gardening, doing housework, or playing with your grandkids at the park.

On our tour, we have both Myanmar and English speaking guide. Can hire a bike Trek or Giant. This first day was Half Day Village Ride with one breakfast tea break. Our Group size was 5 people and the distance we rode is 38km (20 miles) for 5 hours.

You can book and join this bike tour activities with Hotel by the Red Canal. Hotline: +95 02 4061177.Both Foreigners and Local people can join this cycling adventure with me also.
We all need a little something as a reward in order to remain focused, so when you achieve one of your goals, treat yourself—you deserve it!

On my way back from Patheing Gyi tarmac road to hotel, I think that “I am going to fall in love this cycling adventure activities with a whole lot of confidence, great memories, and an impressive cycling tour. Life is good. And I have to take care of my bum well-rested and ready for a full day in the saddle for next cycling adventure activities”. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I’m having the time of my life!

The post My Unexpectedly Excellent Adventure Cycling in Mandalay, Myanmar appeared first on Hotel by the Red Canal.

“Kon” or Kumbha [Aquarius] is the astrological name of Tabodwe with a zodiacal symbol of a water bearer. Pauk [Butea] and Lei or Let pan [Silk cotton tree] [Bombex Malabaricum] are the traditionally designated flowers of Tabodwe. Pauk flowers are orange coloured profused on bunches. Lei or Let pan trees are big and tall. The entire tree after shedding all old leaves, produces buds and blooms of scarlet colour from all branches. Against the blue sky on the golden sun lights these pauk and let pan flowers create fantastic natural paintings. Let pan flowers produce silken cotton wool they are also a good vegetable which Myanmar herbalists recommend for folk dishes because of their curative properties. At night when the sky is clear, Maga asterism of 4 stars and the Mon appear astride.

Philologists give two different meanings of Tabodwe. Tabo and Twe 2 words combined. Tabo means “yoke” and “Twe” means “hung up”. In this month, all agricultural activities are over. Farmers and peasants give rest to their agricultural implements including yokes. Yokes are hung up on the walls. So it is the month of “yokes” [Tabo] being hung up. The month of “yokes being hung up”. The second meaning is Tabo is htanbu or spadix of a toddy palm tree from which the sap is tapped. “Twe” means to hung down. It is the month in which toddy palm climbers press spadixes to hung down to tap the sap. After they have consume fresh toddy juice in the morning or fermented juice in the evening, they boil them to get balls of toddy sugar called gagary or toddy chocaret- traditional preserved food used in many ways, medicine, dishes and even in moon shining country liquor.

Of many festivals held in this month, the one common, wide spread and traditionally designated festival is the bon-fire festival. Bon fire is made by burning sandal or similar fragrant wood in a terra cotta brazier and taken to the Buddhist temple to offer to the Buddha Images. This religious custom of bon fire offering originated in the lifetime of Lord Buddha. While Lord Buddha was residing at the Pubayon monastery in the Kingdom of Savatthi, one Tabodwe evening he happened to be standing on a hill side. It was so cold that Lord Buddha kept his back in the warmth of the sun rays. But as the sun set down, and as it was out in the open, the chill of the night was too much for the Buddha who was wearing one robe. As the night advanced, cold intensified. So Lord Buddha put on the second robe to resist the cold. By midnight he had to wear the third robe. By dawn three robes were not enough to keep the body heat. So the fourth robe was worn over the third. By the rule of Vinaya [Priestly Discipline] only three robes are permitted for each monk. So to silence the criticism of some laymen, the last two robes were stitched to gather to become the third robe called “Dukut”. In the extreme cold of Tabodwe night Lord Buddha made his hands and feet warm by keeping them on a furnance.

In commemoration of that event the Buddhist devotees made offering of bonfire to Buddha images in Tabodwe especially on the full moon night, to gain religious merit. In Loka Byu Har Inyone Sardon [Treatise on Court ceremonies and festivals compiled by Thiri Uzana, minister of Inyone] the festival of bonfire in the time of Myanmar Kings was described as follows:-
“On the 8th waxing day of Tabodwe, a ceremonial procession of gathering fire woods took place. In the front of the procession were the Samyaung [the Officers to announce the impending presence of the King] accompanied by the music of drums, followed by 250 fire wood cutters recruited from Shey Win [East Guard at the Palace]. 250 fire wood cutters from Letya Win [Guard on the right side of the Palace] 250 fire wood cutters from Letwei Win [Guard on the left side of the Palace] and 250 fire wood cutters from Anauk Win [West Guard at the Palace]. Behind them 1000 body guards followed. Behind them 100 equestrian soldiers with helmets followed. Behind them two knights on horseback, wearing helmets and ceremonial gowns of their rank followed. When the procession reached Maha Myat Muni Temple, music was kept playing. The body guards “and fire wood cutters went into nearby jungles and woods to cut and gather fire wood. The procession returned following the same procedure. When it reached Shey Yone [East Office] the body guards put fire woods on the stands, and bound them into bundle. On the 14th waxing moon day the clerks carried the bundles of fire wood into Shey Yone. The Minister of Royal Treasury brought 1000 braziers”.

“At 4 O’clock in the evening, princes, princesses royal grandchildren, ministers and courtiers wearing ceremonial dress and ornaments of their rank came out to attend the ceremony at Shey Yone from 4 O’clock in the evening till 1 O’clock at night. Then they depearted”. “The minister of Royal Granary took 1000 pots of Yagu [rice porridge], 1000 stands of fire wood, and 1000 braziers borne by Thwethauksu Shwe Pan-pan equestrian soldiers to the pagodas and temples for offering to Buddha images”. On pages 544-545 of Konbaung Set Maha Wun Tawkyi [Great Chronicle of the Konbaung Dynasty] volume 3, a graphic account of the bon fire festival held in Konbaung Period is given thus:

“On the full moon day of Tabodwe, even the tips of the tusks of Saddan White Elephant shiver in the cold, on such day, Lord Buddha the Exalted sage in his lifetime took the warmth of fire to keep off the cold. To commemorate that event, an annual puja of bon fire was held. On the 14th waxing moon night of Tabodwe, the bonfire festival was held in the courtyard of Shey Yone Taw. Officials of the Hluttaw [King’s council] and Shey Yone Taw supervised the making of yagu from the first crop of paddy and sweet milk. Then at dawn of the full moon day, 15 braziers with burning sandal woods, 15 plates of yagu. Thazin orchid flowers and oil lamps were carried by officials to 15 pagodas and temples including Maha Muni which were in Royal List. There to the Buddha Images and Sacred Relics these were offered”.

Now-a-days the festival of bonfire in Tabodwe is held only in upper Myanmar. Big towns and cities like Monywa, Shwebo, Sagaing, Meithtila, Magwe, Pakokku, Myingyan, Kyaukse and Mandalay. Buddhist devotees still celebrate bonfire puja at prominent pagodas and temples. Similarly in the other states like Shan, Mon, Rakhine, Kachin, Chin and Kayah, states such pujas are held at pagodas and temples. On the eve of the full moon day of Tabodwe fragrant fire woods are arranged in the shape of a stupa in the foreground of the pagoda or temple and burn them on the full moon night to offer warmth to the Buddha Images. Such bonfire is also offered to aged monks and people as a sign of respect as well as an act of religious merit.
The bonfire puja and festival annually held at Maha Muni Temple in Mandalay is a grand show worth noting and recording. The day before the full moon day of Tabodwe all kinds of fragrant woods are arranged like a ceti in the spacious precinct. Among other offertories Yagu rice porridge or htamane [a Myanmar traditional delicacy concocted from glutinous rice and ingredients} are dominant. At dawn, religious music band of the Temple begins a religious music “Nayi” accompanied by the, singing of Te Diem song Htoo Ma Chana. This religious band was dedicated by successive Rakhine and Myanmar Kings to Maha Muni Image only. The band performs three times daily- at dawn when the face of the Image is washed, at noon when lunch is over, and at eventide. On the full moon night bonfire is burnt, fireworks are displayed. Religious music and songs carry on.

Mandalay is noted for severe climate. Its cold season is as severe as its summer is burning hot. Mandalay people harbor a belief that only after Maha Muni Image has received bonfire puja on the full moon night of Tabodwe, cold begins to reduce.
Associated with the bon fire festival of Tabodwe is the communal celebration of the making of a Myanmar traditional delicacy called htamane. In Myanmar literature it is said that yagu and htamane are two different names of the same Myanmar delicacy. But in fact they are two different kinds. While yagu is just a rice porridge with or without milk and sugar, htamane is a delicacy prepared with glutinous rice from the first harvest Seasoned with ingredients and condiments. According to Treatise on Myanmar traditional medicine, the cold in Tabodwe dries up body skin. There is no perspiration to moisten the body skin. So it is necessary to take a little more of vegetable oil to protect the unbearable cold of Tabodwe. Oily htamane is eaten as a sort of preventive medicine by Myanmar old folks.

There is a recipe for concocting htamane. For easy memorization, the recipe is composed as a tay-htat song. The following is a loose translation of it:-
”Take a pyi of a basket rice glutinous rice and wash it clean by fresh water. Put one viss of pure sesamum oil in a big iron pan which is placed stable on wood fire. Fry 3 tickals’ weight of ginger slices in the oil to produce flavor put the washed glutinous rice in the ginger flavored oil and stir it thoroughly. Add some water to it and knead the stuff with wooden ladles. When the glutinous rice gets grilled, with oil oozing out of it, reduce the fire and spray on the stuff in the iron pan 80 tickals’ weight of fried ground nuts, 32 tickals weight of roasted sesamum seeds, 20 tickals weight of shedded coconut kernel and 7 tickals weight of salt. Then knead and crush the stuff again and again. Taste it to test if it has attained the required quality standard. If so, the htamane is put on the banana leaves for serving with hot plain tea”.

Htamane making and eating is a festival common to all Myanmar ethnic nationalities. It is a new harvest festival known as Kauk Thit Sar Pwe. Different species of grain are cultivated across the country. On plains and deltas paddy of different varieties are the main crop. On hill regions, in addition to paddy, millet, maize, corn, beans etc. are grown. New Harvest festival is one of the festivals all ethnic nationalities celebrate their agricultural activities- ploughing, sowing, planting, trans planting, weeding reaping, winnowing, storing, eating communally the new crops etc. Hence htamane festival is also a social occasion for a communal activity in which all are involved- the aged, the adult, young both male and female and even children. Htamane making and feast take place in the precinct of a temple, pagoda or monastery. Either individually or collectively a htamane party is formed. Needed Kitchen utensils such as giant iron pan [moe bye de oh] two pairs of great wooden ladles, knives, daggers, baskets, mortar and pestle trays, low tables, tea pots even napkins are hired from the store house of the monastery. Young men carry them to the site of htamane making. Adult males make fire place dug out in the ground, bring fire woods, fetch water from nearby aquatic bodies well, tank, river, fall or spring or stream and all other heavy works. Women and girls do lighter works, winnowing glutinous rice, washing rice, shedding ground nuts and ginger, washing pots pans and tea pots and cups. Strong young men climb up coconut trees to cut bring them down and cut them open. Children sweep the ground and keep the party alive by their playful activities. Women and girls do the initial part of the process men’s hard labour comes in when glutinous rice in the pan becomes grilled soft and pliant, muscular hands are needed to knead and crush the sticky stuff thoroughly with long wooden ladles. A good htamane is the result of correct proportion of glutinous rice, oil, water, ingredients and thorough kneading and crushing by wooden ladles.

It is so amazing to watch men doing this arduous work, are sweating in the cold of Tabodwe. When the htamane pan is moved from the fire place feminine hands spray ingredients on the grilled glutinous rice at regular interval with correct handful amount. Now is the turn of the experienced aged to judge if htamane is well made. They form a group of connoisseurs to taste to test the good or bad of the htamane in the pan. If everything is judged 0.K by these connoisseurs, then, the first pick is to be offered to Buddha Images, next picks go to the monks, the aged, the seniors, superiors, parents, and teachers. The rest are portioned and placed on banana leaves spread out on low tables for all to eat and enjoy to fill. Earthen pots of boiling hot green tea are ready on the low tables. Hot green plain tea is the best to go with this oily delicacy in the cold of Tabodwe.

If a contest is held, there is more excitement and a more festive atmosphere is created. Contesting parties are cheered up by music bands like Ozi or Dobhat waings. Folk songs and folk dances are performed in full swing, teasing, joking and mimicking one another. Village elders supervise the contest, so that the proceeding is in accordance with game rule. Winner parties are awarded with cash and kind like clothings. Winner party make a procession around the village with performance of music and dances.

Htamane making contests are held in schools and colleges to train young students in communal cultural activities and to breed community spirit among them. Htamane fests are open to all. No invitation is needed to join them. Any stranger or passerby regardless of race, religion or creed is welcome and is served with htamane to his fill, with cups of hot plain green tea. He may take some home because there are packets of htamane wrapped up with banana leaves for the taking.

Have a great day!

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