Bagan is located in approximately central Myanmar and is accessed via flight or bus - the closest airport is the Nyaung U Airport about 30 minutes from Old Bagan city and daily flights operate to and from Yangon as well as select other domestic cities. Visitors may also take a bus from Yangon to Bagan - allow 10 hours for this journey and dress warmly as the buses are often quite chilly inside. The Bagan Plains are situated along the banks of … [Read more...]
Letting it all out at Inle Lake, Myanmar
Stumbling into an outdoor night market after strolling through the dimly lit streets of Nyaungshe we spotted a number of food vendors. One caught our eye - vividly so with the disco ball throwing orbs of bright light in all directions and the nearly blown out speaker playing everything from American folk songs to Myanmar pop songs. Oh and the smells coming from the BBQ including a number of intestinal products, locally caught fish and a variety … [Read more...]
Your Guide to Big Cats in Asia
For animal lovers, getting to know the wildlife of an area is what travel is all about. And Asia is the perfect place to meet some of the world’s largest and fiercest feline friends. Asia is one of the best destinations for sighting big cats in the wild. Whether you want to hear a deep and earthy growl or the softest of purrs, Asia has a place to suit any animal encounter you seek. Which Big Cats Are Found in Asia? If you’re visiting … [Read more...]
Visiting Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan is the land of ancient temples - these stone spires dot the dusty landscape of what is called the Bagan Plains. We are visiting in the middle of winter, yet the temperatures are very warm during the day and pleasant at night; apparently rain has not fallen here for weeks. Coming from Inle Lake, some 6 hours away by bus we were startled by the dramatic difference in landscape. Inle Lake has plenty of water - in fact villages are built above … [Read more...]
Glimpses of Inle Lake, A must visit when in Myanmar
My formula for epic trips is something like this: travel with friends, seek out a diversity of unique and fun experiences, enjoy a bit of adventure, always imbibe in a bit of alcohol, find a balance between the natural and urban worlds, find good value for the money and meet other travelers. When Bohemian Vagabond suggested we visited Myanmar, I admit I wasn't super excited - having only visited once before near the Thai border and never … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Travel
Travel has changed so much in the past few years - during my latest trip abroad, this time to Myanmar, some of these changes were quite noticeable. Long gone are the days of Internet cafes where one would see travelers hunched over keypads staring at klutzy box like computer screens - often in the mornings or evenings after spending the day sightseeing. Today one is more likely to see one staring at a mobile phone - with travelers having … [Read more...]
Enjoying a Diversity of Experiences in Yangon, Myanmar
After landing at the modern airport in Yangon we quickly purchased a sim card with a local phone number. We were told that in the last few years the price of Internet and cell phones have dropped dramatically. One tour guide told us that in the last 10 years mobile phones have gone from costing more then $1000 to now being relatively affordable. Our taxi driver informed us that traffic in Yangon can be intense - horrific at times - traffic … [Read more...]
Wine Tasting in Myanmar
When traveling abroad, I always seek out wineries whenever possible. To some, going wine tasting in Myanmar might be somewhat of a surprise - an anomaly and to an extent it is. However, there are two wineries in the country, (Aythaya Vineyard and Red Mountain Estate) both in the vicinity of Inle Lake. Red Mountain Estate Winery is located on the outskirts of the small town of Nyaungshe. As one arrives, one quickly sees vineyards lining the … [Read more...]
Visiting North Korea (not really)
During a recent visit to Yangon, Myanmar a friend of a friend working in the city informed us about a North Korean restaurant within a 10 minute drive of where we were staying (the Merchant Art Boutique Hotel). My only other experience with North Korea was in Dandong, China. An old military bridge (today called the Friendship Bridge) extends half way across the Yalu River. I was there in the middle of winter and I remember it was extremely … [Read more...]
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon – March 2018
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon in Myanmar is located at the top of Singuttara Hill and can be seen for miles around the city. From afar, the tallest golden stupa is the visual highlight of this temple. From close, Shwedagon is a gathering place for Burmese and foreigners - an impressive monument to spirituality and human creativity. The temple was built between the 6th and 10th centuries - over time the height of the main pagoda was increased to … [Read more...]
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