My travels over the years have brought me to many countries in the South-Asia. One of the last I went to was Myanmar. A country that seems a world apart from the other Asian countries. The legacy of the British still felt very much alive. It was as if the colonial past was still present. At the same time we felt it's a country that is still recovering from the regime that held people from democracy. A beautiful country that is still very traditional in many ways. Most locals wear traditional clothes like the skirt-like Longyi worn by men. The woman still use the thanakha - a traditional make-up.
We started our round trip in Yangon, the capital. You can still find colonial architecture in the historical center. A highlight was Swedagon Paya which is one of the most famous pagodas in the world and one of the main attractions in Yangon. Nearly 20,000 gold plates, 7,000 diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gems make the sanctuary something special. It's believed to be around 2.500 years old and said to be the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. It's a place that shouldn't be missed. Especilly around sunset. The mesmerizing golden glow is magical.
Mandalay is the second largest city and once it was the royal capital. There are so many historical and relegious temples and pagodas to see. Just south of the city, you will find the small town Amarapura, which was the capital before it mooved to Mandalay. A must see is the iconic U-Bein bridge. It is said to be the longest teak bridge in the world. There are other attractions in Amarapura, but U-Bein is definitly the most famous.
Bagan is one is situated in central Myanmar and one of the worlds great religious and historical sites. There are more than 2000 temples built between the 11th and 13th century, which makes Bagan one of South-East Asia's most important archeological sites.What we did to get around to the most important temples, pagodas and stupas, was renting a bicycle.
Kalaw was our next stop. It's situated in the hills of the Shan state, founded as a Hill Station by the British so that they would have a place to withdraw to when they wanted to escape the heat. The hills offer great hiking possibilities. There is a trail that leads to Inle Lake. We didn't do that hike, but some short walks from town, including visiting the markets.
Inle Lake was our last stop before returning to Yangon. This region is one of Myanmar's most popular tourist destinations. The lake itself is a freshwater lake around 800 meters above sea level surrounded by hills. The only way to get to our hotel and to the villages, was by boat. The houses in the villages are built on stilts. So was our hotel. We spent our days in a boat to the villages, the floating gardens and buddhist temples like the Inthein and the Jumping Cat Monestery. We experienced many different sides of Myanmar.
My friend and I agreed that Myanmar is diverse. It is a beautiful country. Friendly and helpful people. We will be happy to return.
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