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| Ballons over Bagan at Damayangi Paya |
We visited Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Laken
Duration: 6 days days
Budget: €500 (2 pax)
We flew from Dubai to Bangkok on Emirates flight EK376 at 12:35 pm and then we took a connection flight to Mandalay (Myanmar Intl 338) at 14:30 pm.
We arrived Myanmar at 16:05 pm and took a taxi to Hostel Ostello Bello where we stayed one night. After check in we took a taxi and went directly to Mandalay Hill to watch the sunset, which is worth to see and profit to visit the Pagoda on the top of the hill.
That night we had our first typical dinner at Myanmar Food Villa, really close to the Hostel where we had amazing rice and curry (but no bear!).
We pre-booked bus ticket (http://myanmarbusticket.com) from Mandalay to Bagan (5:30 - 11:30 pm). The ticked included picked us up at the Hostel, we were there around 5:00 pm, ready to leave. At 6:00 pm no sign of the bus (it was a Van). I was already nervous, but the guy rom the Hostel was tranqualizing me saying it was normal "they will come". And they did! At 6:30 pm they picked us up. The van continued picked other people in Mandalay and finally, around 7pm we left. We arrived Bagan after midnigh, and again they were leaving everyone at their hotels, and we were the last ones! We stayed 2 nights at Floral Breeze Hotel in New Bagan.
After finishing our long journey visiting New Bagan, we went back to the Hotel where we had left our luggage. We left the Scooter at the Hotel and Aung Lan's, with a bib truck passed by to colect it.
Then we went by Taxi to Bagan Bus station where we took the 8:30 pm bus to Inle. It was a 8 hour journey to drive 350 km! We arrived Inle around 5:00 in the morning. As soon as we arrived Inle, at the permit booth, we were charged in 13.500 K/person.
We stayed one night at Hostel Ostello Bello. They allowed us to access their lounge on the rooftop where we crashed a few hours until breakfast time. We left early in the morning and went directly to the pier to find a boat. There, we bargain for a whole day trip and we got a deal for 20.000 K.
On our boat trip we visit the Nga Hpe Kyaunf (Jumping Cat Monestery), the floating gardens where Inle farmers grow their flowers and vegetables.
We had lunch on the the lake, in a floating wood house with amazing view. There were not many options, we had the the typical rice and fried fish.
Another Pagoda, Phaung Daw Oo Paya followed by the amazing Bamboo forest Inthein where we were able to take a walk.
We flew from Dubai to Bangkok on Emirates flight EK376 at 12:35 pm and then we took a connection flight to Mandalay (Myanmar Intl 338) at 14:30 pm.
We bought this connection separately (103 €/person) which was really risky because if there was a delay on the flight from Dubai we could have lost it. Luckily it was on time but our adrenaline went to the top because once we arrived we had to run to do immigration, colect our luggage, change terminal, check-in on Mandalay's flight, pass through security and then go to the gate.
Suggestion: flight from Dubai directly to Yagon and start your trip there.
We arrived Myanmar at 16:05 pm and took a taxi to Hostel Ostello Bello where we stayed one night. After check in we took a taxi and went directly to Mandalay Hill to watch the sunset, which is worth to see and profit to visit the Pagoda on the top of the hill.
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| Sunset at the top of Mandalay Hill |
Suggestion: for the entire trip, to visit the monuments you need to be barefoot, cover your legs and shoulders so, take some extra clothes with you or you will need to rent them from the temple which is expensive and disgusting.
That night we had our first typical dinner at Myanmar Food Villa, really close to the Hostel where we had amazing rice and curry (but no bear!).
On the next day we woke up early in the morning and walked from the Hostel to Mandalay Hill entrance where we visited the three Payas:
Giant Chinthe (lion-dogs creatures) guardian Mandalay Him Entrance. From here you can go to the top of Mandalay Hill.
- Kuthodaw Paya;
- Sandamuni Paya;
- Kyauktawgyi Paya.
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| Kuthodaw Paya |
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| Mandalay Hill Chinthe Entrance |
After visiting the Payas, we had lunch at a local restaurant right in front of Mandalay Hill Chinthe Entrance, this time with a cold, large and local bear. Myanmar food was getting better.
After lunch we went to visit Mandalay Palace Fort (10.000 kyats). It is an enormous Fort, with a lot to walk. We climbed the spiral watchtower, we watched the throne room and the Place Place (Central Palace).
We pre-booked bus ticket (http://myanmarbusticket.com) from Mandalay to Bagan (5:30 - 11:30 pm). The ticked included picked us up at the Hostel, we were there around 5:00 pm, ready to leave. At 6:00 pm no sign of the bus (it was a Van). I was already nervous, but the guy rom the Hostel was tranqualizing me saying it was normal "they will come". And they did! At 6:30 pm they picked us up. The van continued picked other people in Mandalay and finally, around 7pm we left. We arrived Bagan after midnigh, and again they were leaving everyone at their hotels, and we were the last ones! We stayed 2 nights at Floral Breeze Hotel in New Bagan.
On the next morning we took a taxi to Old Bagan, we drop at Tharabar Gate were we rent an electric scooter at Aung Lan's.
An electric Scooter was 5 $/day and when the battery reached low we could drop it and take another one. On the last day they even picked the scooter at our hotel.
Old Bagan is inside the walled area of the old city wall and Ayeyarwaddy River, where we visited Bagan Golden Palace and some Payas such as:
On our way to the Hotel, in New Bagan I was able to see one of my childhood dress, get to know the impressive long neck women or Giraffe Women. They were only two, and kind of touristic attraction but, nevertheless it was worth it.
On that night we had dinner nearby the Hotel, at River Front Restaurant with an amazing view to Ayeyarwaddy River.
On the next day we woke up at 4:30 am in order to see sunrise at Damayangi Paya. By the time we arrived there was already plenty of tourists with their big cameras ready to watch sunrise and the balloons over Bagan. It was such an amazing experience!
After sunrise we went back to the Hotel for breakfast and then continue our journey to visit Bagan. On that day we were able to visit other important monuments such as:
Htilominlo Temple
Sulamani Temple
Shwezigon Papa
An electric Scooter was 5 $/day and when the battery reached low we could drop it and take another one. On the last day they even picked the scooter at our hotel.
Bagan is an amazing place to visit and the scooter just allowed us to see more in less time. Our journey was about to getting better...
- Bupaya Pagoda on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River;
- Gawdawpalin;
- Nimalaung Kyaung;
- Pahtothamia with steps to a viewing platform;
- Thatbyinnyu Pahto
- Nathlung Kyaung.
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| Pyathada Pay |
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| Long neck woman |
On that night we had dinner nearby the Hotel, at River Front Restaurant with an amazing view to Ayeyarwaddy River.
On the next day we woke up at 4:30 am in order to see sunrise at Damayangi Paya. By the time we arrived there was already plenty of tourists with their big cameras ready to watch sunrise and the balloons over Bagan. It was such an amazing experience!
After sunrise we went back to the Hotel for breakfast and then continue our journey to visit Bagan. On that day we were able to visit other important monuments such as:
Htilominlo Temple
Sulamani Temple
Shwezigon Papa
After finishing our long journey visiting New Bagan, we went back to the Hotel where we had left our luggage. We left the Scooter at the Hotel and Aung Lan's, with a bib truck passed by to colect it.
Then we went by Taxi to Bagan Bus station where we took the 8:30 pm bus to Inle. It was a 8 hour journey to drive 350 km! We arrived Inle around 5:00 in the morning. As soon as we arrived Inle, at the permit booth, we were charged in 13.500 K/person.
We stayed one night at Hostel Ostello Bello. They allowed us to access their lounge on the rooftop where we crashed a few hours until breakfast time. We left early in the morning and went directly to the pier to find a boat. There, we bargain for a whole day trip and we got a deal for 20.000 K.
On our boat trip we visit the Nga Hpe Kyaunf (Jumping Cat Monestery), the floating gardens where Inle farmers grow their flowers and vegetables.
We had lunch on the the lake, in a floating wood house with amazing view. There were not many options, we had the the typical rice and fried fish.
Another Pagoda, Phaung Daw Oo Paya followed by the amazing Bamboo forest Inthein where we were able to take a walk.
We left Myanmar on the next day. From the Hostel we took a taxi to Heho Airport, a 45 minutes drive up the hill. From there we took a flight to Yangon and from Yangon we flew with Nok Air to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.
Our Thailand trip was about to start!
Our Thailand trip was about to start!
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