When we started to plan out our time in Myanmar, our itinerary was roughly shaped around a few key factors:
In effect, because we started in the south and planned to end in the north - so we sort of saved the best for last - Bagan! We also managed to avoid the much talked about dust of the plains that inevitably wreaks havoc on tourists' sinuses during dry season by coming at the end of May just before monsoon season - it had rained the day before arrived and that was enough to keep the air relatively dirt free for our three day visit.
In case you haven't heard, Bagan is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the whole wide world - many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. As many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on the Bagan plain in a bend of the Ayerwaddy River in an area of about 40 square kilometres. About 2,200 still remain today - although many are in a state of disrepair. I personally think this just adds to the beauty of the place...although Kris is going photo CRAZY right now!
We've made Ryuchi Sakamoto's song Bibo no Aozora / 04 a bit of a soundtrack...check it out. Really captures the feeling of Bagan.
- The cheapest flights in and out of the country
- The lowest number of cross country bus journeys
- The scorchingly hot weather
- The hope of the imminent monsoon
In effect, because we started in the south and planned to end in the north - so we sort of saved the best for last - Bagan! We also managed to avoid the much talked about dust of the plains that inevitably wreaks havoc on tourists' sinuses during dry season by coming at the end of May just before monsoon season - it had rained the day before arrived and that was enough to keep the air relatively dirt free for our three day visit. In case you haven't heard, Bagan is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the whole wide world - many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. As many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on the Bagan plain in a bend of the Ayerwaddy River in an area of about 40 square kilometres. About 2,200 still remain today - although many are in a state of disrepair. I personally think this just adds to the beauty of the place...although Kris is going photo CRAZY right now!
During our visit it was ridiculously hot at 45 degrees, so we started each day in the dark - cycling or riding e-bikes out to find temples to climb and watch the sunrise. After a few hours of exploring pagoda after pagoda, we'd head back to our air conditioned room for a nap by no later than 10. We did attempt to hang out at a cafe and play cards one afternoon, but it was quite a sweaty endeavour! The sunsets were actually far more stunning than the sunrises - the whole sky lit up pink, purple and red. Pretty breathtaking.
One afternoon we met a couple of Norwegians called Maria and Simen, and ended up rendezvousing atop a temple for sunset before heading off to have BBQ together on Restaurant Row. Great guys - come to Bristol and let us shout you dinner!
We've made Ryuchi Sakamoto's song Bibo no Aozora / 04 a bit of a soundtrack...check it out. Really captures the feeling of Bagan.
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