YANGON
It's ~$10 for a Taxi from the airport into town
Speaking of which, picture this: You arrive in Yangon, the capitol of a country that was closed off to tourists for many, many years, and only recently opened up. You’re used to having to argue over taxi fares in Bangkok so you have your guard up: a guy comes up to you and offers to take you exactly where you want to go, for the price you had in your head that it should cost. NO WAY. This was too good to be true! But of course, I said, “Ok, yes let’s go!” We got into his taxi and he welcomed me graciously to Myanmar. His English was perfect, something I never knew about Myanmar (a LOT of people speak good English here). He started talking about music and I soon found out that one of his favorite artists was JUSTIN BIEBER. So you know what I had to do? Well, of course I asked him to sing me his favorite song! I got more than I bargained for though, because he sang me AN ENTIRE ALBUM on our way to my hostel. Honestly I wish I could have had him as my driver every time I needed a taxi. I really should have got his number! I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I planned my trip to Myanmar, but this guy singing me JB sure wasn’t it. This taxi ride was truly one of the best welcomes to any country that I can recall.
Yangon Points of Intrest
Shwedagon Pagoda- This is THE place to go in Yangon! It's a huge complex and You can wander around here for hours.
Sule Pagoda
Chauk-htat-gyi Buddha Temple – This is a HUGE Buddha. It’s in a warehouse and you can walk around the whole thing. The feet are really interesting and I loved all the colorful lights on the little Buddhas along the wall by the head!
Bogyoke Aung San Market: For the Shopaholics
Taking the bus in Myanmar
I opted to take the bus between both Yangon- Bagan, and Bagan- Mandalay. This turned out to be a decent way to do it, but you should be aware that the bus station in all three cities is far removed from the town centers. First, the bus station in Yangon is about an hour taxi ride out of town. Next, The overnight bus from Yangon to Bagan will dump you at the bus station outside town around 6am and you will be greeted with a taxi mafia, who despite posted signs to regulate the situation, will try to extort as much money from you as possible. Make sure that you talk to people on the bus and find someone staying at a hotel near yours beforehand so that you can all say you are in a group and get the taxi into town shared. Don't try to negotiate multiple drop off points, just have them drop you all off at the same hotel and then walk to wherever you're actually staying. If you try to get dropped off at different places they will know you're not a group and try to make each person pay the full taxi fare individually.
Apart from the taxi mafia, I found the people in Myanmar to be extremely friendly. The guy sitting next to me on the bus ride from Yangon to Bagan was super chatty and insisted on buying me coffee during the rest stop. He talked to me most of the way until I fell asleep.
BAGAN
Hot Air Balloon ride (Balloons over Bagan is the main company) (NOTE: Seasonal (Approx. October- early April)) If you’re coming here around Songkran time and want to do this, be sure to time it correctly. You’ll need to visit Myanmar before visiting Thailand for Songkran. Also note that there is a similar festival to Songkran type in Myanmar.
E-Bike through the temples, but be careful with the battery on the e-bike: My battery died and it was a huge hassle to get it fixed. You’re in a place with no signs trying to tell someone over the phone where you are, there’s thousands of temples and they are all just a jumble in your head.
Just take your time and realize that you aren't going to see everything.
Mt Popa - I didn’t go but you probably should
Sulamani Temple
Sulamani Temple is huge and was the clear stand out for me in terms of the paintings on the interior.
Left: Original painting in Sulamani Temple Right: My recreation
The moment I saw this painting, the walls just spoke to me. I made sure to get a good photo because I already knew that I'd be recreating a similar image upon my return home. I visited this temple on my last day in Bagan and truly for me it was like having saved the best for last, albeit unknowingly. For some reason, the image of Buddah without a face appeals to me very much. I think because for me, it reminds me that Buddah was simply human, and that any of us have the ability to find a spiritual connection.
MANDALAY
~$12 Taxi from town to the airport, 35 kilometers, 45-75 minutes.
AirAsia two free buses leaving Road 79 by Mandalay Palace between Roads 26 & 27 at 9:00 and 9:15 am to correspond with the departing flights). To airport
Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Palace
Kuthodaw Pagoda
Shwenandaw Monastery
Mahamuni Buddha Temple
Flight Tip
If you’re coming from Bangkok (that’s likely the cheapest hub to access Myanmar from) Consider flying into Yangon and out of Mandalay or vice versa. This way you can avoid backtracking at the end of your trip.
Visa Caution
E-Visas are now available for Myanmar/Burma but be advised that there were many imitation websites that were collecting money, and not actually affiliated with the Immigration of Myanmar. This was causing some travellers to be denied boarding on their flights as you must be able to show the visa before you can board. As with any international travel, follow ONLY the links from www.travel.state.gov and you'll be just fine.
What I'll be back for
Inle Lake- Going on a boat ride here and learning how to fish with baskets, and seeing some local villages
Mt Popa
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda [The Golden Rock] (Day trip from Yangon)Note: If you’re taking the bus to Bagan, it’s a long taxi ride from downtown to the bus station where it leaves from, give yourself ample time.
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