Myanmar - 2016

For long years Burma (renamed Myanmar) was closed to tourism. The political situation in the country was (and still is in some respects) under the rule of a military dictatorship.

As the country is open again and as we had seen images of the very astonishing Burmese monuments (big reclining or standing Buddhas, stuppas covered with gold, the temples of Bagan or the hanging rock covered with gold), we decided to see for ourselves this country of Southeast Asia.

It was done in November 2016.

The great stupas of Yangon (Rangoon) like the Shwedagon or Bago like the Shwe Maw Daw do not leave indifferent.

The hundreds of temples in Bagan bear witness to a glorious past and remain lasting memories just like the wooden monasteries (as in Magwe) or the caves filled with Buddha statues (Pindaya).

An unusual and well-preserved architectural wealth. Is this due to the confinement of the country which has hindered for many years the phenomenon of mass tourism ...?

The city of Mandalay is also full of treasures and Mount Popa is simply wonderful, even if the sanctuary at the top requires efforts to get there. There are still close to 700 steps to climb and descend.

Another highlight of this trip, Inle Lake with its floating cultures and its astonishing fishermen, even if they now go out more for tourists than for lake fish.

And the omnipresence of the monks in the streets from dawn in search of food and donations for the monastery adds to the charms of this beautiful country.

date of the trip: 11/2016

Travel agent: SRC

https://www.src-reizen.nl

Country: { • Myanmar (Burma) • }