Myanmar (Burma) Travel Blogs on RealTravel

Myanmar journal: You Say Bye-Bye, And I Say Mingalaba

2007-04-20T03:27:50Z

"At the Water Festival, there are no time-outs!"

a entry by Tole & Jessica from a trip to Myanmar, Mandalay.

MYANMAR TOURING HIGHLIGHTS

*Ecstatic children waving and yelling "Hello", or just as often, "Bye-Bye," as you ride or walk by.

*Amazing people who are not only friendly, but are always happy to help you and will accept nothing but smiles for their time and effort.

*Making long, loud smooching noises to call your waiter, and listening to a crowd of other patrons do the same.

*Now-you-see-it, now-you-don't electricity. The show can start, or stop, at any time.

*Inevitable bouts of food poisoning and traveler's tummy, just to keep things interesting.

*Crazy ...

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Myanmar (Burma) journal: Summing up

2007-03-24T13:03:39Z

"The Go or Not to Go Question"

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Myanmar (Burma).

Impressions and gross generalisations

Bagan was worth the rugged trip. This is an amazing site with 4,000 pagodas spread across a broad plain next to the Irrawaddy River.

Burmese people were nice. They seem quite at ease and pleasant. English is widely spoken and when not., they are still helpful. They are somber (I guess they don’t have a lot to smile about), but are not aggressive like the Cambodians can be and seemed less moody than Laotians.

Sounds. Like India, street vendors feed sugar cane between rollers (hand propelled by a large wheel) to produce a fresh drink. In ...

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Yangon journal: Yangon , better on second viewing

2007-03-24T12:23:11Z

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).

Early start for the Yangon train and this time a member of the railway staff took me to my coach and seat. Slightly nicer train but still a long tiring journey. This trip was most memorable for the two monks sitting nearby. They ate the entire time we traveled (both were already fat) and read some racy tabloids most of the time. I got the impression that religion in Burma is a business (not the only country in the world where that happens).

It was a brief walk from the railway station to my hotel (the Thamada). This hotel is much more to my liking. It is 6 stories, and has a ‘modern’ ...

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Mandalay journal: On the rails to Mandalay

2007-03-24T10:35:15Z

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

Up early for the 4:30 am train to Mandalay. A young man self appointed himself as my guide and at first I was annoyed but once I stepped into the chaos of the station, I was glad he knew how to get me to my train. He also ejected someone sitting in my seat and seemed overjoyed with the dollar tip I gave him. I was expecting a modern German built train but this one had seen better days. The good thing was that there was a lot of leg space and the seat was a comfortable reclining one. I was in Upper Class ($43 US … probably 100 times more than the local fare). I had a window seat and enjoyed ...

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Bagan journal: Bagan, the old capital

2007-03-24T11:11:08Z

"‘It is not easy to be a responsible tourist in this place’."

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Bagan, Mandalay.

It was late by the time I showered and had dinner but first impression was good and the next day revealed that the Bagan Thande Hotel is really a find. It is one of the oldest in the area (described as ‘riverside bungalows”) 1950s vintage. Suites with a river view go for $200 a night but I had one half of a small cabin set in the landscaped gardens for $24 a night (including breakfast). Air con, telly and a clean comfortable bed .. hot water here was hot (in the Pacific Hotel it was tepid). The front porch had two chairs ; great for sipping beers and watching birds in the gardens surrounding ...

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Mandalay journal: Too much of a mediocre thing

2007-03-24T10:46:02Z

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

I stayed 5 nights in Mandalay .. more time than I originally planned but I had to leave Yangon early because night trains no longer operate. It proved to be too long in this dusty commercial city. In spite of its evocative name, I found Mandalay to be a rather dull place. Perhaps I should have read the guide more closely ; page 236 ; ‘Not much of Mandalay can be seen on foot’. Distances were too long for comfortable walking. I found only one ‘taxi’ (a small pickup truck with planks in the back for seats) which was not overflowing with people ; I got a ride from the zoo back to the centre, ...

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Yangon journal: Yangon city

2007-03-24T10:27:17Z

"Beware of men wearing trousers."

a entry by Marshall from a trip to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).

Traders Hotel is part of the Shangri La group, a very posh business hotel ($75 a night for a very smart room). Alas, my room did not have view of the famous Shwedagon Paya pagoda. I was there for 3 nights and it was nice to have a comfortable ‘Western’ atmosphere after the culture shock of Yangon’s streets. This is the Third World .. chaotic traffic, people everywhere, very exotic.

Biggest problem (here and throughout the country) is the poor state of the streets and pavements (sidewalks). There are broken paving slabs and all sorts of hazards .. it is hard to sightsee when you are ...

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Kawthaung journal: Burma - Mynnamar

2007-02-15T09:36:14Z

a entry by Travel Baxter from a trip to Kawthaung, Tanintharyi.

Midmorning I made the crossing over to Burma by ferry. Though just across the river from Thailand the city of Kawthaung is pretty different. The filth and trash in the street reminds me of walking around North India a bit, but the people are as friendly as everywhere else in SEA. Along the waterfront stalls are set up selling the usual market fare - t-shirts, plastic trinkets, and cheap jewelry. I decided to find a coffee shop to sit and think of what to do next. Walking into a little restaurant I'm met with much attention by 4 guys also hanging out at the shop. They practice their ...

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Katha journal: Orwell's First Station

2007-01-18T11:59:31Z

"Rocking a boat off a sandbank isn't as easy as it looks"

a entry by Taisteal from a trip to Katha, Sagaing.

George Orwell's first work of creativity, Burmese Days, was based on his time stationed in the northern town of Katha. A mandatory companion for any trip through the country, rumours on the ground say that the immigration officers are planning a Burmese Days quiz for all departing tourists to make sure that they completed their homework! Based around the English members club in the town, it takes a poke at the hypocrisy of the English stationed in the area at the times.

Out of Myitkyina

From Myitkyina I took a bus to a town in between called Bhamo. The drama started when Idan and ...

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Mandalay journal: More Bloodied Smiles

2007-01-05T13:40:53Z

"I needed some good karma, so releasing a bird was the only solution"

a entry by Taisteal from a trip to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

The Boat Trip

A recurring theme throughout my Myanmar entries are the epics than getting from A to B turned out to be, and the trip from Bagan to Mandalay didn't really turn out any different. 5:30am was the scheduled departure time for what seemed like quite a luxurious boat. I found a row to myself, curled up and caught 40 winks. It took me a couple of hours to figure out that there was something not quite right. The fact that we hadn't moved was a clue!

It turned out that there were 'technical difficulties' and they were waiting on an engineer to come and save the day. The boat ...

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Kalaw journal: Walking Among Locals

2007-01-04T12:51:24Z

"The Forestry Officer says they have to move the village?"

a entry by Taisteal from a trip to Kalaw, Shan State.

The unofficial trekking capital of the country, Kalaw is a patchwork of hill tribes. It really was refreshing to set off with Sam's Trekking. His family form the group of guides. He requested that we didn't bring anything to the children in the villages, he didn't want his people being changed by the tourists passing through.

Idan and myself set of with Ko Sway and a cook. He would be our source of all things Burmese for the next three days. He had a university education from the 80's, and I think that it was actually a real education. He was very proud of the fact that he could come ...

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Bago journal: Happy Christmas Buddha

2007-01-04T12:47:30Z

"Two Buddha hairs are holding the rock in place"

a entry by Taisteal from a trip to Bago, Myanmar (Burma).

It was December 23rd and everyone seemed to be on the move for December holidays. We had planned to go and see the famous Golden Rock and that fact that it was almost impossible to get a bus just made it more attractive to go and visit such a pilgrimage site. One guy on the bus told me that the locals just wanted to go to the rock to say 'Happy Christmas Buddha'. I didn't ask any difficult questions!

Eventually we got to a town about 20km from the rock and there after a bit of local debate secured two spots on the top of the pick-up going to 'base camp' for the rock, Kin Pun.

Trekk ...

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Yangon journal: Men in Skirts???

2007-01-04T12:40:26Z

"A few dollars for the teacher and there's no problem with exams."

a entry by Taisteal from a trip to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).

As Internet access in fairly hit and miss in Myanmar, all entries are written after my return to Thailand. My route took me all the way north to Myitkyna and then back south through Mandalay and Yangon. To keep the map from going crazy, I haven't shown my route back down through the country and have just routed it back to Bangkok. Anything of significance from the return journey I have noted on the entry for heading north.

My Introduction to Myanmar

The first detour to my overland trip had to happen somewhere along the road. I had wanted to visit Myanmar for some time and unless ...

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Meng La journal: Mengla

2006-12-31T11:55:10Z

a entry by Norberto Cuenca from a trip to Meng La, Shan State.

Mongla. Un casino chino en la Jungla.

Myanmar -- Mongla (24/10/2006)

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Mongla (Mengla) es una anomalía geopolítica. Una especie de borrón en las fronteras internacionales. Un vertedero para vicios chinos fuera de las leyes chinas, ahí, justo al otro lado de la frontera. Había leído de este territorio ya hace años en mi guía de China. Se hablaba de ese lugar de perdición al otro lado de la frontera, al que solo los chinos ...

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Kentung journal: kentung

2006-12-31T11:40:36Z

a entry by Norberto Cuenca from a trip to Kentung, Shan State.

Kengtung. En el Triangulo de Oro

Myanmar -- Kengtung (23/10/2006)

Todas las fotos de Myanmar aqui en HTML o Flash

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Desde Mandalay hay 400 km hasta Kentung pero por carretera, al parecer, se tarda semanas. La gente que se atreve (birmanos, los extranjeros lo tienen prohibido) lo hace en convoy protegidos por el ejercito. Haciendo el viaje en avión se entiende por qué. Al despegar de Mandalay se vuela sobre una llanura toda cultivada. Casas, pueblos, campos. Conforme se ...

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Katha journal: Katha

2006-12-31T11:38:34Z

a entry by Norberto Cuenca from a trip to Katha, Sagaing.

Katha. Tras las huellas de George Orwell

Myanmar - Katha (16/10/2006)

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Mi blog "oficial" aquí

"Los días de Birmania" es un libro fantástico. Me había quedado sin lecturas mientras viajaba por Xinjiang en 2002 y me lo dio mi amiga Anna la francesa que lo acababa de terminar. No solo me salvo la vida en las 67 horas de tren que hay entre Urumqi y Chongqing, también se convirtió en uno de mis libros preferidos. El libro está ...

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Hopin journal: Indawgyi Lake - Hoping

2006-12-31T11:36:56Z

a entry by Norberto Cuenca from a trip to Hopin, Kachin State.

El lago Indawgyi y el peor viaje de mi vida

Hopin - Lonton - Indawgyi Lake (13/10/2006)

Todas las fotos de Myanmar aqui en HTML o Flash

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Mi blog "oficial" aquí

Teniendo en cuenta las muchas líneas que he llenado con las miserias varias del transporte birmano, no se como escribir este capitulo sin aburrir al personal. Vamos a decir que "de algún modo" había llegado al lago Indawgyi.

Indawgyi es el lago más grande del sudeste asiático. Según un folleto (el único folleto ...

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Yangon journal: Yangon

2006-12-31T11:24:45Z

a entry by Norberto Cuenca from a trip to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).

Myanmar desconectado

Yangon - Mandalay - Bagan (8/10/2006)

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Ayer se fue Katia despues de 12 dias de viaje juntos y aqui estoy, solo en el ciber otra vez. Hemos estado en varios de los sitios donde estuve en mi viaje en 2004 (Mandalay, Yangon...) pero intentando no repetir demasiado. Como guinda fuimos a Bagan que es simplemente EXPECTACULAR. Bagan fue la capital de un antiguo reino birmano y durante su epoca de esplendor se construyeron mas de 4000 templos en la zona. La mayoria siguen en pie y en buena forma. Las vistas ...

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Myanmar (Burma) journal: You say 'Burma,' I say 'Myanmar'

2006-07-06T22:00:47Z

a entry by projectbeat from a trip to Myanmar (Burma).

We are back online after a brutal two weeks without internet access (no non-government-approved international news or communication). Unbelievable that there is a country out here that keeps its people ignorant about the web. Can you say 'short-sighted' boys and girls?

Myanmar (or 'Burma' depending on your political leanings)was our first country under military rule. The debate rages about whether to boycott the repressive goverment or provide tourist dollars and exposure to the people. In the end, I'm glad we decided to visit. The Burmese were the most genuinely friendly people we have ...

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Myanmar (Burma) journal: Quick stop in Burma

2006-03-04T12:43:33Z

a entry by Katie W from a trip to Myanmar (Burma).

We went to Mae Sai in the morning, in order to pop across the border into Myanmar - the main reason for which was to obtain another stamp in our passports, plus buy some very cheap DVDs and CDs.

We also took a cool speed-longtail boat ride to an island of Laos - where we had just enough time to down a beer - and the Golden Triangle, in addition to an Opium Museum.

Ended the day with a delicious meal in the Pizza Company!

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Myanmar (Burma) journal: Border Crossing for Visa

2006-02-05T08:09:21Z

a entry by BoxingJesse from a trip to Myanmar (Burma).

I had to do my visa run today. That was a long day. I went to sleep @ like 4am & got up @ 620am. Didn't get home until 1030 or so. I was able to sleep a couple hours in the van though. It was a pretty fun day. I met a couple from Anchorage, a couple from Israel, a mean old lady from France, guy from Scotland on vacation w/ his buddy from Taipai. It was a pretty crowded trip. But we made a lot of stops so I got to stretch my legs fairly often. Oh there was also a Norwegian guy w/ his Thai 'girlfriend' - gross.

First stop we made was to some Wat in the middle of nowhere that ...

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