The date on my calendar 16th July 2017, the day I started the biggest adventure of my life so far: a very first day bicycle tour of the Beauty of Mandalay. This was the start of my real Adventure stories. Let me start with a little background. I’ve never been particularly athletic—even as a kid, I’m the one who could never do a criss-cross jumping rope during gym class, never mind doubles. I didn’t play high school sports also. Let’s just say if you ever met me in the customer service area, you’d never think to yourself, “There goes a woman who would crush a bicycle tour.” This is actually happening. Unexpectedly I got a chance to do Cycling Adventures together with Jolly Adventures collaborate with Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay. It was awesome to have Bicycle Adventures. Truth: I was prepared for a little heckling when I mounted my Bike. But I’m looking around at my bicycle tour comrades and I realize—we’re in this together. And I’m not the only one on a Bike. And no one even cares! My inner three-toed sloth is doing a celebration dance. And I know this trip is going to be awesome. […]
Tabodwe ,the eleventh month of the Myanmar claender, is the time for the festival of ‘Hta-ma-ne’ in honour of the traditional harvesting period. The eleventh month of Myanmar Lunar Calendar Tabodwe approximately corresponds with February. Although the tenth month Pyatho [January] is the peak of Myanmar cold season, Tabodwe can beat Pyatho in chilliness depending upon place, climate condition and time. There are old Myanmar sayings regarding the chill of Tabodwe. In Tabodwe, the tips of bullaloes’ horns shiver with cold. In Tabodwe, we have a running nose. “In Tabodwe, ripen plum fruits open up”. “Kon” or Kumbha [Aquarius] is the astrological name of Tabodwe with a zodiacal symbol of a water bearer. Pauk [Butea] and Lei or Let pan [Silk cotton tree] [Bombex Malabaricum] are the traditionally designated flowers of Tabodwe. Pauk flowers are orange coloured profused on bunches. Lei or Let pan trees are big and tall. The entire tree after shedding all old leaves, produces buds and blooms of scarlet colour from all branches. Against the blue sky on the golden sun lights these pauk and let pan flowers create fantastic natural paintings. Let pan flowers produce silken cotton wool they are also a good vegetable which […]
Located on the French Riviera, Monaco is an amazing place, aspiring celebrities. It is a tiny independent nation where travellers could possibly cram into a lifetime. Now on to the details, what do you need to know, including the best places to stay, eat, drink, the means of transportation to use as well as the top attractions to explore. So before you travel to Monaco, here are a few things you should know about the city. How to get around? The buses run all the time in Monaco that will easily help you get around. It is an easy train ride away from Nice airport. You can also take the Bateau Bus, which crosses the harbour every 20 minutes. Of course, you can just wander around Monaco on foot and expect to stumble onto something amazing. On the other hand, consider hiring a luxury car in Monaco if you want to enjoy the luxury of the country. Additionally, if you hire a vehicle, you’re able to explore Monaco on your desired schedule and discover all of the best that it has to offer. What to see and do in Monaco? If you’re visiting Monaco for the first time, it’s […]
Original Writer- Hugo Garnier (French Langauage) Translated by May Malar Win Because of the American embargo on Cuba a few years ago, this country in the Caribbean was like frozen in time. The latter thus possesses a truly exceptional cultural and historical heritage while being very well preserved. If you are planning a trip to Cuba, this destination is full of real cultural and historical treasures that are to be discovered absolutely. So, during your stay, do not miss Havana and its historical center, the picturesque town of Trinidad with its colonial buildings, but also the small town of Viñales and its splendid valley. Walk the Historic District of Havana The Cuban capital, Havana, is a must for a tailor-made trip to Cuba to discover part of the rich cultural and historical heritage of this country. Indeed, the historical quarter of this city is not to be missed under any pretext, notably the famous Habana Vieja which is inscribed by UNESCO on the list of world heritage of the humanity. In fact, take a tour of this area aboard the old American cars that are now an integral part of the cultural and historical heritage of Cuba. As you stroll […]
Patagonia: An Unmissable Destination For Cross-Country Skiing in Argentina Original Writer – Hugo Garnier (French Language) Translated by May Malar Win Argentina is a perfect destination for cross-country skiing. In general, it has many sites where you combine adventure and the pleasure of skiing. Patagonia is a must for ski touring. This region offers impressive hiking tours through vast spaces and picturesque landscapes. Lakes, mountain villages, forests and wild nature are within easy reach. Here is an idea of itinerary to give you an overview of the journey. Ski Touring around Bariloche After your arrival in Buenos Aires, join San Carlos de Bariloche, the capital of Patagonia. This town is well located at the foot of the Andes mountains, on the South coast of Lake Nahuel Huapi and in the park and near the ski slopes. Located at 764 meters above sea level, it is set in a landscape of mountains, lakes, forests and rivers surrounded by numerous high peaks of the Andes. To discover the wealth of the region, head for Cerro Catedral, the largest ski area on the continent. It is 20 km from the city and has 103 km of slopes located at an altitude between 1,000 […]
The art of tapestry or “Shwe Chi Hto” (gold embroidery) as we call it. is said to have originated in Myanmar about a thousand years ago. It is a form of needlework to create a variety of pictures and patterns so delicate and detailed that it requires skill. artistry and patience. It is a highly decorative embroidery that employs gold thread as its name indicates. but in fact silver and colored threads as well as other materials such as tinsel,sequins, semi-precious gems, colorful cut glass, seed pearls and beads go into the making. The earliest record of such embroidery is the Pyu Period during the reign of King Mahayaza. circa AD 800. The centre of this craft was and still is Mandalay,the long-standing hub of Myanmar culture and art. The ancient ceremonial royal raiment known as the “Maha Latta”,worn from time immemorial by kings and queens is a very heavy gold-embroidered and gem encrusted robe. The Maha Latta was worn by King Thibaw and Queen Suhpayalatt. the last reigning monarchs of Myanmar. Their robes were the creation of skilled seamstresses. goldsmiths and other artisans of Mandalay. These raiment are on display at the National Museum in Yangon. The embroidery of […]
Sitting almost smack dab in the middle of Myanmar, Mandalay is the second largest city in the country and arguably the friendliest. Less then an hour after arriving, we set off on foot to find something to eat. It took just a few minutes a local was waving us over to join him and his friends for food and drinks. A perfect start to our two weeks in Myanmar. The next day many locals were smiling and waving, pleased to see two foreigners riding around on bicycles wearing longyis, the traditional dress. Whether Mandalay is your starting point or grand finale in this country, hopefully this collection of spots and suggestions we came across will help you make the most of your time in the city. GETTING IN & OUT We flew into Mandalay International Airport from Bangkok. Be sure to have sorted your visa well in advance. We then took a private taxi to our hotel in central Mandalay. The cost was 15000 KS or $12 USD. There is also a shuttle van that leaves every 2 hours for 4000 KS or $3 USD per person. From Mandalay we went to Bagan and booked a transfer through our hotel. We were picked up […]
Chinlone, which is also known as caneball, is the traditional sport of Burma or Myanmar. Chinlone is a team sport which is a combination of sport and dance. Chinlone is more on creativity and not competitiveness. Chinlone in Burmese means basket-round or rounded basket. The ball is made from rattan. The game is played by two teams with six players each. They pass the ball back and forth using their feet, knees, and their heads as they walk around a circle. While the rest pass the ball around, a player goes into the middle alone, and the player creates a dance of different moves strung together. If they drop the ball to the ground, the play should start again. This game is usually played barefoot or using chinlone shoes that will let the players feel the ball and the ground. The players can make contact with the ball through the top of their toes, the inner and outer sides of the foot, the heel, the sole, and the knee. The sport requires extreme flexibility, agility and fitness as well as exceptional coordination. Chinlone has played a prominent role in Myanmar for about 1,500 years. It’s style is so performance based […]
As I am working at the Hotel by the Red Canal Mandalay, gives me a chance to interact with people from many other countries. I realized that most of our guests praised to their room keys which are made up of “Palm Leaf”. Then I got an idea to write about the “Palm Leaf” and started collecting the sources, history and data related to that. Surprisingly, one of our valuable guests from UK asked me why I did not have a last name. In fact, I was a little puzzled by their questions and a little embarrassed because I had no answer to give. I just said that it’s not our custom to name a child after his or her father’s name, although some people do.I realized again that the traditional Myanmar way of naming children is quite unique. The technique is an astrological calculation that includes a person’s virtues, the day they were born according to the Myanmar lunar calendar. These calculations are called a “Zartar” in Myanmar language and are etched or inscribed into a palm leaf with a stylus. I had seen the leaves on a wall at my house but had never paid much attention to […]
The Spice Garden, a chic elegant restaurant serving Mandalay , Northern and Southern Indian cuisines with primary focus on poultry, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Menu includes special creations of authentic traditional foods. The Director, Mrs. Nina W. Kumar subscribes to a policy of only preparing food for the same day itself to ensure guests are served the freshest quality foods. First outlet of The Hotel by the Red Canal’s Spice Garden Restaurant was opened on January 2007 in Mandalay and growing. Spice Garden built its worldwide reputation through imitations of unique styles for its dinner, one of which is the style of the Royal Palace of Mandalay. It is now well known as the Spice Garden Bar and Restaurant. As a family of passionate restaurateurs, the Spice Garden Bar & Restaurant strive to create great slow foods experiences for our guests through excellent food and service. Spice Garden offers a nightlife experience unlike any other is the perfect place for a get together. Or get your high class party, gathering party, birthday party, anniversaries party and special candle light dinner with your partners. Cooking class and catering services produce an experience like no other. The employees at the restaurant are […]