lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

PLAN YOUR TRIP

IF YOU LIKE

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 )
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