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Activities &


Adventures


Many activities take place
under the hot Myanmar sun,
from long-distance treks in
Shan State to diving adven-
tures around the islands of
the deep south, best reached
from Phuket. Adventures in-
clude fl oating over Bagan’s
temples in a hot-air balloon
or admiring the gorgeous
scenery from the deck of a
river boat.


Overnight treks Head to Kalaw
(p 170 ), Pindaya (p 176 ) or the
less ‘discovered’ Hsipaw (p 259 )
for short, easily arranged hill-
tribe village treks


Balloon rides Marvel at Bagan’s
temples, bathed in the beautiful
light of dawn, from the basket of
a hot air balloon (p 113 ), or save
up for a balloon safari over Inle
Lake (p 187 )


Boat journeys Ride sections
of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy)
(p 239 ); explore the Chindwin
from Monywa (p 132 ) or sail from
Yangon to Pathein (p 70 )


Bicycling Pedal your way
around Bagan (p 115 ), or arrange
a more challenging cross-
country bike ride (p 374 )


Big Game Fishing Board the
Barracuda in Ngapali Beach
(p 271 ) to go fi shing for marlin,
king mackerel or bluefi n and
yellowfi n tuna


Surreal &
Quirky Sights
Men wearing skirts (called
longyi) and with faces slath-
ered in thanakha (tradi-
tional make-up) – just one of
Myanmar’s litany of unusual
and memorable sights that
you’ll encounter. Locals bal-
ance their Buddhist beliefs
with a respect for super-
natural nats (spirits) – keep
an eye out for nat effi gies at
village temples and shrines
as well as larger complexes,
such as Mt Popa (p 126 ).
Nay Pyi Taw In a country of
intermittent power supply and
pot-holed roads, the 24-hour-
street lights and empty, pristine
highways of Nay Pyi Taw are a
surreal sight (p 139 )
Jumping cats Applaud the
kitties that have been trained
to leap through hoops by the
monks at Inle Lake’s Nga Hpe
Kyaung (p 185 )
Giant spectacles Sometimes
even Buddha needs spectacles;
the faithful believe the buddha
wearing a massive pair at
Shwedaung can cure eyesight
affl ictions (p 147 )
Holy snakes Whether draped
around their favourite buddha
statue or being tenderly washed
at 11am, Paleik’s star residents
are its pythons (p 231 )

Ethnic & Tribal
Diversity
Apart from Buddhist tem-
ples, Yangon has religious
sites that are important to
Hindus, Muslims, Jews and
various Chinese communi-
ties. But you need to leave
Myanmar’s biggest city to
encounter some of the coun-
try’s estimated 135 diff erent
ethnic groups; try to sched-
ule your trip to coincide with
one of the major ethnic or
religious festivals, too (p 16 ).
Kengtung Mingle with Shan and
tribal people from the surround-
ing hills at the central market
and twice-weekly water-buff alo
market (p 193 )
Hsipaw Trek out of this low-key
country town to encounter Shan
and Palaung tribal villagers
(p 259 )
Mawlamyine Soak up the laid-
back atmosphere of this tropical
town that’s the heart of Mon
culture (p 96 )
Myitkyina Proud of its Kachin
culture and host to two huge,
colourful tribal festivals, includ-
ing a new one that reunites Lisu
villagers from both sides of the
Chinese border (p 236 )

JULIET COOMBE/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©

» (^) Buddhist monk with a jumping cat at Nga Hpe
Kyaung (p 185 )
15

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