Travel: 6 Days Discovering Myanmar~

Mingalaba!!   Here's our 6 Days Adventure in Myanmar.  Everything mentioned in this post is recommended! 

Day 1 – 25 Dec (Yangon)

We arrived Yangon International Airport at 8am and was surprised that the airport is not as I imagined.  It was clean, quick and professionally organized up to international standard.  A free shuttle awaited us at the arrival hall to take us on 25 minutes ride to the Ocean Pearl Guesthouse.  For the rate of USD30 for twin room with attached bathroom and hotshower, it includes free wifi and breakfast for 2 persons.  The room was very clean and the toilet was not smelly (that’s important!)  We immediately checked-in and got to our room to rest and freshen up before headed out for early lunch.  Lunch at a nearby street stall was really yummy and cheap.  Hailed a taxi to Shwe Dagon Pagoda, a must see attraction in Yangon.  It’s a huge temple with gorgeous design & architecture.  After spending a couple of hours at the pagoda, we took the taxi back to hotel to get some rest before going to the nearby night market.  Unfortunately, we fell asleep until the next morning and missed the night market fest.

Yangon International Airport

Money Exchange.  Better change at the airport and make sure you have USD100 notes and crisp new, for better rate.

Ocean Pearl Hotel. Very clean, friendly and convenient.

lunch

en route to Shwe Dagon Pagoda

Shwe Dagon Pagoda

Shwe Dagon Pagoda

Day 2 – 26 Dec (Yangon)

After having the basic yet healthy breakfast at the hotel, we walked about 25 minutes to the train station for a 2-hour circular train ride around Yangon.  It was a very interesting train ride we didn’t feel the 2 hours passed by.  We got to see the poor and the rich areas.  We passed by villages, morning markets and vegetable farms.  From the train station, we took a taxi to National Museum to learn Myanmar history from years ago until recent days.  From the museum, we took a taxi to Bogyoke Aung San Market where we bought some t-shirts and fridge magnets for souvenirs to our family and friends.  We would like to come back on Monday but it is closed on every Monday.  Another taxi ride to the hotel to pick up our luggage and hail another taxi to Aung Mingalar Bus Station for our night bus to Bagan which leaving at 7pm.

a morning at the train station

view from the train - a morning market at one of the villages



view from the train - vegetable farms

 

sight seeing..one of the nice architecture around the city

Day 3 – 27 Dec (Bagan)

Arrived Bagan at 5am!  It was cold and dark, must be below 20 deg celcius.  Luckily the express bus was comfortable so we slept all the way from Yangon.  On the bus, they provide mineral water, a toothbrush & toothpaste and wet tissue.   Three stops for toilet, food/drinks and driver exchange – the first stop with free wifi connection!  From the bus station we took a trishaw for 15 minutes ride to Large Golden Pot Guesthouse.  The guesthouse was fully occupied so we had to take a nap at the reception area.  At 5.45am a horsecart took us for the sunrise then back to guesthouse to check-in and freshen up before heading out to discover Bagan.  The guesthouse was very clean and for the rate of USD25 for twin bed, includes breakfast, attached bathroom and hotshower but not wifi. We went from one temple to another.  We stopped for lunch at Moon Restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant that serves very good food.  Our tour ended after seeing the gorgeous sunset, got back to our room for shower, ate instant noodle for dinner and fell asleep early.



waiting for the sun rising...before the battery went flat grrr

Large Golden Pot Guesthouse

took a quick look at what we bought in Yangon



Yummy lunch at Moon Vegetarian Restaurant

Bagan Tour

Jetty at Bagan

the last of Bagan tour but the most precious moment.....

Day 4 – 28 Dec (Bagan to Inle)

We woke up at 4.30am to the loud sound of music and people from the roadside in front of the guesthouse.  We were told that every last Saturday of December, they will do parade around the village with loud music.  The weather at the time of year is cold so that was meant to keep the people warm. But for us, we woke up like a zombie for not enough sleep.  After breakfast, the bus picked us up from the hotel and headed to Inle.  The journey was awesome! The route was through hills and we got to see the beautiful farms (sunflowers, corn, vegetable etc).  We passed by Kalaw, a small city famous for trekking and few other beautiful small towns.  We arrived Inle at 7pm and amazed with the breathtaking scenary.

This time we stayed at Joy Hotel, a small friendly clean guesthouse by the river.  The rate was USD25 for twin bed with breakfast, attached bathroom with hotshower and….wifi!!  After checked-in and freshen up, we walked around the small town, ate yummy dinner at a small stall near the mosque, and later found a Thai massage place.  Paid only USD5 for an hour full body massage!  Heaven!!  Went back to hotel and snooze off till the sun rises……

en route to Inle Lake

en route to Inle Lake

en route to Inle Lake

en route to Inle Lake

Joy Hotel

Day 5 – 29 Dec (Inle)

We woke up at 5am to the sound of villagers who are delivering and receiving vegetables and stuff at the jetty in front of our balcony.  It was an interesting view to see on an early cold morning.  At 7am we had our breakfast and embarked on the boat at 8am for our one day boat tour.  I guess the photos should speak for the rest of our day.  I wish I could spend one more day in Inle….unfortunately we had to leave by night bus to Yangon.  We were picked-up from the hotel by a toto or a bike with carrier for up to 8 persons at the back.  About an hour ride from Nyung Shwe to Shwe Nyaung where the famous JJ Express bus picked-us up at 7pm for a 12-hour ride to Yangon.  The bus was so comfortable with spacious seats and dinner included.  We slept soooo good all the way to Yangon.

Day 6 – 30 (Yangon)

We arrived Yangon at 6am and took a taxi to White House Hotel downtown Yangon.  Paid only USD2 per person to keep our luggage, to have shower and wifi (not that we can’t live without wifi but we need to keep in touch with family back home as our roaming doesn’t work at all).  After nice hotshower, we walked around the city and had our last lunch in Yangon.  I realized that we have been eating really good food during our trip and we might have gained few kg!!  We did some last minutes shopping before taking the taxi to the airport.  We left Yangon at 7.05pm with a beautiful memory of Myanmar.  A humble country and lovely people.  Jezu timbade! Thank you and hope to come back soon.

brekkie

passing by Bogyoke Aung San market for the last time

White House Hotel

mosque

mosque

If you need any recommendation or opinion, please drop me an email.  Check out my next post where I'll detail out my expenses during this trip.  Cheers and happy new year!!