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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Argentina is a perfect destination for cross-country skiing. In general, it has many sites where you combine adventure and the pleasure of skiing. Patagonia is a must for ski touring. This region offers impressive hiking tours through vast spaces and picturesque landscapes. Lakes, mountain villages, forests and wild nature are within easy reach. Here is an idea of itinerary to give you an overview of the journey.

Ski Touring around Bariloche

After your arrival in Buenos Aires, join San Carlos de Bariloche, the capital of Patagonia. This town is well located at the foot of the Andes mountains, on the South coast of Lake Nahuel Huapi and in the park and near the ski slopes. Located at 764 meters above sea level, it is set in a landscape of mountains, lakes, forests and rivers surrounded by numerous high peaks of the Andes. To discover the wealth of the region, head for Cerro Catedral, the largest ski area on the continent.

It is 20 km from the city and has 103 km of slopes located at an altitude between 1,000 and 2,100 meters. You can not miss it during your holiday in Argentina. Your hike will take you to the Regy Frey through corridors and needles that give to a circus leading to various passes, corridors and summits. The landscape is really impressive with powdery snow. To reach the Principal Catedral, you will make several climbs to admire a breathtaking view of the lake. After this you will continue to the Jakob refuge, crossing the Cancha de Futbol and also Cerro Brecha Negra. Before reaching Bariloche, you will make a descent in the vast valley Casa de Piedra.

Next Step from Calafate

Calafate is a city in the province of Santa Cruz. It is located in Patagonia near the southern shore of Lake Argentino. It should be noted that it is the gateway to the southern region of Patagonia. From here, drive to the village of El Chalten 215 km north, renowned for being the national capital of hiking. For your information, the landscapes in this part of Argentina are truly breathtaking. Very well located, El Chatén is located at the confluence of the Rio Fitz Roy and the Vueltas near the Los Glaciares National Park.

During a ski tour, you will explore the Cerro Mosquito at an altitude of 1,300 meters, where there is a lookout that promises a view of all the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre chains. Always at the foot of the Fitz Roy, you will admire the Glacier de Los Tres. After your return to El Chalten, plan a day of skiing on the Vespigniani glacier. To complete your trip, do not miss the Perito Moreno Glacier, a very famous glacier in the area.

Photo Credit By BluesyPete (Own work)
https://www.prestige-voyages.com/argentine

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The Charity Group of the Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay painted the campus of the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as World’s Largest Book Heritage site on 11.11.2016.They announced at the Hotel social media page that anyone who wishes to join them in helping preserve one of the most important monuments in Mandalay.

The stupa itself, connected to the outside entry by means of a long corridor, is set in the middle of a thirteen acre field of 729 pitaka pagodas or shrines (Dama Cetis). Each shrine contains a marble slab, inscribed on both sides with the Pali script text of a portion the Tipitaka (Pali spelling, or Tripitaka, in Sanskrit), Theravada Buddhism’s sacred texts. Taken together, they contain the entire text of the Tipitaka and thus form “the world’s largest book.”

The slabs were carved from white Sagyin Hill marble found just a few miles north of Mandalay. The work of carving began in October 1860 and was carried out in a special hall within King Mindon’s Royal Palace. Each slab is 5 ft ((1.5 m) by 3.5 ft (1.1 m) wide and 5-6 in. (12.7 – 15 cm) thick. The Buddhist scholar/carvers completed their task in May 1869. If spread out horizontally, the slabs would cover a third of an acre (.1 ha); stacked vertically, the ‘pages’ would rise 340 ft (103 m).

The charity group of Hotel by the Red Canal would like to preserve the Heritage and Historical attraction places in Mandalay and they would like to sustain of Myanmar Culture.

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The Mandalay streets are laid out in a grid system, and are numbered east to west (up to 49th) and north to south (over 50th).Addresses show the block where the building is located by giving the main street which it is on and the streets which is between: for example, 56th (between 19th and 20th Street).

There are Six Townships, namely Aung Myae Thar San, Chan Aye Thar San, Mahar Aung Myay, Chan Mya Thar Si, Pyi Gyi Tagon and Amarapura.

Moreover, Mandalay is well known for its pagodas and historical buildings; Maha Muni Pagoda, Maha Thatkya Thiha Pagoda, Shwe Kyee Myin Pagoda, Sanda Muni Pagoda, Kutho Daw, Atu Mashi Monastery, Golden Palace Monastery, Mandalay Hill, Yankin Hill and U Bein Bridge.

The heart of the city dominated by Zegyo market. The Clock Tower, built in 1903 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. Eain Daw Yar Pagoda, a very popular pagoda known for fulfilling wishes. St Joseph’s Cathedral (Father Lafon Church), a gothic style church built by French Fathers in 1894. Shari Krishna Temple, built during the Japanese occupation during World War II. Gold leaf being made at the small workshop. Catch a film at Myo Ma and Win Light Cinema, the largest cinema in Mandalay. Htoe Mont, Mandalay’s most famous sweet snack, fresh fruits at Thit Thee Dan Market, Fresh vegetables from the many street sellers, Coconut rice and Biryani from the night time street sellers, Indian Snacks, Shan, Chinese and Myanmar foods, late night snacks at the 24-hour tea shops and restaurants along 35th St by the eastern edge of Yan Gyi Aung Bridge are part of Mandalay city.

North of Mandalay is the main historical and religious area of Mandalay with many ancient pagodas and monasteries. Sunset from the view of the Su Taung Pyae Pagoda on top of the Mandalay Hill is famous for its panoramic views over the city. U Khan Ti Museum which houses and interesting collection of historical and religious items at the footage of the Mandalay Hill. There’s also Kutheikhtaryon Ingyin Pagoda (Sal Tree Forest Pagoda), a man-made forest surrounding and ancient recling Buddha statue at the footage of the hill. Kuthodaw Pagoda, the biggest book in the world with 729 marble slabs etched with the words of Tipitaka won’t be missed out to see in Mandalay. Have fun at Yadanapon Garden with its 55 acres of green space with a zoo, swimming pool, and amusement zone. Can practice your golf swing at the Asia Centre Golf course and Keep fit by walking up Mandalay Hill. Paintings at the many art galleries at the base of Mandalay Hill is one of the attractive places for tourists. There are cold drink shops and tea shops scattered around the base of Mandalay Hill. National Theatre which hosts regular traditional performances. Shwe Nandaw Kyaung called Golden Palace Monastery , an ancient ornately carved teak monastery built in 1880. Atumashi Monastery , the largest monastery in Mandalay with a unique five-tied terraced roof is famous.Visit Mandalay Palace by entering through the main entrance, U Hteik Gate, on the east site of the moat.

Fresh Foods and vegetables available from the villages to the east of Mandalay at Nan Shay Market. There’s also have Myee Shay, Salads and other snack shops along 19th Street. Visit Mya Kyauk Monastery and ask for a bottle of mineral water from the Mya Kyauk natural spring. Yankin Hill, climb the hill to see views over the countryside and see the statue of three golden fishes at the top which are believed to bring the rain during droughts. And can learn to ride a horse or have a painball fight at Nature’s life.

You are most warmly welcome to the Royal City Yadanabon!

Writer @ MayMalarWin
Photo Credit: Aditya Kumar

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Rowing at Dawn on Lake Inle. (Photo by Lauren Mowery)

Countries will surprise you. Like people, you think you understand their identity based on stories you read or images you view. Whether forming opinions from a 19th-century novel or a scandalous modern day tell all, an impressionist oil painting or series of poorly focused Trip Advisor member photos, humans have been unfairly judging places and each other, before we get to know them personally, for centuries. It’s an imperfect system. Yet it’s the one we have for making decisions on where we go, what we eat, and who we’ll see. And so it was for me with Myanmar.

I thought I needed to go to this Asian country formerly known as Burma before the Chinese builders decimated any remaining “authentic” local character by rapidly tossing up bland, soulless construction projects to meet the surge in tourism. I thought Myanmar lacked the supermodel good looks of the California coast or the scenic gravitas of the Swiss Alps, but the chance to witness an intact culture before its inevitable full and tragic transition to all things Western, would provide worthwhile balance. Once I decided to go, suddenly I was in a rush to get there before it was “ruined,” but then wondered if backpackers had already beaten a well-worn and contrived tourist path from Yangon to Inle Lake to Mandalay to Bagan to Ngapali Beach. Would I need to protect my camera from the incessant dust? Bring antibiotics and medicine for the inevitable case of food poisoning? Expect to have flights canceled, and never have a moment of relaxation (was this a vacation or an expedition?) because it was a rapidly developing country straining against crumbling infrastructure?

Because so few mainstream travel magazine writers have seen or reported on the interior of the country other than to give a history lesson followed by a call to action of “get there now!” (because readers, apparently, prefer reports on Provence or Tuscany), the general body of information presented on Myanmar was a jumble of confusing warnings and hard-gleaned insights from consumer trip reports published on traveler message boards like those hosted on Fodors.com.

I planned the two-week trip myself. It took several months. I read every blog, book, article, and travel agent site available to nail down my itinerary. I was traveling over Christmas and New Years. Heeding warnings (again!) about stiff competition, lack of rooms around the holidays, and high seasonal tariffs spurred me to book everything 10 months in advance. The only time I used a travel agent was for the flights on Air KBZ (zero delays or cancellations). But by the time I landed on the ground in December 2015/January 2016, flights had become widely available for booking online. I used Agoda.com for a few hotels, others I booked directly. More than ever, Myanmar is accessible to the independent traveler.

What did I find when I arrived? An unexpectedly beautiful and serene beach, on par with Thailand , nestled along the Andaman Sea. I started the trip in Ngapali to decompress from the long flight and connection through Beijing. It was the right choice.

Ngapali Beach and The Bayview Hotel. (Photo by Lauren Mowery)

I also encountered calm and chaos. Subtle beauty and ugly trash. Kindness, grace, humility, and honesty from a people too long subjected to a ruthless regime. A religious culture maintained for a millennium. Food traditions worthy of a New York restaurant but preferably enjoyed in situ. Meticulously hand-crafted textiles and lacquerware by artisans preserving a priceless tradition that anywhere else, would be outsourced cheaply to China and sold to naive tourists. Yangon’s crumbling colonial buildings that anywhere else, might be preserved for their architectural value, but in Myanmar were neglected for their reminder of England’s horrific rule. I found a wine industry! And a nascent but promising coffee region in Shan State. I encountered hypocrisy and open-mindedness. The most perfect, balmy, better-than-California weather, but only in December and January. (I heard it is unbearably hot at other times of the year.) I saw the brutality of necessity implicit in a poor, agrarian existence. I felt peace and awe and discovered my own humility and acknowledged my own privilege. I found happy, laughing, playful children.

I am not going to write a story about Myanmar or tell you about invaders, kings, the English, the junta, the great lunch I had or the fancy new hotel in Yangon. But I will tell you that I loved Myanmar. The country and people challenged my misconceptions and made me observe and think in that enjoyably profound way that pushes real travelers – not tourists – to continue to explore.

So, if I am not writing a story, then I am not going to tell you why you need to go to Myanmar. But I am going to show you what my journey looked like (slideshow above), and hopefully, the impressions you form will be positive enough to encourage you to go and make new ones. In person.

Sunrise Over Bagan. (Photo by Lauren Mowery)

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A final step in Burma in a haven of peace

The Hotel By The Red Canal is the perfect place to relax in an idyllic cocoon especially after two weeks of travel in an vibrant country like Myanmar. Hotel By The Red Canal in Mandalay is an institution and, in our opinion, the most relaxing and most comfortable option in the city. We tell you why.

Mandalay is quite noisy and dusty with the traffic jams and habitual agitation so characteristic of the main cities of Southeast Asia, but the hotel By The Red Canal is a haven of peace, an urban oasis.

Upon arrival we are charmed by the lush garden well maintained and the small pool that give a very exotic touch to the hotel. Flowers are everywhere !

After a warm welcome, we feel like being at home. We visit the hotel By The Red Canal and we discover the hotel and the rooms. The hotel has 25 rooms of 4 categories with the names of 4 large Burmese ethnic : Chin , Shan, Kachin and Rakhine. The wooden decoration of the room offers a very warm atmosphere. We really love it.

A gym and a lobby with internet and connected computers are also available to customers. The Wifi works slowly in the room but for Myanmar it’s very good and so unexpected.

To feel completely relaxed, we test the massages provided here. The place is small but cosy. Rose petals and candles arranged around the seating area gives a very romantic atmosphere. The burmese massage offered by the hotel is really nice. A perfect time of rest and relaxation. We recommand it because it’s a good excuse to relax after a full day of visits in the vibrant Mandalay city.

By the end of the day, between 7pm and 8pm, after a day of visits or after the spa, the hotel By The Red Canal has the great idea to organize a free cocktail time around the pool. The place is really pretty, magnified by the light of the candles all around the pool. It’s the perfect time to meet other travellers and enjoy the sunset time. Don’t miss it ! The cocktails are so good and change everyday !

The restaurant attached to the hotel, the Spice Garden Restaurant, is the only Indian gourmet restaurant in Mandalay. We love the menu. The plates remind us our trip in Rajasthan in North India. We try a mix of different plates like the tasty Reshmi Kebab (marinated chicken skewers), the Paneer Tikka which (skewers of vegetables and Indian cheese cooked in tandoori), the Paratha which is the Indian homemade bread and baked in tandoori, the Kachamber Salad, the Butter Chicken Masala which is one of India’s signature dishes and the Palak Soup, a soup with spinach. All is very good and very tasty ! There is also a very good wine choice. Choose the Myanmar one 😉

You have to try the Spice Garden Restaurant for sure in Mandalay !

During our stay in Mandalay, we mostly enjoy the hotel By The Red Canal but we also visit some nice and interesting places around. The hotel is very well located and it’s easy to explore the city by taxi. Just take a cab. Ask for it at the lobby. It’s easy, cheap and safe !
So we discover the gold beaters disctrict and we climb the 1,800 steps to reach the temple built atop the hill overlooking the city. Great view up there ! It was really a challenge to climb the 1,800 steps of Mandalay Hill. We are there beggining of March and the temperatures are very high.
We climb the stairs one by one. In fact, this is not so tiring when you go slowly. And then on the course, there are many steps in temples to make a break. You can also buy water and food along the way. For the less brave, there is also the possibility to get to the top by taxi.

This trip to Myanmar was a dream and the dream came true.

We learned more about the culture and the Burmese traditions, we enjoyed natural landscapes and we met fantastic local people. Nothing beats a smile , as they say 😉 Read all of our adventures in Myanmar on our travel blog OneDayOneTravel. Have also a look on our Youtube channel with our Myanmar epic vlogs and follow our adventures all over the world on our social medias.

Thanks to all the staff of the hotel By The Red Canal.
Franck et Richard, travel bloggers of OneDayOneTravel.com
www.onedayonetravel.com
www.youtube.com/user/onedayonetravel

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While the majority of travellers will go to Bagan by air from Yangon or Mandalay, wanting to experience crossing parts of the country by a mode of transportation that dates back to its colonial era when Britain first introduced the beginning of the railway tracks, I decided to take the overnight train from Mandalay to Bagan. While travelling by air was by far more convenient and reliable, I wanted to have a glimpse of Myanmar that I would otherwise not have the chance to see. As I received my handwritten train ticket, I was escorted into the carriage that was labeled as ‘Upper Class Cabin’, although there was not much difference between the ordinary class and the upper class cabins. Both were charmingly rustic and dilapidated, featuring walls and racks painted in various shades of green, a colour that seems to be predominantly used in Myanmar. Even though the seats were old and the train was bumpy and rickety for parts of the way, I decided that this was exactly what gave it its charm.

Barely in my seat, the conductor decided that the train was ready to depart, and blew his whistle thirty minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time. I had an inward chuckle thinking how it was unusual to leave earlier than scheduled and how this was perhaps one of the reasons one was heavily advised against going by train. It was notoriously unpredictable. Great, I thought, this added to my sense of being on an adventure, although there is a possibility of being partly biased since I was already sitting on the train.

As I looked out of the windowless window through the wooden frame that framed my view on the scenery passing by, I watched how the sun had almost completely bade its farewell, leaving behind vibrant shades of red, purple, and pink across the skyline. The gradually darkening landscape of pitch black palm trees and gentle hills set against the departing sun made it hard to pull my gaze away from the fading world outside my cabin if it was not for the lively activity inside the train.

My eyes caught a cheerful looking monk chewing on betel nut, a local phenomena where people chew on tobacco that is blended with roasted coconut meat and a lemon pasty powder wrapped together in a green leaf. While I have yet to try it, a friend once shared with me that it will get you high, very high, he emphasised. Admittedly, the friendly monk did seem pretty bliss-ed out and even though we did not exchange words, his eyes smiled at me in acknowledgement as I hinted at wanting to take his picture.

A few rows behind me there was a group of teenage boys having spirited conversations with each other as they passed their time on the train puffing on their local handmade cigars and drinking from a shared bottle of beer. I enjoyed watching them and when they caught my eyes quietly spying on them they exchanged a friendly nod. One of the girls who was sitting next to me was selling a whole bag of rice crackers neatly stacked on top of each other. She also had a large flat basket of quail eggs and I assumed she was going to sell it at the next town. She smiled at me and proceeded to peel one of the tiny eggs and kindly offered it. Feeling bad that I could not offer anything in return, I suddenly remembered that my sister had left me with a bag of Dutch liquorish and offered it to the girl and the rest of the small group of people she was traveling with.

One of them was trying to be modest and politely declined to which I looked at him pretending to feel rejected and motioned how I was giving ‘their’ food a try so he should try mine too. Don’t ask how I managed to do that purely through facial expressions and hand gestures, but the rest of the group broke out in laughter and nodded to him that I was right. He let out an embarrassed smile and quickly accepted one. Poor guy, I thought, when I realised I had just forced him to eat this strange black foreign sticky stuff. Fortunately, they replied with ‘good’, ‘good’, and gave me a thumbs up, and I couldn’t help but laugh, partly out of relief.

When the train arrived in Bagan, the full moon that was accompanying us throughout the night had still kept her graceful appearance, and I thought how auspicious it was to arrive at the city of temples on a full moon. Even though it was just before 5AM the train station scene was already bustling and had a display of vendors selling food. The smell of spices filled the air before I had even gotten off the train and there were sights of unfamiliar food floating around on wide flat baskets on top of the crowns of their makers. A moving food service. Children approached me repeating a word in an almost mantra-like song and I understood later that they were asking for empty water bottles, since they could earn some pocket money by collecting them. Naturally, there was the classic driver scene where they were offering their taxi services to detraining passengers.

Nodding to one of the drivers and mentioning the name of the hotel, I didn’t have to say much else. He proceeded to take my little leather carry-on and motioned me to follow him to the back of the train station where all the cars were haphazardly parked. While it seemed chaotic at first; drivers, vendors, children running around, there seemed to be a strange logic and flow to how the people moved passed each other, in and out and in between small spaces. The scene felt like one big choreographed dance and the laughter, shouts, and distant radio music playing in the background was the melody to which this organically structured dance was being performed on.

Staying true to the exploratory nature of this trip, the place I stayed at avoided the popular hotel scene, which might have offered more comfort but compromised in the local aesthetics and charm. A quiet place at the peripherals of the archeological zone of Bagan, the resort consisted of a collection of simple unassuming wooden bungalows offering unobstructed vistas of the maroon brick ruins and stupas that seemed to spread out until the far reaches of the horizon. Keen to explore my new surroundings while it was still early morning sunlight, I ventured right back out in order to find a bicycle to rent.

Part of what gives Bagan its desert landscape, a strong contrast from other parts of the country, is that it is situated in Myanmar’s driest zone and gets very little rain. It is notorious for its hot temperatures during the day that can go up to almost forty degrees Celsius. Venturing out at dawn not only allows one to escape the hot rays of the morning sun but also the busses of tourist that congregate the classic temple sites.

Paddling across the sandy dunes and winding trails that weaved in between Bagan’s antiquated structures, I watched the soft golden sunlight gently fall upon the tips of the stupas and pagodas. Gracefully erect the temples and pagodas of Bagan stand, hinting back towards a history where for centuries the rulers of this town would build elegant pinnacle structures to celebrate their diversity of ethnicities and commemorate their pious devotion. I learned that there used to be more than ten thousand of these religious monuments between the late tenth and twelfth century but the Mogul invasion and a series of natural disasters eventually led to Bagan’s gradual decline from its once glorious era.

After my morning ride around some of Bagan’s main temples, the sun started to rise and the tourist busses started to arrive that it was a good time to return to my bungalow. As I rode back, I tried to imagine how it must have been in centuries past when Bagan was once the flourishing capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first Kingdom that unified the regions and would later constitute for modern day Myanmar. While the old town of Bagan may not be the vibrant city it used to be, the remainder of its over two thousand temples scattered across Bagan’s arid sandy grounds leave plenty of visual traces to stimulate the imagination of the magnificence of this city that was once home to almost two-hundred thousand people. There is something so mysterious and surreal about this ancient city that it is a place you will want to return back to more than once.

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