Myanmar Tours: Yangon and Beyond

I am normally the kind of person who enjoys exploring a foreign land on my own or with the company of a friend. I’m not the type who joins group tours or who sticks with a planned itinerary. Yet in the case of mysterious Myanmar, I wanted a little helping hand. So I decided to compromise by setting up a personalized tour where the guide would take us to see the highlights, but I arranged our hotels. I wanted to see Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay by way of plane, boat and ox-drawn carriage.

Our adventure began in the lively former capital of Yangon. Yangon had been Myanmar’s capital city up until recently when, in November of 2005, all government offices were mysteriously moved to the remote region of Pyinmana, 600km north of Yangon. Upon arrival at the Yangon airport, we were met by a tour representative, and in less than 30 minutes we arrived at the charming Savoy Hotel.

We were greeted by friendly faces and ethereal tunes being played on an antique xylophone in the lobby. Our elegant room, graced with teakwood floors and large windows had a splendid view of the grand Sule Pagoda. With just 30 elegant guest rooms, the Savoy’s atmosphere is that of a colonial residence, complete with antiquities, landscaped gardens and a swimming pool.

Formerly known as Rangoon, Yangon’s downtown area radiates out from the golden stupa of Sule Pagoda, the proud centrepiece of the city. After breakfast the next morning, our guide met us in the lobby for our tour of Sule Pagoda. The 2000 year old Sule Pagoda is Yangon’s center of worship, bustling with humanity and merchants. Its 48 metre high golden do me contains a hair given by the Buddha to two Burmese brothers.

This was a perfect prelude to our next stop – the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, the spiritual heart of Yangon. While Sule is a single pagoda, Shwedagon is an impressive temple compound, best described in the words of Rudyard Kipling in Letters from the East (1889): “Then, a golden mystery upheaved itself on the horizon – a beautiful, winking wonder that blazed in the sun, of a shape that was neither Muslim dome nor Hindu Temple spire. It stood upon a green knoll…” It was the Schwedagon Pagoda. In Kipling’s words, the pagoda said: “This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land that one knows about.”

Dating back to the time of Buddha, over 2500 years ago, the golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. As one of the world’s most spectacular religious monuments, the sacred pagoda enshrines eight hairs from the Buddha’s head that were given to the same Burmese brothers by Buddha on his 49th day of enlightenment.

Our first day of sightseeing took in a lot. In addition to these two pagodas, we also visited several more pagodas and two museums, stopping at the Bogyoke Aung San Market (or Scott Market) to do some shopping. The next morning we hopped on a plane to Bagan, land of temples.

 

Bagan (now named Nyaung-U) is set on a spectacular plateau along the Irrawaddy River, and is an unsung archeological treasure of the world. On this plateau, there are literally thousands of temple ruins, stretching as far as the eye can see. A daunting task to explore on foot, we were taken around by a menagerie of horse and ox-drawn carriages.

Delighting in our discoveries, we found that some temples were cleared of vines and somewhat restored, while others were seemingly forgotten, enshrouded in jungle and bird song.

The Ananda Pahto is one of the largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105, this perfectly proportioned temple features four enormous standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures inside the main chamber. Our last stop of the day was Shwesandaw Paya, Bagan’s first monument and an excellent sunset vista. As the day came to an end, we sat in silence watching the setting sun bathe the temples in an enchanting rose-coloured light.

The next morning, we arose before dawn and boarded horse-drawn carriages which took us to Dhamayazika Pagoda, the biggest pentagonal pagoda in Bagan, to see the sunrise. My sleepy eyes slowly awakened as the orange sun emerged from the horizon, reflecting on the mighty Irrawaddy River and warming my skin.

We enjoyed breakfast back at the Bagan Thiripysaya Sanctuary Resort, a spacious place of teak bungalows along the river. Then it was time to board the RV Pandaw river boat for a two day cruise up Myanmar’s longest river, from Bagan to legendary Mandalay.

The Irrawaddy River flows 2000 kilometres and begins and ends within Myanmar, giving it life and witnessing its history. The name of the Irrawaddy is believed to derive from the Sanskrit word airavati, meaning “Elephant River“. With 1600 navigable kilometres, the Irrawaddy offers one of the greatest inland water navigation areas on the planet. The lives of the river people remain relatively unchanged for centuries gone by.

As we settled into our wooden cabin on the RV Pandaw, I felt like I was stepping back in time. The historic craft was built in 1947 on the Cylde River in Scotland. Five other similar vessels were also built and made their journey to Myanmar around 1950. Rustically elegant, the RV Pandaw and her charming crew served as gracious hosts with comfortable cabins and plenty of deck space to marvel at the many sights passing by.

The waters of the Irrawaddy range from calm, clear and blue to raging muddy torrents during the monsoons. In the upper reaches of the river, dolphins help fishermen by driving schools of fish into their nets. Men and dolphin have enjoyed an affectionate relationship through generations.

The riverbanks really came alive in the evening. Women carry water in huge ceramic jugs balanced upon their heads, bathing beauties stood up to watch us, boys washing their sarongs waved them in salute, naked children slid down the banks, shouting “Hello!” Everywhere we went, we were greeted with friendly curiosity. One of our stops was at a fertile farming village. The farmers here grow many things such as guavas, corn and onions. They say that no onion is sweeter then that grown in the silt of the Irrawaddy.

We visited the remote little village of Yandabo. Yandabo has no road access, therefore is completely dependant on the river for its economy. Their main livelihood is the production of terracotta pottery made from riverbank mud. We were invited to watch the pottery making process within the village. Adorable children followed us everywhere, even to the local Buddhist monastery.

Back on board, river life gradually became busier as boats of various sizes carried goods and people; teak and bamboo rafts flowed with the current, while smiling, sometimes skeptical faces peered up at us. Huge glazed pots lashed together formed an entirely different type of river craft – they had a hut fashioned on top for the rafters to sleep and cook. Sometimes their pet dogs joined them for the journey. It was a colourful aquatic highway, though still quiet and peaceful after nightfall.

The next morning, we bid farewell to our craft and crew, disembarking at Mandalay and driving 15km to Amarapura, “City of Immortality”. In order to reach Amarapura we had to cross Lake Taungthaman over the 224 year old U-Bein Bridge. Built of teak in 1782, the 1.2 kilometre-long bridge is the longest teak bridge in the world. At Amarapura we visited Mahagandayon Monastery, where one thousand monks take their last meal of the day at 10am in total silence.

We returned to Mandalay to visit the old palace grounds, the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine, before watching sunset from the breathtaking view atop Mandalay Hill.

Though Mandalay today is a modern city, its character comes from many ancient sites and places where the best craftsmen in the country continue to make things in the way their great grandparents did. The images and feelings of Myanmar will be with me forever; an exotic land of history and heartbreak, happiness and hope, life and death. The Irrawaddy River flows past all these wonders. It has seen it all. It rushes past towns and temples, pouring its endless streams of water into the Andaman Sea

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Source: hoteltravel.com

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Burma (Myanmar) – the Golden Land

Discover Burma, a traditional, deeply spiritual society only just opening to the outside world. You’ll visit cities, lakes, hill stations, rivers and temples, you’ll travel by long- tail teak boats, on its slow charming railways and even by horse and cart between thousand year-old pagodas scattered across the serene plains of Pagan. 

Burma is the preserve of the discerning visitor, so now is the time to visit, experiencing its true authenticity before it inevitably takes its place on the tourist map.

You can travel by internal flights, long-tail teak boats and on charmingly slow railways. You can even go by horse and cart between thousand year old pagodas scattered across Pagan’s serene plains. High in the eastern hill country is the vast Inle Lake, its mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding verdant landscape and lakeside stilt villages full of fascinating little workshops and colourful markets. We are discovering quintessential rural Burma, where traditional dress is the norm and cars are a rarity. With over 130 ethnic groups, Burma’s people are incredibly diverse. You’ll see the Intha, the Shan and the intriguingly named Pa-O tribes.

However, one homogenous trait exists that will delight – complete genuine friendliness, engaging ever-smiling faces and delightful children who are ever-curious about their visitors. Burmese cuisine is unknown outside its borders – a fascinating fusion of Indian, Thai and Chinese influences, with plenty of noodle, rice-based dishes and curries, milder than Indian and extremely tasty. And for desert, try some fermented tea-leaves – an acquired taste!

Rangoon (Yangon), Burma’s colonial capital with several Victorian buildings to see in between the busy traditional markets and fascinating street life. The highlight though is the astonishing Shwedagon pagoda, arguably Asia’s greatest Buddhist temple, rising like a vast gleaming golden finger puncturing the sky. Glowing beautifully in the sun it dominates the entire city.

Mandalay, Burma’s second city, full of industrious workshops and tree-shaded monasteries it’s overlooked by Mandalay Hill, site of a fierce battle at the end of World War Two, but now better known as the gathering place for friendly orange-clad monks, always keen to welcome you and practice their English on their welcome visitors.

Maymyo. Founded by the British, cool and peaceful, with numerous halftimbered houses and bungalows which would not be out of place in rural Britain, it’s a glimpse into a lost colonial world.

Pagan, the country’s most classic sight – an enormous plain, staggeringly studded with over 3,000 ancient pagodas and stupas of all shapes and sizes. Bordered by the Irrawaddy River, this was Burma’s hugely wealthy, 13th century capital and these shrines are the only remains of a once enormous city. Dependant on the time of year, you’ll have the opportunity of an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the temples, just as the mist and plumes of wood-smoke rise from the plain below – an unforgettably magical and unique experience. So come with us to discover an astonishing and timeless land striving to join the modern world but on its own terms; a land of huge variety in topography and culture; a land rich in fascinating history and steeped in two thousand years of Buddhist belief – Burma, the golden land.

Source: guardianholidayoffers.co.uk

HUONG VIET TRAVEL – MEMBER OF PATA, ASTA, IATA
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Why Do You Want to Go to Myanmar?

IT’S rare that a country bursts onto the tourism scene with quite as much vigor as Myanmar. After decades of isolation, it is Asia’s newest hot spot, offering richly layered history, spectacular natural beauty and the edginess that comes with a country still in transition.

 

Since the ruling military junta began to loosen its grip on the government in November 2010, signs of progress — like the release of some political prisoners earlier this year and elections scheduled for April 1, with the opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi running for a seat in Parliament — have led Western nations, including the United States, to consider dropping long-held economic sanctions.

But a visit to the country, also known as Burma, can be a bit tricky. Here, then, is a cheat sheet for a visit.

BEFORE YOU GO

Although it is now possible to get a visa on arrival, travel agents recommend having one in hand before your trip begins. Arrangements take up to three weeks and can be made via travel agents or directly through the Myanmar Embassy in Washington.

Most tourists visit during the dry season, from November to February. Vaccinations are not required, but Myanmar travel experts like Eric Kareus, the Asia destination manager at Asia Transpacific Journeys, recommend making sure your tetanus, typhoid and polio shots are up-to-date, and getting a hepatitis A vaccination. He added that travelers to remote areas, especially during the summer monsoon season, should consider prophylactic malarial medication.

Since Myanmar’s economy is still cash based, plan to pack enough crisp, new dollars (accepted almost everywhere) for expenses, or settle lodging and flights in advance through a travel agent.

GETTING THERE

Although Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon, is served from most major Asian hubs (there are no direct flights from the United States), the shortest and most convenient connections are from Bangkok. Depending on the season, up to eight flights a day — including service by AirAsia, a regional low-cost carrier — make the 90-minute trip. Well-maintained regional jets link major cities within the country.

LODGING

Accommodations generally provide excellent value (especially compared with neighboring Thailand) and range from smallish luxury properties in Yangon to friendly family-run hotels and tropical boutique resorts in other key areas. Thanks to the British colonial legacy, English is widely spoken in the major tourist areas.

SAFETY

Karen MacRae, a senior destination expert at Kensington Tours, said Myanmar is safe for families and described it as “a whole country full of gentle people.” However, rebel groups in northern regions of the country, so tourists should stick to the south and central areas. But crime statistics are low specifically mentions that “violent crime against foreigners is rare” — and the Burmese generally welcome visitors.

As in many developing countries, travelers should drink bottled water only and avoid raw food except at tourist-friendly restaurants.

WHAT TO EAT

Which isn’t to say that adventurous eating shouldn’t be high on your agenda. Burmese cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbors: India, China, Thailand. Ms. MacRae, who lived in Myanmar for two years, recommended lighter dishes like laphet, a pickled tea-leaf salad, and mohinga, a fish broth-based noodle soup “akin to Vietnamese pho” and best eaten, she said, at a Yangon street stall.

WHERE TO GO

The classic Myanmar itinerary begins in Yangon, where visitors will want to spend at least a day visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda — a towering stupa covered in pure gold — wandering among the colonial-era buildings downtown and bargaining for local crafts at the covered Scott Market.

Bagan, a dusty region 300 miles north of Yangon along the Irrawaddy River, is studded with thousands of bell-shaped stupas, brick temples and castlelike structures that date from the 11th to 13th centuries. Bagan can be reached from Yangon by air or via comfortable cruise boats that ply the Irrawaddy to and from Mandalay, in the central area of the country.

Both Lake Inle, in ethnically diverse Shan State, and Ngapali Beach, along the country’s western Bay of Bengal shoreline, are good places for low-key R & R, with new resorts opening regularly. Emerging destinations include the pristine Mergui Archipelago in the southeast, great for snorkeling, and Mrauk-U, a 15th-century royal capital in the southwestern state of Rakhine.

Source: nytimes.com

HUONG VIET TRAVEL – MEMBER OF PATA, ASTA, IATA
Add: 20 Nguyen Truong To Str, Hanoi, Vietnam
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