Burma/Myanmar as a Whole
Burma/Myanmar is a nation in Southeast Asia with about 53 million inhabitants. It has long been a closed country – it was not until 2011 that it ceremoniously opened its borders to all ‘intruders’ like me. It is located on the western side of the Indian peninsula on the shores of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean. The capital city is Naypyidaw, an artificially built and almost deserted city. The currency there is the Myanmar (Burmese) kyat or dollar.
In Myanmar you’ll find many Buddhists, and the people are very nice. It is inhabited by many ethnic groups (135 to be exact) and pagodas, which are like Buddhist temples. I got stuck in Myanmar for 28 beautiful days and spent my time pioneering around the country – and I can say I have never met such friendly hosts. It stands apart from the rest of tourist Southeast Asia, so plan a trip before the commercialism spreads!
Must-See’s on your Vacation in Myanmar
Yangon (formerly Rangon) is the former capital. It boasts the large and divine Shwedagon Pagoda Buddhist temple with golden spikes that dazzle the wider surroundings.
Mandalay with a breathtaking pagoda on top of a mountain, from which you can spy monks and breathtaking sunsets. In Mandalay you will also find the oldest teak wood bridge in the world, the U-Bein bridge.
Bagan is a city that looks like it from an ancient fairytale. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and rivals Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, but lacks the same tourist market. Because Myanmar is generally more eco-bio-friendly, you can get around on electric scooters (e-bikes). You can go pagoda hopping! That’s a big task, as there are some 2200 of them around the country. If ground travel isn’t enough for you, you can view the landscape and the pagodas spotting it from above in a Bagan balloon at sunrise or sunset.
What Else to See in Myanmar
Inle Lake is a paradise of bizarre Intha fishermen, long-necked tribe, stilt houses, floating gardens (fruits and veggies), and shallow boats that float among the splendor of these beauties.
I also recommend checking out the Myanmar Trek – an amazing yet not too demanding trip that will take 2 to 4 days. It takes you across the Myanmar countryside (reminiscent of beautiful Czech or French landscapes) to remote villages where it seems as if time has stood still. You will be able to spend the night in the modest shelters of the natives, and you will be able to taste many delicacies. You will also meet other adventurers on your trip – like me!
Cool facts
Fun Fact One: In Myanmar it is not appropriate for a woman to hold hands with a man. You can only see hugging men there.
Fun Fact Two: Tea is not only a drink in Myanmar, but also a food. It is the only place in the world where you can find so-called tea leaf salad (yummy). In general, Myanmar’s traditional cuisine is something special – you can try, for example, dishes made from varieties of vegetables you may not have even known existed before!
Fun Fact Three: The Myanmar natives look a bit like vampires – they have dark brownish red mouths and teeth. Why?? They regularly chew betel, which causes the stain, and they enjoy it a lot.
So, do you want to see breathtaking pagodas, sunsets and sunrises, balanced monks, strange fishermen, taste tea salad and new veggies, and meet the native – who despite having Dracula’s mouth – are the nicest people ever? Let me know and together we will put together everything from little-known tips to a detailed itinerary of your dream trip!
