Mandalay is the second city in Myanmar and for many travelers a place where you do not linger too long. Not entirely right, because there is so much beauty to see. Beautiful palaces and impressive shrines for example. Mandalay is a fascinating city where you do not get bored Mandalay was founded in 1859 by King Mindon, who built his palaces here and named the city as the capital of Burma. A fairytale that did not last long, because soon the city was taken over by the English. Fire and wars put an end to the beautiful wooden palaces, but luckily a lot has been rebuilt Things to see: Kuthodaw Pagoda At the foot of Mandalay Hill is the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a beautiful building from the eighteenth century. The complex consists of 729 stupas, each housing a page from the largest book in the world. The double pages are made of a thick slab of marble and measure 107 centimeters in width, 153 centimeters in length and 13 centimeters in thickness. The book includes the Pali canon, an early Buddhist collection of Buddha’s speeches. Atumashi Monastry South of the Kuthodaw Pagoda is the Atumashi Monastry, an impressive monastery that was […]
As one of the least visited countries in Southeast Asia, any trip to Myanmar is sure to sure to feel a bit off-the-beaten track. You’ll find ancient temples and monasteries, beautiful handicrafts to take home as souvenirs, and in many ways, a culture and way of life that’s remains relatively unchained for centuries. But in addition to these iconic religious and cultural sites, there are tons of unique things to do in Myanmar to ensure that you have an authentic, intimate, and culturally-rich adventure. For first time visits, most travelers will make their way through Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations: Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake. Thankfully, none of these cities and towns have yet been overtaken by the tourism industry, so you’ll be sure to have authentic cultural experiences alongside locals anywhere you go. However, if you’re looking for things to do in each destination that are a bit unexpected, consider adding these activities to your Myanmar itinerary. For my complete Myanmar Guide, download my latest e-book! Yangon: Ride The Circular Train A far cry from a luxurious mode of tourist transit, the Circular Train (or Circular Railway) is as gritty as it gets, and was one of […]
When I first received my itinerary from “Hotel by the Red Canal,Mandalay”, for my ballooning trip through the Mandalay I skimmed it quickly, city tour here, nice hotel there, cooking class there……. What the heck is that I thought? I would soon learn on my trip and love it…. but as I kept going down the list the thing that got me the most excited out of everything on the list was taking a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE with Oriental Ballooning!! I would be going hot air ballooning for the first time in Mandalay,Myanmar! Our flight was with “Oriental Ballooning”, an awesome hot air ballooning company in Myanmar that does flights over the Mandalay, Bagan, Inle and Ngapali. The night before our flight I didn’t sleep much as I was a bit anxious for some reason. Hot air ballooning is something that has ALWAYS been at the top of my bucket list and “Hotel by the Red Canal” arranged for that. I was picked up from our hotel on-time at 5.45am and transferred to the balloon site where we were met personally by the all pilots and given a breakfast of the best pastries we had in Myanmar and coffee […]
Randonner dans les villes incontournables du Myanmar Myanmar est une destination de choix pour partir en randonnée découverte, que vous soyez à la recherche d’une marche facile ou pour aller à la découverte de ses trésors historiques et culturels. En effet, ce pays de l’Asie du Sud-Est dispose d’un grand nombre de sentiers de randonnée qui offrent des vues et des paysages hors du commun, particulièrement dans ses villes. D’ailleurs, vous allez découvrir quelques spots de randonnée célèbres dans les villes birmanes. Balade dans la ville de Naypyidaw, la capitale birmane Capitale du Myanmar depuis 2005, Naypyidaw regorge de lieux d’intérêt à découvrir en randonnée. Partir en Birmanie pour parcourir la ville de Naypyidaw, c’est comme réaliser l’une des visites les plus marquantes d’un séjour dans le pays. Pour ajouter une touche d’originalité à cet itinéraire, la balade dans la ville débute par son incroyable parlement. Il est à noter que le parlement ne peut être approché sans un guide officiel. En avançant vers la pagode d’Uppatasanti, les amateurs de la marche pourront apprécier l’architecture de cette structure bouddhiste moderne. Sise sur une colline artificielle, la pagode d’Uppatasanti ressemble à celle de Shwedagon à un détail près. Celle-ci fait 98 […]
Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar and is considered the center of Burmese culture. You’ll find many unique pagodas here and can enjoy views from U-Bein Bridge and Mandalay Hill. Set aside 2 or 3 days to experience everything this city has to offer. Things to Do Mandalay Hill This 790 feet high hill gives you incredible views of Mandalay. The entrance fee to Mandalay Hill is 1000 kyat. We left our hotel around 9am and had a tuk tuk take us here. You have your choice to walk up the hill or pay 500 kyats per person to get a ride to the elevator and escalator which is located on the foot of the highest of the temple. We had plenty of time so we decided to trek up the hill by foot. There were a lot of stairs, and we were dripping with sweat by the time we made it to the top, and we passed several temples along the way. We were happy we chose to walk up as it added to our overall experience. Kuthodaw Pagoda Lying at the foot of Mandalay Hill (just a few hundred feet from where you have the option to walk […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]