Burmese Glimpses

Unique glimpses of Myanmar (Burma) to tantalise your travel senses…

Started the ‘glimpses’ series last week with Chile in South America, as the first post to share with you a few glimpses of this incredible country.

These short, sharp travel posts are designed to give you a snippet and a small taste of a country that maybe you haven’t yet visited. But, maybe you have been to a couple of the countries that I’m sharing? I’d love to hear about your experience so leave me a comment below.

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1. Old Bagan

Gliding effortlessly along the Irrawaddy River to the archaeological town of Old Bagan, also renowned as Burma’s Temple Town sits in central Burma.

As one of Burma’s main attractions, it’s easy to see why many see the Bagan Archaeological Zone as equal to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

Bagan was the capital, political, economic, and cultural hub of the Pagan Empire from 1044 to 1287. Spectacular temples dot endless plains and await the eager traveller riding on a hired eBike.

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2. Inle Lake

The famous 22-kilometre-long Inle Lake and its incredibly beautiful region in the centre of Myanmar (Burma), will leave you longing for more time here…

A local boat ride crosses this beautiful ink-black expanse of water on a boat ride, which incidentally, changes colours depending on the time of day and the sky’s condition, and provides a peek at the extraordinary Mine Thauk floating villages and vegetable gardens. The half-kilometre Mine Thauk rickety wooden bridge runs through parts of the floating vegetable garden.

Inle Lake is densely inhabited by many different local tribes, so it’s very easy to cycle around the lake or for something a little more relaxing, take a boat trip down this spectacular watery expanse.

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3. Hsipaw

After visiting Old Bagan and Inle Lake, head northeast to isolated Hsipaw for a trek through the surrounding jungle.

Sadly, upon arriving in 2014, a civil war between Shan Rebels and government troops was heightened and fierce, so trekking for several days was out of the question and only day treks were allowed.

Spending five or so days in Hsipaw allowed time to explore neighbouring vicinities and also time to relax. Thrown back in time a hundred years in this remote town, bullocks and manuals tools still plough the lush-green earth.

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4. Mawlamyine

Have you heard of Mawlamyine?

Less frequented by foreigners was enough to draw me to Mawlamyine, but also because this town was home to George Orwell for some years spent here as a police officer. Orwell’s time in Mawlamyine resulted in his famous 1936 essay: Shooting an Elephant.

Clearly, locals are not used to tourists so much as everyone especially children shouts out “Mingalaba” (hello) and children stare at us as though we’re ghosts.

Of course, Kyaikthanlan Pagoda awaits should you feel like exploring more pagodas but after spending days at Old Bagan, a little time relaxing and absorbing much to do in this town along the mouth of the Thanlwin River is enough.

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Where in Myanmar (Burma)?

Did you enjoy this post or do you prefer more detail about each place? Would you like to see more photos in this type of post? What country would you like to visit with me next week? If I’ve been to the country, I’ll publish a post just for you, so leave me a comment…

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Visit Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts at Image Earth Travel.