Magical Myanmar for the Traveler

Breathtaking world wonders wait in time-warped Myanmar. Formerly known as Burma, this almost forgotten ancient corner of Southeast Asia yields a concentration of Buddhist pagodas and monasteries festooned with maroon robed monks and delightful nuns in pink. There are artisanal villages still navigated by ox and horse carts and there are genuinely warm and welcoming people who have remained largely uncorrupted by mass tourism and fervent capitalism - for the time being.
The future is now for Myanmar - a country that has emerged after a long hibernation under a military dictatorship, and is now on the tenuous path to democracy and full of exuberance. Myanmar's "new-ness" is in part why it has become the destination du jour: attracting everybody from Barrack Obama to international capitalists after a piece of the pie, to travellers and adventurers far and wide eager to discover new lands.
Myanmar is re-discovering itself and changing fast, speeding to catch up to the 21st century. For tourists this is both good and cause for concern. The great charm of the country, or good deal of it, rests in its old world appeal. Modernization has its price, and while the influx of capital means better infrastructure in the works, it also means higher prices. Hotel prices have in two years tripled in many cases, and price hikes will not stop until enough new hotels come online.
What travellers should be aware of, is that most all U.S. and Euro travel agencies have NO presence in Myanmar, and hire the services of local Myanmar agencies to run their tours, while handing a significant mark-up to YOU, their loyal clients.
The best option is to find a Western run agency with offices in Myanmar and a professional travel network throughout the country. Not only will this save the traveller the cost of the mark-up, but will avail them of insider deals that agencies outside Myanmar simply are not in a position to negotiate.
Using a strictly Myanmar travel agency is also problematic, as Burmese English can be difficult to comprehend and too often things are lost in translation. In addition, few have advanced websites or can offer the ability to pay online.
Unique Burma Travel - What is Myanmar's Great Allure?
Perhaps it's starts in the imagination, with great literature. From George Scott's "The Burman" to Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay" to George Orwell's "Burmese Days" to modern classics like "The Piano Tuner" and "The Trouser People", the country entices the imagination like no other.
Often referred to as the Golden Land for its tens of thousands of golden pagodas, Myanmar was a place of lore and mystery long before western writers grabbed hold. One prime example is the 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, which covered in 60 tons of gold and dominates the city skyline.
Beautiful Bagan was the world center of Theravadan Buddhism for a thousand years, at its height boasting some 13,000 temples and pagodas. Today over 2,000 pagodas and temples remain, and rival Cambodia's Angkor Wat in ambition and architectural brilliance, and Peru's Machu Picchu for 'wow' factor. Only without the massive crowds!
Bagan is a surreal experience, especially in the rising morning mists. Take a hot air balloon ride over the temples and have a picnic lunch at a secluded temple, then cruise down the legendary Irrawaddy River for another temple experience altogether.
Lake Inle is famous for its floating gardens and pagodas, as well as its Intha fishermen, who row their boats with one leg and fish by dropping conical baskets into the lake's shallow waters.
Mandalay, though a dusty trading center at first blush, is home to a marvellous array of ancient sites and modern cottage industries.
Myanmar river cruises range from 1 to 11 days, and extend all the north to near the Chinese border, and east to India. They can be had on the cheap, or in the lap of luxury harkening back to the old British Colonial days.
I could go on an on with fascination places to see and things to do, but the real magic of Myanmar lies in its People. They are warm and welcoming and full of fun, and in general you fall in love with them very quickly. And contrary to common belief, Burma is one of the safest places in the world to travel!
So why not liberate yourself from your mobile phone and the internet and discover a culture where holy men are more revered than rock stars. Drift down in an old river steamer, stake out a slice of beach on the blissful Bay of Bengal, or trek through pine forests to ethnic villages scattered across the Shan Hills.
Dig into the myriad dishes of the local cuisine, from a hearty bowl of Mohinga noodles for breakfast to the fermented tea-leaf mixture that's a popular finish to a Burmese meal. Burmese food done well is unique and wonderful.
Have cocktails at the posh Strand hotel where Kipling wrote The Jungle Book Jagger swaggered, or enjoy canapés and tea sweetened with condensed milk at teahouses while shooting the breeze with locals.
Keep in mind that the long-suffering people are everything the regime was not. Gentle, humorous, engaging, considerate, inquisitive and passionate, they want to play a part in the world, and to know what you make of their world.
Yes this is Myanmar and it is magical - come with your mind open, and you'll leave with your heart full.

Bennett Stevens is the co-founder of Luminous Journeys, a joint U.S. / Myanmar venture dedicated solely to authentic travel and learning experiences in Myanmar.
"With the country opening up my Burmese partner and I saw a rare opportunity to combine skills and backgrounds to help foster a conscientious approach to Myanmar tourism, virtually from the ground up."

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Amazing world marvels hold up in time-distorted Myanmar. Once in the past known as Burma, this practically overlooked antiquated corner of Southeast Asia yields a centralization of Buddhist pagodas and religious communities trimmed with maroon robed priests and delightful nuns in pink. There are high quality towns still explored by bull and steed trucks and there are truly warm and inviting individuals who have remained to a great extent uncorrupted by mass tourism and intense private enterprise - until further notice.

What's to come is presently for Myanmar - a nation that has developed after a long hibernation under a military tyranny, and is currently on the dubious way to majority rules system and loaded with richness. Myanmar's "new-ness" is to some extent why it has turned into the goal of the day: drawing in everyone from Barrack Obama to global business people after a bit of the pie, to explorers and travelers far and wide anxious to find new terrains.

Myanmar is re-finding itself and evolving quick, speeding to make up for lost time to the 21st century. For visitors this is both great and cause for concern. The immense appeal of the nation, or great arrangement of it, rests in its old world interest. Modernization has its cost, and keeping in mind that the flood of capital means better foundation underway, it likewise implies higher costs. Inn costs have in two years tripled by and large, and value climbs won't stop until the point that enough new inns come on the web.

What voyagers ought to know about, is that most all U.S. what's more, Euro travel offices have NO nearness in Myanmar, and contract the administrations of neighborhood Myanmar offices to run their visits, while giving a huge increase to YOU, their unwavering customers.

The best choice is to locate a Western run organization with workplaces in Myanmar and an expert travel arrange all through the nation. Not exclusively will this spare the voyager the cost of the increase, yet will profit them of insider bargains that offices outside Myanmar essentially are not in a position to arrange.

Utilizing an entirely Myanmar travel office is likewise risky, as Burmese English can be hard to fathom and time and again things are lost in interpretation. Moreover, few have propelled sites or can offer the capacity to pay on the web.

One of a kind Burma Travel - What is Myanmar's Great Allure?

Maybe it's begins in the creative energy, with extraordinary writing. From George Scott's "The Burman" to Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay" to George Orwell's "Burmese Days" to present-day works of art like "The Piano Tuner" and "The Trouser People", the nation tempts the creative energy like no other.

Frequently alluded to as the Golden Land for its a huge number of brilliant pagodas, Myanmar was a position of legend and puzzle well before western authors snatched hold. One prime case is the 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, which shrouded in 60 tons of gold and rules the city horizon.

Excellent Bagan was the world focal point of Theravadan Buddhism for a thousand years, at its stature bragging exactly 13,000 sanctuaries and pagodas. Today more than 2,000 pagodas and sanctuaries remain, and equal Cambodia's Angkor Wat in desire and design brightness, and Peru's Machu Picchu for 'goodness' factor. Just without the enormous group!

Bagan is a dreamlike ordeal, particularly in the rising morning fogs. Take a hot air swell ride over the sanctuaries and have a cookout lunch at a disconnected sanctuary, at that point journey down the unbelievable Irrawaddy River for another sanctuary encounter by and large.

Lake Inle is renowned for its skimming patio nurseries and pagodas, and additionally its Intha anglers, who push their pontoons with one leg and fish by dropping cone-shaped crate into the lake's shallow waters.

Mandalay, however a dusty exchanging focus at first redden, is home to a grand cluster of old destinations and present-day house businesses.

Myanmar stream travels to go from 1 to 11 days, and stretch out all the north to close to the Chinese outskirt, and east to India. They can be had for next to nothing, or in the lap of extravagance harkening back to the old British Colonial days.

I could go on an on with interest spots to see and activities, yet the genuine enchantment of Myanmar lies in its People. They are warm and inviting and brimming with fun, and all in all, you go gaga for them rapidly. What's more, in opposition to regular conviction, Burma is one of the most secure places on the planet to travel!

So for what reason not free you from your cell phone and the web and find a culture where sacred men are more respected than demigods. Float down in an old stream steamer, stake out a cut of shoreline on the euphoric Bay of Bengal, or trek through pine woods to ethnic towns scattered over the Shan Hills.

Dive into the horde dishes of the neighborhood food, from a generous bowl of Mohinga noodles for breakfast to the aged tea-leaf blend that is a prominent complete to a Burmese feast. Burmese nourishment done well is one of a kind and awesome.

Have mixed drinks at the luxurious Strand inn where Kipling composed The Jungle Book Jagger swaggered, or appreciate canapés and tea sweetened with a dense drain at teahouses while chit chatting with local people.

Remember that the lenient individuals are everything the administration was most certainly not. Delicate, hilarious, connecting with, chivalrous, curious and enthusiastic, they need to have an impact on the planet, and to comprehend what you make of their reality.

Truly this is Myanmar and it is enchanted - accompanied your mind open, and you'll leave with your heart full.

Bennett Stevens is the prime supporter of Luminous Journeys, a joint U.S. /Myanmar wander devoted exclusively to valid travel and learning encounters in Myanmar.

"With the nation opening up my Burmese accomplice and I saw an uncommon chance to join abilities and foundations to help encourage a scrupulous way to deal with Myanmar tourism, for all intents and purposes from the beginning."