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MYANMAR

The Golden Land

Anchor 1
The Myanmar Coat of Arms

All recommended sites & everything else can be located & checked out with a few clicks - most have 10 photos showing views, food, beds, scenery, facilities, goods - everything you need to make an informed decision & links to all of them.

 

Just click on any marker, then on the traffic arrow           and a 2nd location for instant detailed public & private travel information including routes, distances, times, frequency, transfers & stop locations.

Your holiday - Your way

COUNTRY GUIDE

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BEST TIME TO GO - October to February is best.

  • The South-west monsoon brings rains from May until October.

  • From March to May it gets very hot.

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NATIONAL DISH - Mohinga (hearty fish noodle soup)

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ETHNICITY - Bamar 68%, Shan, Kayin, Rakhine, and Karen 32%

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MINIMUM WAGE ANNUAL IN $US - $960

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CURRENCY - Burmese Kyat MMK $1 = 1418 MMK

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BIG MAC IN $US - Have never been here

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GOVERNMENT - Unitary Parliamentary Republic / Military Dictatorship

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RELIGION - Theravada Buddhism

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POPULATION - 54,045,420

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CAPITAL - Naypyitaw

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LANGUAGE - Burmese

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NATIONAL DRINK - Tea

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LITERACY - 75.5%

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AGE - 72

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LIFE EXPECTANCY - 66.8

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TOURISTS PER YEAR - 4.36 million

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NO.1 TOURIST SITE - Bagan

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CHEERS - á€™á€„်္ဂလာပါ, Cha Kwa

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 HIGHLIGHTS - Mohinga, Thanakha & lephet thoke

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  1. Must be in Mandalay Monday Night for the Moustache Brothers

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  • Yangon 3N to Yangon 1N via - Taungoo 1N - Kalaw 2N - Trek 2N -  Nyaung Shwe 3N (5) -                                Inle Lake 2N - Mandalay 4N - Bagan 3N - Pyay 2N and Ngapali Beach 5N

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  • Hot Air Balloon flight over Bagan

  • Shwedagon Pagoda

  • Visit 7 Capitals

  • Massive Centurion Python

  • Roll your own Cigars

  • Royal Myanmar Teamix

  • Mohinga for Breakfast

  • Burmese Cheroots

  • Fermented Tea Leaf salad

  • The Moustache Brothers

  • The World's Biggest Book

  • See the Skinny Buddha

  • Resort on the Lake

  • Buddha Cliff Carvings

  • Blissful days on a perfect beach

  • One-leg Rowing Intha Fishermen

  • River trips along the Irrawaddy River

  • Scenic Trek or Scenic Train to Inle Lake

  • Walk across the iconic U Bein Bridge - the World's longest Teak Bridge

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  • Travel arrangements in Myanmar can be difficult due to the fact they were shut off from the world for so long and internet speeds are dreadful especially in rural areas. But fear not I will put you in contact with the amazing Thiri who will iron out all of your problems. Fly in and out of Yangon or you could even fly in and out of Mandalay if it suited your plans better. The route goes anti-clockwise. If you don't feel up to doing the 3 day / 2 night trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake you can take the scenic train option to Shwe Nyaung and have an extra couple of days in other places or make the trip a bit shorter. The trek isn't overly strenuous and it is cheap enough to have a motorcycle rider tail you to give tired walkers a rest. Golf is a surprise here as there are a lot of courses and they are good value. Many of hem left over from colonial times as well as some flash new ones.

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  • If you've spent a bit of time in Asia you will notice something a bit strange in Yangon. It may take you a while to work it out. There are no motor bikes. They have been banned since 2003 and nobody knows why although there are many theories. You might also notice that most of the vehicles are right hand drive but they drive on the wrong side of the road. This is because the generals decided to swap sides. Overnight. With out any warning. What is weird though is this happened in 1970 and nothing has changed. Other overnight surprises have been to declare large bank notes are no longer legal tender effectively wiping out peoples life savings. These facts will give you a bit of an insight into this enigmatic country. George Orwell's Burmese Days is worth getting hold of as well. 

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  • For many years Rangoon was a stagnant city and a visit was like stepping back in time half a century. But now Yangon is a city on the move with a lot of new investment and buildings going up. The number one attraction to see here is the Shwedagon Pagoda which is supposedly covered in all of the gold looted from the Thai capital Ayutthaya when the Burmese sacked that city. Shwe means gold and it is a word you will see a lot of in Myanmar. There is a copy of Shwedagon you will see in the new capital Naypyitaw, the latest of over twenty. Yangon is a pleasant city with lakes and parks, the Circular Train, High Tea at the Strand, Chinatown, BBQ Street, nightlife, street food and plenty of historical interest to keep you busy. 

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  • You private car and driver will pick you up and head up to the old capital Bago (Pegu) to see the sites and have some lunch. We found it a good idea to let the driver have free rein when ordering meals and picking restaurants. Meals are very cheap and consist of many dishes so this way you get to try a lot of things you normally wouldn't. Fermented Tea Leaf salad is a must try. Don't miss the Snake Temple and the resident python who is at least 125 years old. She eats a lot so all donations are welcome. Head on to Taungoo and your traditional Teak house  overlooking a rice field. The breakfast here is amazing. And they have a free room for the driver.

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  • The next day head off to Kalaw the Hill Station founded by the English during their colonial rule. They are reported to have said "If we could we would take Kalaw with us" when they left Myanmar. Enroute do a tour of the latest capital Naypyitaw which means "Royal City of the Sun". Drive down the empty 16 lane road built for military parades. Organise your trek or get your train ticket then enjoy the climate in Kalaw. The central market in town is a beauty and you can buy local liquers here among other things. Hire a push bike and go for a ride or just stroll around town and say hi to the locals. Kalaw is in Shan State so you get to enjoy delicious Shan food here.

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  • If you are trekking to Inle Lake you will be 3 days on the trail. You will trek about 20 kms a day and 10 kms on the last. The countryside is stunning and some of the best in Myanmar. All meals, accommodation, drinking water, snacks and luggage transportation are covered which makes it very budget friendly. You will spend the nights in a village home stay or a monastery as well as visiting people and farms along the way. It truly is a magical experience and not that difficult to do.

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  • If you choose to go by the train that's a great experience too. The line was built by the British after WW1 and it is known as one of the most scenic journeys in Myanmar. There is plenty of local life and colour on the train and at the stations along the way with friendly locals greeting the train along the way. 

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  • Nyaung Shwe is a great little town a short canal ride away from Inle Lake. If you can afford it stay at the Viewpoint Hotel one of my favourites anywhere. Even if you can't eat as many meals at the Shan Restaurant there as you can. The food is fabulous and like nothing you've had before. Even the plates will live in your memory. Number one thing here is to hire a boat and go for a tour of the lake (another world favourite). This is no ordinary lake and is more like an Asian version of Venice. There are plenty of arts and craft workshops giving demonstrations and selling their products. Make sure to pick up some cigars even if they are only for gifts. You can even make your own. There are temples, markets, stilted villages, restaurants, foot rowing fishermen, historical houses, floating market gardens and all manner of amazing places all living on the lake. It's a great day out. There is a winery, a hot spring, traditional Burmese Massages and a nice feel to the place. 

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  • Back out to the lake, this time to spend a couple of days staying in a resort out on the water. Put your feet up and read a book, have a massage or have another look around the lakes attractions. Nice long lunches and cocktails watching the sun go down.

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  • Next stop the old capital and most well known place name in Myanmar -  Mandalay. Stay near the Old Palace. This is the Cultural Centre and a good place to see Cultural shows such as dancing and puppet shows about folk tales and ancient legends. If the subversive Moustache Brothers have a show on make  a special effort to get there. Visit the Palace, climb Mandalay Hill for sunrise or sunset as well as the  Sutaungpyei Pagoda at the top.  Check out the jade market and the Gold pounders. Stroll across the iconic U Bein Bridge another popular spot for sunset. As is Sky Bar along with the obligatory Pina Colada. Mandalay is a good place to do a food tour, the tea-shops are great and Mandalay street-food is another good reason for a visit so don't miss the night market or the beer and BBQ joints. There is a very nice golf course up this way too.

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  • A boat trip down the Irrawaddy River to one of the wonders of Asia if not the world. If you've never been in a Hot Air Balloon this is the place to do it. Have a look in google images. Bagan is home to over 200,00 temples and the number one tourist site in Myanmar. Stay in a hotel with a pretty special swimming pool you'll probably want to hang around for the day relaxing. Then there's another one plus a spa centre. Get up early for a sunrise look at the temples riding an E-bike. Sunsets are pretty special here too. You will need to do a few trips see it properly. Learn about the Thanakha tree at the Thanakha Gallery and buy some to take home. There are a lot of art and handicrafts available too. Quite a few cooking schools have popped up if you want to learn a few local dishes. Spend the evenings at the Night Market and Carnival. Or head to the riverside restaurants.

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  • Off the beaten path to the little touristed town of Pyay by bus, train or boat (1 per week). It has a lively riverfront and a good night market. Keep an eye out for the golden statue of Aung San Suu Kyi's father on horseback at the roundabout. There are some interesting Buddha carvings into the cliffs by the river which make for a good day trip. Sundowners on the river, live music , good curries, it's all here. And you'll have it all to yourself.

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  • Off to your final destination, Myanmar's Premier beach resort of Ngapali - said to be named by a homesick Italian from Napoli. Get ready for some awesome sunsets and fresh seafood with many seafood buffets available. There is a fishing village next door. Do as little or much as you like. Grab a comfortable bungalow on the beachfront and fall asleep to the gentle lapping of the waves. Enjoy some restful holiday time. You've earned it. Get up early and watch the fishermen coming in with their catch. Hire a push bike or a motor bike for some sight-seeing, perhaps the huge reclining Buddha at Nandaw Pagoda. Discover Myanmar's wonderful beaches before the world does.

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  • Fly back to Yangon for the night and then on to your next destination.

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