Quintessential Myanmar

Yangon, or Rangoon as it was once known, is the gateway to Myanmar for most travelers. Though no longer the capital, Yangon remains Myanmar’s commercial heart and also the core of its spiritual life. The city has got a lot of contrasts, with the gentle bustle of traditional shophouses sitting side by side with the stark grandeur of 19th-century facades. A city tour might begin with the gleaming golden Shwedagon Paya, one of Yangon's most compelling attractions. Wandering around the warren of historic streets closer to the waterfront is a great way to learn about the city's colonial-era history. Further afield, visit the intriguing old cities of Amarapura, home to an ancient and famous teak bridge, over a kilometer long, and the incredible stupas from Sagaing. Jump aboard the Yangon Circle train, the most popular form of travel for local Yangonites, as it trundles along 29 miles of bumpy track through the city’s suburbs. Commuters, monks and snack-selling vendors hop on and off; spend time at some stops visiting tea shops and local markets nearby. Explore the Chinatown lying between Shwedaungtan and Shwedagon Pagoda streets. Starting from the 19th street to experience the street food in Yangon; outside seating, bustling local life and a boozy night scene. The Maha Bandula road is one of the busier for street food in Yangon. The area varies from with street food from delicious shan noodles and fried street foods to insects and cooked innards.

Bagan is located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy), a few miles south of Mandalay and north of Yangon. During the heyday of Bagan, this was the center of the Pagan Kingdom from the mid-9th to the end of the 13th centuries. More than 10,000 Buddhist strutures have been built here, nevertheless, only 2,000 remain until now. Formerly inhabited by between 50,000 and 200,000 people, the lost city is now largely deserted, with most of the local population confined to settlements on the peripheries, leaving the monuments rising in the grassy plains. Known as the “Bagan Archaeological Zone”, the ancient monuments of different periods stretch over a vast area on the bank of Ayeyarwady river up to the Turintaung range. Although the best way to explore these temples is on foot, a unique way to enjoy a panoramic view of the Bagan temples is taking a ride on a hot air balloon for a sunrise or sunset. For those who are not interested in a balloon ride, simply climb up to the top terrace of the Bagan viewing tower and enjoy the wide expanse of temples. The town is not only about temples. One also can take a day hiking Mount Popa, an important pilgrimage site with several temples dedicated to the ancient spirit atop the mountain; take a boat ride along the Irrawaddy River, the lifeline of Myanmar, which stretches 2,170 km across the country, passing through Bagan; take a cycling trip to explore the countryside of Myanmar from the back roads.

Known as the major destination on travellers’ itineraries after Yangon, Mandalay once served as the last royal city of Burmese kingdom before the country was colonised by Britain in 1885. As a home to fascinating monasteries, gem covered temples and the huge fortifications of the former royal palace, Mandalay now is the country’s second biggest city, a major commercial and cultural center. You can get a great feel for the city and its position in the heart of Myanmar as you watch the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Remember to leave your shoes in a shoebox at the bottom since it is a pilgrimage site not allowed to bring your shoes to the top of the hill. Apart from visiting the pagodas, temples and monasteries, take time to venture off outside of the city for many attractions in the surroundings. Visit the U Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, built on Taungthaman Lake in 1849 in Amarupa, a township of Mandalay. From Mandalay, you can take a boat trip on the Irrawaddy River to the village of Mingun, famous for its brick pagoda built by King Bodawpaya in the early 19th century. It is home to one of the largest bells in the world with its 90 ton weight. The village of Sagaing, with its hill offering panoramic views over the Irrawaddy River, is also worth a visit. Like any other big cities, there’s no better way to explore Mandalay than immersing yourself in its sights and sounds of daily life. The cuisine here is an exotic blend of noodles, seafood, and rice, spiced up and enhanced by condiments and salads. Fruits, a feature of the tropical climate, are also an important part of this cuisine. The food has been influenced by the techniques, ingredients and flavors of Myanmar’s neighbors: Thailand, India and China. Head down to Zay Cho market, or one of the many other streets of bustling stalls, to sample an array of traditional Burmese and international dishes.

At 1320m above sea level, Kalaw was once a former British hill station in Myanmar surrounded by stunning green hills. It is a great place to see rural Myanmar with tea pickers, farmers and stunning villages. Many of Kalaw’s original colonial-era buildings remain, and it is also known as the centre for many trekking activities of the region. While the town itself is small and can be covered within half an hour’s walk, Kalaw has several trekking routes which takes one through the scenic Shan Hills. These routes vary in difficulty level and take from half-a-day to several days in length. A visit in town should not miss the mirrored pagoda Aung Chan Tha Zedi, also known as 'Mosaic pagoda' covered in gold and silver coloured glass mosaics; and the Thein Taung Paya Pagoda located on the top of the hill offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding hills and town. The surrounding villages are home to ethnic minorities such as the Palaung, Danu, Taung Yo... as well as the Nepali Gurkhas and Indian Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims who were brought to Kalaw by the British to build the railway line. Hence, Kalaw exhibits interesting cultural diversity. In the town center, there is a local market, a hub for local life where ethnic groups from the surrounding hills participate in once every five days. On these days, the market transcends into a bustling place where one can buy everything from fresh fruit, vegetables, to dried herbs, spices and pulses, to clothes and locally-crafted artisan pieces. Grab a delicious bowl of Shan noodles packed with chilli, garlic, tomatoes and pickles to keep you going, or opt for a handful of crunchy fried crickets if you’re feeling adventurous.

Among the many nice beaches in Myanmar, Ngwe Saung is the newest – Ngwe meaning ‘Silver’, so it is also called ‘Silvery Beach’. It is about 48km from Pathein, the capital city of Ayeyarwaddy on Myanmar’s western coast in the Bay of Bengal. It has 15km of unspoilt beach stretches with purest-white sands and crystal-clear blue waters, bordered by tall green palms quivering in gentle breezes. The white powdery sand at Ngwe Saung Beach offers beach activities such as swimming, windsurfing, snorkelling and is the ideal retreat for guests seeking peace and quiet after a hectic tour. Besides beach activities, one can visit small fishing villages and local markets at the southern end of Ngwe Saung, explore the unspoiled countryside surrounded by teak forests and paddy fields by bicycle or enjoy a boat trip to one of the offshore islands. Last, but not the least, visitors can enjoy good birding experiences on Bird island, one hour traveling by boat from the shore, and its surrounding areas if you are a nature lover. Outside of the hotels, activities are limited and the choice of restaurants is restricted to those in the central village which tend to offer seafood and Burmese dishes.