| M Nybondas |
21 November 2003 |
Stayed at Summit Parkview Hotel - Yangon, Myanmar.
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The hotel has an excellent gym and a nice swimming pool (around 20 meters long). The restaurants are excellent. The entrance fee to the People's Park is $3. The entrance fee to the Shwedagon Pagoda is $5.
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| M Oschkinis |
28 September 2003 |
Stayed at Dusit Inya Lake Resort - Yangon, Myanmar.
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Yangon is a good location for a three to four day stay - things to visit are the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, the large Reclining Buddha, the are around the Sula Pagoda in the city and the Scott market, as well as the Botataung Pagoda. Half-day trips to Bago (visit the Shwemadaw pagoda) and Syriam are possible and worthwhile.
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| E Rubin |
08 August 2003 |
Stayed at Inle Lake View Resort - Inle Lake, Myanmar.
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Inle is amazing. Make sure to visit the weaving factories at the southern end of the lake. Also take lots of film--it is hard to imagine any place more photogenic.
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| E Rubin |
01 August 2003 |
Stayed at Popa Mountain Resort - Mandalay, Myanmar.
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Mount Popa is amazing. Just be aware that if you choose to climb the 777 steps to the top of the monastery, you will be doing so barefoot, as shoes are not allowed. The steps are covered much of the way but there are several sections that are basically ladders. There are wild/semi-tame monkeys all over the monastery, and they occasionally grab visitors' possessions or jump on visitors. They also leave their droppings everywhere -- and remember, you will be barefoot! The view from the top makes it all worthwhile, though. A magical place.
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| S Crawford |
29 May 2003 |
Stayed at Sedona Hotel Mandalay - Mandalay, Myanmar.
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We chartered a boat to Mingun which allowed us to stop at villages along the way. Mingun was the most touristy place in Myanmar although there was still not very much hassle. We would thoroughly recommend the 40 minute trip to Amarapura (by taxi) coinciding with lunch time at the monastery (about 10.30 am) as the sight of 1,000 monks lined up 2 by 2 is amazing. We got around Mandalay using trishaws.
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| S Crawford |
27 May 2003 |
Stayed at Inle Lake View Resort - Inle Lake, Myanmar.
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On arrival from the airport, we made a detour to Pindaya caves before checking into the hotel. This was worth the effort and cost $10 extra for the 4 hour trip. We hired a boat through the resort (this could also have been done locally for half the cost) and spent a full day seeing the best parts of the lake. The boatman took us to all the sights that we wanted and also several tourist traps (cigar makers, cotton-weavers, blacksmiths, silversmiths) although no-one pushed us very hard to buy anything. InDein is the most impressive sight on the lake and should not be missed. Jumping cat monastry is also fun.
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| S Crawford |
25 May 2003 |
Stayed at Governor's Residence, The - Yangon, Myanmar.
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We took a day tour to the Golden Rock. This was very expensive and I (and the other travellers that I met there) would not recommend it. The taxi could only go as far as the bottom of the hill. We were not allowed on the public bus/truck so had to walk 2 hours up the hill. If foolhardy enough to try, remember to bring your passport with you as it is needed to buy a ticket.
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| T Oetter |
04 April 2003 |
Stayed at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel - Yangon, Myanmar.
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Not far to Shwedagon Pagoda.
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| H Lees |
03 April 2003 |
Stayed at Sedona Hotel Mandalay - Mandalay, Myanmar.
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I didn't particularly like Mandalay as I found it dusty and noisy. We enjoyed a boat trip up the Ayerwaddy to Mingun where we met Zaw Min, a young artist who has produced some beautiful work. We also took a taxi ride to the U Bein Bridge and watched local life while enjoying a cold beer.
We ate at the Green Elephant which is very close to the hotel. The food was good but the service overbearing - waiters standing behind you watching your every mouthful. We had this problem all over Myanmar as it was the start of the low season and we were often the only tourists - definitely the only ones with young children.
There is a marionette theatre in the road next to the Sedona which is probably worth a visit if you haven't seen a Burmese puppet show.
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| L Cohen |
28 March 2003 |
Stayed at Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel - Bagan, Myanmar.
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Bagan is magnificent and shouldn't be missed. We hired a driver from 8:30am until 6:30pm for $25.00. Took us to loads of pagodas and temples and let us run the show. Very good value. Had dinner at the Bagan hotel. Excellent food at inexpensive prices. Had huge prawn feast with vegetables, appetizers, steamed rice and beer for $6.00 per person.
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Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see in Myanmar
