5/6-5/13: Myanmar
“Go to Myanmar NOW before it becomes over touristed” is a common line I’d hear from fellow backpackers & now after visiting Myanmar, I whole-heartedly agree with that statement. I’m glad I came to visit this country now rather than later, the overwhelming feeling I got was that this place was truly authentic. Accompanied by my friend Mel, we would go out to grab street food/bomb milk tea in the busiest streets of Yangon and see literally no other foreigners. It's refreshing knowing that there are still places where you can see the country relatively unaffected by the wave of Western tourism.
I originally planned to stay in Myanmar for 2 weeks, but I’m a wimp when it comes to heat and left after 1 week - 50C weather is nothing to scoff at! I’ll have to save the rest of Myanmar for another day… hopefully it won’t be too different by then.
Itinerary:
This is definitely an abridged itinerary, but considering the heat I felt that we saw just enough.
- Yangon (1 night @ Agga backpackers)
- Bagan (2 nights @ Osteria Hostel)
- Lake Inle (3 nights @ Inle APEX)
- Inle->Yangon (1 night on JJ VIP bus)
Highlights:
- Experiencing a really unique culture. For example EVERYONE wears skirts (even the men) and apply a wood extract mask daily.
- The overnight buses in Myanmar are the best I’ve seen in SE Asia. GREAT AC, super big seats, snack/water and even a TV screen?! Always take JJ VIP
- Authentic people everywhere, who aren’t set on ripping you off
- Motorcycling around the temples of Bagan to catch hazy sunsets and sunrises
- Shan noodles – a Myanmar specialty food. They’re like chewy-er noodles? (Mel’s favorite)
- Mountain Winery in Lake Inle. Horrid wine, but a great view with new friends
- Lake Inle tour- imagine a city with river ways in place of streets. It’s pretty amazing, I’ll let the pictures do the talking
Lowlights:
- Heat. 50 degrees celsius. Can’t function.
- Accommodation everywhere was pricey and you didn’t get too much for it. ~$20-$30 pp
- Don’t expect to see hot air balloons in Bagan from April-Sept, they’re not in season :(
- Ant bites all over my thighs while watching sunset at Bagan temples
- Too be honest, I'm over temples now.
- Did I mention the heat? If it wasn’t for the heat, I would have loved to hitch hike up North, but I’ll have to leave that for the next adventure.
