Myanmar...Expect the UnExpected

Myanmar .... The Golden Land.The last ASEAN country in the list and we graduated.... From the internet research, this country seems not so safe. Some website said, u have to leave ur handphone at immigration, you have to have at least USD300 cash, there is restriction after 10pm (cannot go out), the people cannot be trusted and so many bad things...With regards of all that, we still proceed...
To make our perception worst, I met one Malaysian Uncle in the flight who has been working for 15 yrs in Myanmar...When I told him my itenerary and places to cover in 8 days, he said...u guys gonna die..I accept that as challenge cos our travelling motto is ' Impossible is Nothing..Just Do It'..and we set our mind, expect the unexpected..hhehehhhheheheh
And then...we arrive Yangon
DAy 1...
NOt so much to explore and do..check in into Ocean Pearl Inn GH (53rd street, Muslim area)...Cost us about USD8/pax per nite, exceptable room. No complain about it. Have our first dinner at Muslim Chinese/Thai restaurant few steps from Ocean Pearl iNN, attached to Orchid Hotel...had our first Roasted DUCK..


DAy 2 begin with flight to Bagan by Air Bagan airline. They served tuna croissant, juice, tea, fruits for an hour flight...Impressive...
From City to ..I dont know how to describe Bagan...at a glance, looks like desert...Bagan is nice place in its own way...in the middle of desert, there's so many sea coconut tree....about 2000 temple all over Bagan..since our trip is more like touch and go, we didnt cover a whole Bagan, just Old Bagan...good enough for those who get tired of temple easily... highly recommended to go around by horse cart (6000 - 10000 kyat per cart/ up to 3 person per cart). But if you have more time, can rent a bike...only 1000 kyat for a whole day.. Stay at New Park Hotel....NICE and Cheap...
In the evening, we went to Mt Popa to actually enjoy our 1st sunset at Myanmar....after a 2 hours beautiful scenery along the road, we arrived... to enjoy the sunset, we need to climb the stairs....I think more than 300 steps...its high + being surrounded by 'friendly monkey' + barefooted (not even socks are allowed) + so many 'shit trap' to be avoided = we didnt enjoy sunset bcos its still early. We view sunset while stop at wine making 'factory'...sort of.

NB : its good to have hotel booked before u go during peak season as those tourist attraction places can be very packed...However, you can make reservation a day before you arrive to the destination like we do....can ask the GH you currently stay to make a phone reservation to the GH on next destination ... better to have a list of GH u prefer.

Day 3, we proceed to Mandalay by 8am 'Express Bus' (USD10/pax). Bought the ticket a day before from the GH. Most GH will have this service. Cant help it but we do expect the bus to be express bus like we have in Malaysia....its 6 hours journey, ETA 2pm....
and When we see the bus...(the bus station is walking distance from New Park Hotel, about 10min walk...)..ok, get into the bus and stop expecting...just go with the flow, accept every situation as it is and adjust ourselves accordingly.. :-)..It is not an express bus at all, keep stopping for passenger to get in and out of the bus... local sit along the aisle (using small stool)...cross 2 rivers...desert..oasis...tar..cement road...stop for toilet and break twice....finally we arrive Mandalay. VERY different with Bagan..its a City like Yangon, 2nd largest city in Myanmar. USed to be Capital of myanmar during Royal era..
Arrive Royal City Hotel at 3.30pm...check in...4pm sharp we went to AMARAPURA, again to enjoy sunset..this place known to be the most beautiful scenery for sunset...it has teak wood bridge name U- Bein Bridge...we rent a boat to be at the middle of the lake for sunset and YES...its SPEECHLESS...
Day 4, Before that, do u see photo with the food...thats our dinner in Mandalay which cost us USD9 ONLY for 5 ppl.... ;-)
Still at Mandalay...continue our adventure to Mingun by ferry from Mandalay jetty...ticket 5000 kyat per person for 2 hours ferry ride to - fro (9am). We'll be waiting by a line of taxi...heheeh
eh..its cow cart...we took one taxi, go round Mingun...most of tourist opt to walk instead but I prefer to rent a taxi... 5000 kyat per taxi for 5 people + unofficial tourist guide who can speak fluent english, spain, french...
MINGUN is different and MAGICAL...the building, the bell...everything about it...back to Mandalay Land by 1pm...arrive 2pm, we straight away go to Mandalay hill....go up by pick up, and escalator...yes, they do have escalator at this temple. Alhamdullilah..we were so tired to climb another stairs anyway...
Need to catch the bus to Inle at 7pm(USD12/pax)...so, dont want to expect anything this time but still hope for the best...and yep, the bus is slightly better...free mineral water + face towel + no one sit along the aisle + its an express bus with 3 times stop for toilet and drink and no recline seat....still we can sleep on and off..no A/C cos Myanmar is winter on Feb. Night can drop to below 10 degree C at some places....but day time can rise up to 28 degree C...so , A/C no need during night time and we were freezing...

N/B: Most important notes about Myanmar transportation, nothing is punctual...Train even worst...u dont know when u arrive... ;-D...this is real, i'm not kidding..

Day 5, after 8 hours frozen and confusing journey...we safely arrive at Ngaung Shwe, big city next to small Inle town..well, at least bigger than Inle town....the temperature drop to 11 degree C when the pick up took us to our GUestHouse. When I said pick up...its a real pick up lorry and 4 of us seat at the back...one lucky lady seat in front with driver.. ;-D...about 1/2 an hour another freezing journey...( bus suppose to arrive at 4am..but we arrive at 6am..)..I cant even feel my nose..we check in at 7am in 4 Sisters Inn...here somehow another confusion, the lady who run the Inn let us get into our room,give the key but we didnt register like we did with other GH. She didnt even ask for our passport..given that we travel by bus for 9 hours, we just want to be in the room, freshen up and continue our itenerary...Immediately after check in, we arrange for our bus to Yangon tomorrow, boat ride to Inle Lake at 9am, laundry our jeans (just 200kyat per jeans...USD1 ~ 1000kyat..)..
Since we are the only group arrived that particular day, the owner gave us complimentary breakfast consist of plain pancake + toast + butter + jam + coffee/tea + banana...not bad at all.. ;-D...9am, boat ride started. Along the canal direct to Inle Lake accompanied by a group of gorgeous SeaGull...ITS HUGE LAKE makes be begin to imagine there might be an anaconda or Godzilla or Lock ness living in it..hhahahhhaa..its scary and makes me nervous really...proceed to the market and temple, we visit the water village, cotton Weaving factory and have lunch at the floating restaurant...Inle lake is where I got my worst sunburn...(9am - 5pm on the boat)...

Day 6, spend our morning cycling around town. Our bus to Yangon at 3pm. Visit to local market where we bought several nuts, Shan Tribe bag, fruits....the market is somehow interesting. we cycled around town and some village till lunch time at 12 noon....by 2pm, the pick up came and drive us to Ngaung Shwe (the bus stop to Yangon)...this time we do expect the bus is better based on previous experience that the bus getting better and better due to the journey time become longer and longer...bus to Yangon from Inle is 14 hours with 3 stops for break and toilet. Got water and face towel....this time, the bus almost half tourist, half local...along the journey, we need to walk through the border (we think) twice in the middle of the nite (like 2am and 5am)..

NB : many of Myanmar apparently can speak Malay due to working 3-6 yrs in Malaysia..almost everytime, we face difficulty to explain what we want or even we just chatting among ourselves, there will be Myanmar ppl approach us and speak Malay....we even got shopping guidance at Bogyoke Market who speak fluent Malay with Indian slang ... ;-D..somehow makes us extra careful to talk about unnecessary things among them...hehehehhehe..

Day 7, we reached Yangon at 6am. Get the taxi (this time real taxi as in A CAr.. ;-p )....Get to Beautyland II GH at down town 7am. The room not ready yet. So, we just leave the bag, face wash, brush teeth....go out and get breakfast..(imagine that we just completed 14 hours bus journey and we continue city tour.....horrible but we managed)...starving, we found Muslim restaurant (has been spotted while looking for the GH).....while eating like nobody bussiness....we somehow aware the waiter are actually looking at us...OMG...maybe we looks like we havent touch food for few days..hahahhahhahaha...who cares anyway...hahahahahaha..
Then, we go sigthseeing...not much to see really, just pick whatever important to let time flies while the room will be ready at 10am.
Get to our room at 10am....this time, we took few hours to sleep...after lunch time about 2pm, we proceed to Karawuiek park (dont remember the exact spelling)...spend time there, have fruits drink, photo session....then we proceed to Shwedagon Palace to experience last sunset in Myanmar...its up hill, more stairs and its worth it....met some Malaysian there .... Our last dinner at the same restaurant of our 1st dinner...more food order this time..1 roasted duck + 1 Crispy honey Duck + Soup +fried rice.....Everytime we eat regardless of breakfast/lunch/dinner..we had almost table full of meal and its all finished....

NB : its better to have Kyat in hand while in Myanmar. Change rate varies according to division (big city like Mandalay & Yangon can get better rate)..In Yangon, better rate can get at Bogyoke Market..DO COUNT YOUR MONEY AFTER CHANGE FOR PRECAUTION......May Shan GuestHouse near to Sule Pagoda also offer good rate... MOST IMPORTANT : DO BRING USD NOTES AS CRISPY AS CLEAN CLOSE TO NEW. They are very particular on that. One of our friend facing difficulty because her notes not new look. BRING SMALL NOTES IF POSSIBLE.

Day 8, our last Day in Myanmar dedicated for shopping at Bogyoke Market. Myanmar the golden land is actually well known as centre of all Gems...Sapphire, Ruby, Topaz, Moonstone to name a few...you can get it with USD10 and above...Jade..all is original but the price varies according to the grade and quality. So many Gems and Jewellary which I'm not familiar of but being a lady who loves jewellary, i bought myself MoonStone, jade ring, Quartz bracelet and earing.....some of us bought 15 bracelet, few necklace...we shop till drop...

We conclude our Myanmar trip with shopping spree and WE LOVE IT.... :-D

Highly recommended to those who love Scenic View at Inle, Gems Shopping at Yangon, Panoramic Image at Bagan, Splendid Sunset at Amarapura and Magical Touch at Mingun...