MYANMAR (BURMA) TRIP DOSSIER

Jan 7^th to Jan 16^th 2005

Fly from Birmingham to Yangon via Bangkok (Thailand)

7^h June. Fly to Yangon. Check into Hotel Panorama.

YANGON

Virtually everyone begins his or her journey in Yangon (formerly Rangoon). Yangon is a wonderful place to get accustomed to the climate, food and everyday traditions of Myanmar life.

Yangon lies in the center of Myanmar, on the Yangon River, about 30km from the Andaman Sea. It is a city of around four million and a city full of trees and shade. Yangon has an amazing combination of British colonial architecture, Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples, Christian churches, and Muslim mosques. Yangon is one of the most exotic and striking cities in Southeast Asia.

Highlights:

The glittering Shwedagon Paya with its dazzling mix of pavilion, stupas, images and bells.

A three-hour trip along the Yangon circular train route is an excellent way to get an overview of Yangon and the neighbouring countryside.

10^th Jan. Train to Mandalay. Check into Hotel Unity.

MANDALAY

Mandalay was the last capital of Myanmar before the British took over. Historically it is the most Burmese of the country’s large cities. The city gets its name from Mandalay, the 236 m-high bluff that rises just to the northeast of Mandalay Fort and its royal palace.

In the area around Mandalay there are a number of interesting attractions well worth visiting.

The four ancient cities of Amarapura, Inwa (Ava), Sagaing and Mingum are all within easy day tripping distance.

U Bein’s Bridge is a long and rickety teak bridge, curved to withstand the wind and the waves, which crosses the shallow Taungthaman Lake, south of Pahtodawgyi.

At the start of the bridge is the Maha Ganayon Kyaung, which is the home to several thousand young monks. If you visit at about 11am, you can watch the whole monastery eating silently.

13^th Jan. Fly to Bagan. Check into Hotel Aungmingalar.

BAGAN

Bagan is one of the most wondrous sights in Myanmar. Across 40 sq km of country, stretching back from the Ayeyarwady River, stand thousands of stupas and temples. In every direction you are able to see ruins of all sizes.

Some of the most impressive temples include:

That Byin Nyu Pahto (old Bagan) built in the mid 12^th century. This ‘Omniscient’ temple, one of the highest in Bagan, rises to 61m.

Ananda Pahto (old Bagan) built in the early 12^th century. One of the finest, largest, and best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples, Ananda suffered considerable damage in the 1975 earthquake but has been totally restored.

Sulamani Pahto (old Bagan) built in the late 12^th century

Dhammu Yan Gyi (old Bagan) built in the late 12^th century

15^th Jan. Fly to Yangon. Check into Hotel Panorama.

PLEASE NOTE: Visitors should take enough US Dollars to fund their stay. Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are unlikely to be accepted and there are no ATMs in Burma. The only place that I was able to use my visa card to get cash was at the Sedona Hotel (No 1, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road) in Yangon. The whole process did take a couple of days!

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