Looking for a winter destination that’s sunny and warm? Think Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), one of my favorite countries. Please don’t get all huffy over the Dictatorship, Human Rights, etc. If you truly want to make a difference in the people’s lives, visit. The Burmese are thrilled to welcome us to their country, and intereact. Gracious, sweet people who need tourism badly, starved for outside contact, and we have a chance to make a positive impact on their lives. Without outside tourism, they will become even more isolated. Extremely easy to arrange a private tour or visit, contact Diethelm Travel. Diethelm has planned four trips for us using our favorite, wonderful guide Than Toe Win.

Prefer a group? it seems as if all the big tour operators have jumped on the Myanmar bandwagon and have tours available. At the lower end of tour costs, Adventure Center (on the side bar), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center),iExplore, and GAP Adventures. Want a little more upscale experience? Contact Snow Lion Expeditions, Mountain Travel Sobek. That should get you started. And for even more information, read past posts on TWS…

What to see and do? This is my short list…

- Inle Lake. I wouldn’t think of leaving Myanmar without visiting for the leg rowers, wonderful 5-Day rotating markets, charming places to stay, monasteries and even hiking through villages in the hills;

selling flowers with a smile at Ywama on Inle Lake, Myanmar
- The Hilltribe area around Kengtung. This area has become hugely popular with tourists since our visit. Still, go;

women hauling wood in the Kengtung area of Myanmar
- Pagan, now Bagan. Pagan is usually everyone’s number one reason for visiting Myanmar. It certainly lived up to our expectations and is a visual delight. …View image… Each temple had distinct features that surrounding ones did not have. …View image… They were built as tributes to the Buddha by kings and merchants to gain merit and resembled castles, and fortresses. Some can’t be climbed now and others “reconstructed” but all these ruins, on this dusty plain next to the Irrawaddy River is still an unforgetable experience;

- Mrauk-U has over 30 monasteries, 1,000 monks and novices and probably upwards of 3,000 Buddha statues. ‘Nuf said…;

Koe Thaung Pagoda rows of Buddha images, Mrauk U, Myanmar
- Shwedagon Pagoda is most definitely the star of Yangon (formerly Rangoon). It is built on one the the few hills and has many steps up to the Pagoda that you must climb barefoot (hot-hot-hot…even have to take socks off). The interior passages are crowded with merchants selling handicrafts, incense, kalagas (intricate cloth, beaded, sequined depictions of Burmese lore), flowers, offerings to Buddha, a riot of color.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar
- Golden Rock. Kyaiktiyo is “Golden Rock,” a huge boulder completely covered with gold leaf. The gilded boulder is delicately balanced on the edge of the sloping surface of a separate rock table and is really astonishing; and the number one reason to visit Myanmar…

view of Golden Rock from below, Myanmar
- The people.

smiley lady selling chickens in Myanmar
Basic Information?
- You must have a Visa. At the moment, you can get a Visa on Arrival but that could change at any time. Other options are to use a Visa service, pay extra to have your tour operator arrange (Diethelm did this for us), or contact the Myanmar Embassy.

- Use Dollars or Euros to exchange money on the Black Market only! Your guide will show you where;

- No major problems with food or water as long as you use common sense. Drink bottled water, don’t eat raw foods, “cook, peel or forget it…yadda…yadda” (I don’t always follow my own advice). The food in the bigger areas was excellent. Bring canned/tinned tuna, munchies, etc. for the very small areas or just live on rice;

- Don’t worry about crime or violence in Myanmar. Do check out the latest political situation before you go. Better to err on the side of caution…

Now…wasn’t that easy?