On the road to Mandalay... This is what it feels like when the plane approaches Mandalay airport from Bangkok. The landscape below looks green. Small villages, lots of water features. Mandalay airport is small but apparently of recent construction, located an hour's drive from Mandalay. The passage of customs is going here at a rapid pace. Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar.
On the road to Mandalay... This is what it feels like when the plane approaches Mandalay airport from Bangkok. The landscape below looks green. Small villages, lots of water features. Mandalay airport is small but apparently of recent construction, located an hour's drive from Mandalay. The passage of customs is going here at a rapid pace. Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar.
On the road to Mandalay… This is what it feels like when the plane approaches Mandalay airport from Bangkok. The landscape below looks green. Small villages, lots of water features. Mandalay airport is small but apparently of recent construction, located an hour’s drive from Mandalay. The passage of customs is going here at a rapid pace. Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar.
With a population of about 53 million, Myanmar is taking it easy. Buddhism is the main religion and so there are pagodas and stupas everywhere, one even older and more beautiful than the other and located in sometimes beautiful locations.
On the road to Mandalay…
Mandalay doesn’t feel like a big city. The traffic there is quiet, no conspicuously honking traffic mass as you often see in other Asian countries. In Mandalay I visit the temple on the Mandalay Hill. Once above, the view over the city and the Irrawady River is impressive. The temple itself may also be there. Me and most visitors wait with me for the sun to go down and this one shows itself in beautiful colors when going down. A wonderful end to a first day in Myanmar.
Must see’s from Mandalay are the historic capitals Ava,Sagaing and Amarapura. Kings moved the capitals quite often in earlier times and that has made the traveler interesting historical places to visit. Sagaing is the spiritual center of Myanmar. You will find many monasteries and pagodas here, a true paradise for meditation lovers. Ava will visit by horse-drawn carriage, a means of transport that is still used in various places in Myanmar. The 200-year-old famous U Bein bridge is more than a kilometer long and made of teak wood, a valuable type of wood that is widely used in Myanmar and also exported. Residents of Mandalay like to take a walk on the bridge.
From Pyin Oo Lwin over the Gokhteik viaduct
From Mandalay I travel to cooler places, to a so-called hill stationPyin Oo Lwin. It is at altitude and the temperature there is pleasant.
For me, Pyin Oo Lwin is the basis for the train journey over the Gokhteik viaduct that runs over a 300 meter deep gorge. The landscapes I see passing by are very beautiful; green hills, small villages, cute train stations until suddenly the viaduct pops up. Everyone equals in full expectation of what is to come. At a leisurely pace, the train runs over the immensely high viaduct, entrancering the passengers. Most of them hang out on the train so they don’t have to miss a moment. Far too soon it’s over but luckily the pictures are a lasting memory.
The journey continues to Monywa, a not really saying city, but from afar you can see all the large Buddha statue built near the city, no less than 135 meters high and you can even visit it from the inside. This is the life’s work of a now deceased monk, but the work is continued by his members of the order. And if it can’t be crazy enough, there is also a huge Buddha statue in lying position and there is still construction on an equally large sitting statue. Less is more? In Myanmar, this is certainly not the case with regard to Buddha statues. In the Thanboddhay Pagoda there are no less than 500,000 Buddha statues in all shapes and sizes. They expect to go over 600,000 soon because anyone can donate a figurine to the pagoda, they are just for sale and are then placed in an available spot.
Countless temples and pagodas adorn the landscape in Bagan
I arrive by boat in Bagan. Ten days before my arrival, this area was hit by an earthquake. The guide tells me right away about it. He also experienced the even heavier earthquake of 1975, but the recent earthquake was of a different order. Of the approximately 2,000 temples and pagodas, about 300 have been damaged to a greater and lesser extent. I am very affected by the efforts of many volunteers from all over the country. They roll up their sleeves to ensure that the loose stones are removed and the broken parts of the temple can then be covered to be repaired later. I understand that UNESCO has already sent a representation. Yes, money is definitely needed here, but unfortunately the Bagan complex is not on the World Heritage list, so it remains to be seen where the financial aid will come from. Fortunately, there are still plenty of beautiful temples and pagodas worth a visit, such as the Ananda temple and the Schwezigon pagoda. I also enjoy the beautiful views and get more and more respect for the volunteers. After all, it’s very hot and they’re in the sun all day. Chapeau!
Lake Inle; a fertile and water-rich area
Of a completely different order is the visit to Lake Inle, a wetland area where the locals live in stilt houses. On the way to Inle I explore the Pindaya caves containing hundreds of donated Buddha statues. The name of the generous giver is listed with each image. There is still plenty of room for new images so the caves are constantly changing.
Leg rowers
You can explore Lake Inle by boat. The water of the lake is crystal clear and near the shore there are floating gardens in which tomatoes are often grown. The guide tells me they can harvest up to six times a year. It’s a separate sight that tomato plants grow in the water, but the process is apparently very efficient and it yields delicious tomatoes. The lake is known from the leg rowers, a according to said tradition that is threatened with extinction. Fishermen are increasingly switching to boats with motorbikes. So you can still be lucky these days when you see a leg rower. I am happy because I see at least 50 who patiently row across the lake and fish at the same time, a very beautiful sight.
The environment around Inle is very fertile. The fields are often still ploughed with ox and the harvest is also transported by ox cart. However, tractor times are coming, because everywhere you see sales centers popping up where modern equipment is touted. This development will be unstoppable.
Pilgrimage site Golden Rock
Another adventure isGolden Rock, a well-known pilgrimage site for Buddhists. I travel in the off-season, so it is particularly quiet at the rock. The rock can only be reached on foot on a long footpath or by open truck where you sit in the back on a wooden board and are shuffled back and forth for 45 minutes until you arrive at the top. It’s worth the trip and the sun helps to make it an unforgettable travel experience. It looks like the rock is going to fall at any moment, but that’s optical deception. Only men are allowed to get close to the rock and press gold leaves on it.
Schwedagon Pagoda; the crowning glory of the journey
My last destination isYangon,Myanmar’s largest city. The last temple I visit here is also the most beautiful of the whole trip: theSchwedagon Pagoda. Very impressive, many families with children, monks and nuns, a very lively event. I also spend time in Yangon on the street market inChinatown. This is the authentic form of street food… I love those smells and colors. It’s over way too soon.
After my studies I left for Australia to travel and work for a year. After which many trips and destinations followed. For India, a passion arose. The special culture, delicious cuisine and impressive nature of this country are things I never get tired of.
In my long career as a travel consultant I have always tried to convey my passion. After all, we can all visit a country. However, experiencing a country is quite another and finding that special and traveller-appropriate travel experience is what attracts me to working at Untamed Travelling. After all, not one trip is the same! I am happy to help you create the perfect travel experience.
