Mystical Myanmar (2014): Accommodations

Here is the compilation of all the accommodations my friends and I stayed throughout our trip in Myanmar including Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon.

Thiri Marlar Hotel, Bagan (Currently known as Thurizza Hotel)

Among all the three hotels we stayed, this is our favourite one. I couldn't remember how I came across this hotel, either recommended by a blogger or my friend but this hotel also featured in Lonely Planet. 

With the cozy and inviting rooms which exceeded our expectations, top notch services and most importantly, friendly to our pocket, this is absolutely great value hotel. Situated in New Bagan, this hotel consists of 15 spotless rooms which each and every room features beautifully decorated tiled private bathrooms, LCD television, air-conditioned and free WiFi connection. 

Complimentary of free breakfast served on top of the roof

Bicycles and motorbikes are available for rent

Room Rate: US$50 per night for room with queen or twin bed and US$75 for triple room

Inle Star Motel, Inle Lake



Situated less than 10 minutes away from the bus station, this hotel is facing directly to the boat station.

Simple and basic room attached with private bathroom. Each of the room is equipped with television, fan (without air-conditioned), kettle and drinking waters. One of the rooms assigned to us was overlooking the river, it might seems fascinating to watch how most of these boats passby but in the case where you are light sleeper, you may find it's hardly to fall asleep with all the loud sounds from the motorboats at night.   

Another breakfast on rooftop

Room Rate We Paid: RM230 per night for a standard family room including breakfast (Reservation made through Agoda)

Myint Myat Guest House, Yangon

Everything is pretty okay for us - the room itself, clean bathroom, attentive services except for the location. I doubt most of the reviews on Agoda and Tripadvisor lately. I thought this guest house is situated not far away from Boygoke Aung Sang Market but in reality, it was quite distance away that we need to hail for a taxi. 

Room Rate We Paid: RM98.50 per night for a superior room including breakfast (Booked via Agoda)

Mystical Myanmar (2014) Day 6 & 7: From Inle Lake to Yangon & Goodbye Myanmar!

I think we left our hearts in Inle Lake...

and it's really hard for us to bid goodbye to this pristine and wonderful watery world. We really wish we could spend more times here but because our trip to Myanmar was pretty short, no choice but to make our way back to Yangon again before taking flight back to our sweet homeland. 

#1: Bus from Inle Lake to Yangon details 

To Yangon, we took overnight bus which depart around 6.30 pm at Nyaungshwe Bus Station. Among all the bus ride we experienced; the journey from Inle Lake to Yangon is not just the longest ride we had which took more than 11 hours, it's also extremely one stomach-churning bus ride. My friend who sat next to me keep throwing up throughout the expedition. Therefore, remember to take motion sickness medication before embarking on this long journey. 

VIP overnight bus from Inle Lake to Yangon = 22,000 kyats (approx. to US$23 or RM75)

We arrived Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal of Yangon on the next morning. Since Yangon bus terminal is situated out of the town, we took taxi to the guest house which cost 7,000 kyats for 6 of us. To be exact, it wasn't taxi at all. It was actually light truck used to carry some heavy stuffs and we're trying our best to fit in seeing that they accepted the bargain price we offered. We're not sure whether it's legal or not but glad that we reach our guest house safe and sound. 

The guest house that we stayed for a night were so kind and thoughtful, that they allowed us to have breakfast and early check-in. The only downside, the location wasn't that great like most of the reviews I read from Agoda and Tripadvisor. 

#2: Little monks on the street 

#3: Went post office to send postcards but somehow we never received it until now

We spent half our day wandering around Bogyoke Aung San Market, a 70 years old spawling market. It consists more than 2,000 shops and the largest selection of Myanmar handicrafts under several roods. 

#4: Boygoke Aung San Market, sometimes called by its old British name, Scott Market

#5: This is the place if you are looking for touristy knick-knacks such as jades, traditional longyis, puppets and etc. We bought few fridge magnets here as well, ranging from 1,000 kyats to 1,500 kyats (approx. to RM4 to RM6) per piece. 

Because our flight was scheduled to be in early morning, we booked taxi from our guest house directly. The ride from our guest house to the airport wasn't that long, it's like less than 20 minutes to Yangon International Airport sign. 

#6: The huge mural of Kandawgyi Lake that cause every visitors attention

#7: Myanmar National Airlines 

With the final visit of Myanmar, I officially unlocked all the 10 ASEAN countries – including Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar but not completely South East Asia (SEA) countries yet cause one more left, which is Timor Leste and now I’m waiting for AirAsia to commerce new route to there.

"As with any journey, who you travel with can be more important than your destination."

Mystical Myanmar (2014) Day 4 & 5: Impressive Inle Lake

Date Visited: 12th January 2014

We left the ancient city of Bagan and travelled to a beautiful highland lake, the Inle Lake via a public bus. We bought the 7.30 am bus tickets and the journey from Bagan to Nyaung Shwe of Inle Lake took more than eight hours bus ride. Although the bus ride was uncomfortable and time consuming comparing to those VIP buses which we took earlier from Yangon to Bagan, however it was relatively cheaper, for as low as 11,000 kyats only (approx. to US$11 or RM37). Overnight bus is available but my friends and I opted the morning one so that we able to enjoy the awesome scenery and landscape. 

#1: Welcome to Inle Lake

By the time we reached Nyaung Shwe, it was pretty late evening and instantly we decided to check-in into our hotel before going out for dinner. (I will share about Myanmar's accommodations my friends and I stayed in the upcoming posts). The check-in process wasn't that long, probably there was no other guests except for us and from there, we decided to book a boat trip on the lake. We managed to bargain at the agreed price of 25,000 kyats for the six of us on a wooden longtail boat with padded chairs (approx. to US$25 or RM85) and we're requested to pay upfront fee of 5,000 kyats first whereas the remaining can be paid at the end of the trip. 

Our boat tour started as early as 7 am and luckily for us, the boat station is situated not far away from our hotel. Now, let's start the engine! 

#2: The remarkably skillful and elegant technique of Burmese fishermen to catch fish  

#3: A colony of seagulls flying freely amidst the sunrise view

#4: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most highly revered monastery in Inle Lake

#5: One of the floating villages we visited. Love the reflection of this photo #nofilter 

#6: Can't get enough of this reflection 

Hundreds of these wooden houses are built high on stilts, just like the one we experienced in Tonle Sap of Siem Reap Cambodia but I personally think this one is thousand times better. Inle Lake is also commonly known as "Venice of the East" because the local here are heavily depend on their boat as their mode of transportation. Cruising through these floating villages are indeed a sight to behold and completely serenely picturesque to everyone who had been here.  

#7

#8: Kayan women, who wear traditional rings which elongate around their necks

Our boat driver brought us to few handicraft workshops such as lotus, silk and cotton hand weaving centre until to a certain point, he stopby at Kayan tribe village. Initially I thought Kayan tribe was originally from Thailand not until I visited here, I was totally wrong at all. 

#9: Wooden longtail boat with padded chairs 

#10: The entrance fee for Inle Lake area has increased within a year, from US$5 to US$10

Inle Lake is the last city my friends and I visited, before we travelled back again to Yangon. I found out most of the times, the last city I visited is always my most favourite city of that particular country. For instance, Luang Prabang of Laos and now Inle Lake of Myanmar. Like they said, save the best for last. 

Mystical Myanmar (2014) Day 3: Temples & Pagodas Hopping In Bagan (Part 2)

Previous Post: Day 2 in Bagan - Temples & Pagodas Hopping (Part 1)

Date Visited: 11th January 2014

Not just one but we spent completely two days solely for temples and pagoda hopping around this home to the largest and densest concentration of more than 2,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and monasteries. Instead of charter a whole van like we did yesterday, my friends and I decided to rent a horse cart with driver and few bikes as there were two in our group who didn't know how ride a bike. 

So now let's me continue the second part of temples and pagoda we visited on the second day in Bagan:

Soemingyi Pagoda

Somewhere in the middle of New Bagan, Soemingyi Monastery is one of the few brick-built monasteries on the Bagan plain - most were built of wood and unfortunately didn't survive. This ruined complex consists of a main hall, surrounded by a lobby to the East, a chapel to the West and small cells to the North and South. The chapel is a small, square, 2 storey-building with a door opening on the east side, connecting it with the central hall by a passage.

Nanpaya Temple


According to the legend, Nanpaya Temple is said to have been used as prison although with limited of evidence. There is also another legend saying that this shrine was originally Hindu. Nanpaya is in fact Bagan's first cave shrine features interesting arches over the windows. It is made of sandstone masonry block facings integrated over a brick core and consists of perforated stone winows which are typical of earlier Bagan architecture.

Manuha Phaya

Situated not far away from Nanpaya Temple, Manuha Phaya was named upon the King who built this. King Manuha built himself this two-storey square white temple and through it conveyed a melancholy message. The three Buddha images are uncomfortably large for their enclosure, thus illustrating his captivity and mental stress. The facial expressions of the two seated images are grim.

Before we continue with the rest of sightseeing, we had Chinese cuisines for our lunch break as recommended by the horse chart driver.



MahaBodhi Temple

Just off the main road of Old Bagan, MahaBodhi Temple is a replica of the temple of the same name at Bodhagaya in India's Bihar state, the site where the Buddha achieved enlightment. The Bagan version is typical of India's Gupta Period and it's quite different from the other standard bell-shaped Burmese temples. With its notable pyramidal spire, it was the first ever temple in which a large number of seated Buddha figures were places in exterior niches.

Ananda Temple

One of the popular temple in Bagan, Ananda temple is considered to be one of the most surviving masterpiece of the Mon architecture. It is also know as the finest, holiest, largest, best preserved and most revered among all the Bagan temples. This is absolutely one of the temples shouldn't be missed by any visitors when one in this ancient city. 

Dhammayangyi Temple

The largest and widest temple in Bagan, Dhammayangyi Temple is presumed to build by a wicked King who assassinated his own father and elder brother and in order to atone his sins, he decided to build this. Apart well-known for its intriguing history, this pyramidal temple is popular among the visitors for its incredibly fine brickwork. The temple's interior is bricked up for unknown reasons, thus only four porches and the outer corridors are accessible with each contains a seated Buddha image.

This is how we ended our tour in Bagan 

How To Get Around Bagan
1) Rental of horse chart with a driver cost us 25,000 kyats for a full day (approx. to US$26 or RM85). It's not the ideal way to travel with as it is tends to be slower, shaky, bumpy and uncomfortable with. However, passengers are sheltered away from both sun and rain as Myanmar's weather can be scorching hot.
2) As for rented bikes, it cost us 2,500 kyats each (approx. to US$2.50 or RM8). Don't forget to wear mask as the roads were relatively dusty.

On the other note, here is the Myanmar version of DreamWorks logo 

[Credit To: Myanmar Travel, Bagan: Ancient City of Myanmar]

Mystical Myanmar (2014) Day 2: Temples & Pagodas Hopping In Bagan (Part I)

Date Visited: 10th January 2014

Immediately after we done with gazing at mesmerising and awe-inspiring sunrise view of Bagan with the layer of mist and hot balloons flying over abundant of small and medium temples, we then proceeded with temples and monastery hopping before we could eventually check-in into our hotel. We chartered a mini van that can accommodate 6 of us perfectly and we agreed with the charge of 50,000 kyats (approx. to US$51 or RM168) for the full whole day.

Thatbyinnyu Phaya

We started off with Thatbyinnyu Phaya, a famous old temple situated in Old Bagan. The uniqueness of this temple is that it has a square base shaped, surrounded by diminishing terraces, rimmed with spires. It has two primary storeys, with the seated Buddha image placed on the second storey.

To know more about Thatbyinnyu Phaya, you can check here. 

Shwezigon Paya

Plated with completely shining and bright gold, the Shwezigon Pagoda is one of the most significant religious buildings in Myanmar. It is believed to be the first ever pagoda built in the Burmese style. Somehow, somewhere I felt that this pagoda looks very similar to Shwedagon Pagoda, the one located in Yangon which also completely plated with impressive gold. 

Gu Byauk Gyi Temple

Gu Byauk Gyi Temple is a Buddhist temple built in the south of Bagan, nearby Myinkaba Village. It is notable for contains a wide array of well-preserved frescoes on its interior walls, the oldest original paintings to be found in Bagan. In order to protect these frescoes, one is not allowed to take any photos inside the temple. It was pretty dark inside the temple to view all these old paintings and hence, it is advisable to bring torchlight but I believe nowadays most of our smartphones have built in torchlight function. But because we were not accompanied by any good guide for more detailed of these paintings, we went out early and seem like we're more interested with the paintings outside which sold by street artists. 

Phya That Gyi Pagoda

In Phya That Gyi Pagoda, it offers the most spectacular sunset views in Bagan as it allows visitors access to the roof for 360 degree views. Once again before we could literally climb up, we need to remove our shoe and socks before we struggle to get through the narrow and steep staircases. 

To be frank, some of these temples and pagodas were so identical and indistinguishable and we're completely having hard time to identify each and every of them. Some without any clear signboard stated the name of them and even we found, it was in their own Burmese language. Let's take example for the photo as below, just when I thought it was Dhammayangyi Temple, turned out it wasn't. Tried to browse through Google but up to now, I unable to find the name of this temple. 

If anyone of you know the name of this temple, kindly please share with me. Thanks!

Besides the temples, pagodas and monasteries as above, we also requested the driver to bring us to Nyaung U Market, a bustling local market in order for us to exchange more of their local kyats. Not just this an ideal place to hunt all Myanmar local goods, ranging from traditional longyi to rattan items and tea leaves, but this is excellence occasion for photoshooting and take a glimpse on how these busy native people perform selling and buying activities in early morning. 

Left: Traditional Longyi is the wrap-around skirts worn by the Burmese ladies.
Right: Lacquerware is popular and cheap to buy in Bagan