On Thursday we leave to go to Myanmar to scout it out to see if we might consider a group trip in the future.

Have to check it out first. Two other couples are joining us as well.

Going to be interesting, might be hard to post but if we can we will.

I bet it will be fascinating! The only thing I know about Myanmar is what I saw on an episode of Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain. But if he goes there, you know it's an interesting area!

I remember looking at pictures and wondering what it would be like to see those beautiful temples. I'm sure it will be fascinating - can' wait for photos!

Really looking forward to what you find out. Definitely on the bucket list

How coincidental; we will be in Myanmar exactly one year from today.

Really looking forward to your report!

We spent 3 days in Yangon on a Regent trip and loved it. Schwedegon Temple is outstanding.

Fascinating country. Hope you have included Mount Popa on your itinerary. I found the internet available in all the hotels. Just not on the River. Visit the Schwedegon Temple in the morning. Since you have to take off your shoes, people have received burns on the bottom of their feet touring it in the afternoon. And yes, it is outstanding.

Can't wait to hear about it. If you take a group, I want on it.

We are booked with Azamara to spend 3 days in Myanmar in April 2018. Can't wait for your review, Ngaire!
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Helen

Sitting in Yangon in the Savoy Hotel. A interesting hotel with lots of touches of the culture. More fun than a big glamorous hotel. Not much water pressure on the hot tap for the bathtub - but I am just thrilled to HAVE a bathtub. Huge room.

The flights were great I do love Qatar and slept about 7 hours coming down so feel really good. We were with Brad and Leslie on the flight from DFW to DOHA and then met up with Chris and Linda they had just arrived in Doha from South Africa. We all flew together from Doha to Yangon.

The drive in from the airport the city looked more modern than I had expected. A nice view of a long raised path along the water with people exercising and jogging. The bank from the road up to the path was nicely landscaped with flowers and bushes in designs. Very attractive.

Our guide speaks good English and was interesting on the way in about Myanmar and the issues that they have faced. The tourism for Americans has increased significantly since 2005 and there is more infrastructures to support tourism now. I think he will be good.

After a nice bath and freshen up we are about to go down to breakfast and then walk around a little in the area of the hotel. No tours today I as it is the first day here and we may crash after we go walking.

Happy to be here a new adventure for sure.

After 30 plus hours of travel we were happy to arrive at the Savoy Hotel. This was our first time flying Qatar Airways, which was very comfortable, with good service and delicious food. The Doha airport is quite a sight - it's brand new, with LOTS of high end shopping and a huge Qatar Air lounge you could easily move into for awhile. We have an overnight there on the way home - the hotel is in the airport in the transit zone so fortunately we won't have to deal with any entry formalities.

You can now get an e-visa ahead of time for Myanmar. The six of us were almost first in line at immigration; entry was a breeze, everyone's luggage came right out, we were met by our guide and whisked to the hotel, all checked into our big suites before 7 AM.

After unpacking Brad and walked around the immediate area. Just down the road we wandered down a side alley with some colorful buildings and two temple complexes. At the urging of several ladies who were making morning rounds of many temples with rice and flower offerings, we accepted their invitation to join their blessings and prayers, which went on for at least 15 minutes. I think they wanted us to come with them to the next temple, but we excused ourselves and came back to the hotel for a delicious breakfast and then scheduled massages and lazed around. Sightseeing begins in earnest tomorrow.

K

Fantastic pictures, Leslie and Brad! What is the weather like?

Hi Lesley, thank you for posting your report and photos. We are following closely as we'd love to see this fascinating country. Looking forward to hearing more if internet permits.

Great pics. It looks very interesting so far. We do love Qatar Air and the connections are so good for us from either DFW or Chicago.

Weather is about 80 but humid so it gets hot. We just got back and we are pooped.

This morning was great. We visited the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. We have seen a lot of pagodas before but this was huge and amazing. Stunning pictures will follow.

For me personally I was more enthralled with the people. Very few westerners mostly Burmese. The girls were stunning. So tiny and beautifully dressed in traditional longyi (long skirts) and tops. Smiling and laughing the people were very happy. Quite a few men were wearing the tradition longyi skirts as well. The monks were everywhere and the nuns were dressed in pink and also had their heads shaved.

There was a lot of interaction with the locals they took my picture (think it is the blond hair) then we took their. picture. I had a wonderful time.

Many had what looked like white mud on their faces. This acts as sun screen and also supposed to stop wrinkles.

I hope there is not a change to jeans and tee shirts with the influence of western culture.

Amazing all the changes in the last ten years and even more changes in the last five years. Good guide that is sharing a lot of interesting information with us. Cell phones are everywhere now but ten years ago were about $2000 for a phone so hardly anyone had a cell phone.

We took a ride on a local train. Pretty dirty but interesting to see. Train stops were not all at stations just on the side of the tracks. People appeared to be living and working right next to the railroad line. Many people came through the train carriage selling peanuts, watermelon, oranges, quail eggs and other foods. I would not suggest this as something anyone should do.

We ate lunch at the Green Elephant cafe, family style food. Not my cup of tea but with my onion allergy it is difficult for me. Beef, fish and vegetables. Cute place though under umbrellas and the trees.

We did a downtown walking tour that was not that great in my opinion. Others may disagree of course. Mostly old English buildings in a state of decay with no plans to renovate these buildings.

We did visit a lovely Catholic Church that was preparing for a wedding. Flowers everywhere and very tastefully done.

We finished with a visit to a city lake and park that was refreshing after the downtown area.

Had a nice dinner at the hotel. Most had hamburgers that they said were very good. I ordered a vegetable plate and Brad ordered something green not sure about that but he ate it all.

This is a nice hotel. Very colonial, comfortable bed, nice bathroom. The decor is great I need to get Ken to take a few shots. We had our meals in a private room so it was very nice. Little lapses in service as I think things are lost in translation but that is okay they are always smiling and doing their best.

Yangon, Myanmar:

Very Beautiful!

Marvelous photos and blogging. Thanks, everyone!

Some pix from the train

City sights

A pharmacy



Telephone operators at the post office - they probably did a big business until cell phones became affordable.





Street food and little stools are everywhere







Potholes are everywhere- very few are being prepared

O

Elevator for transporting stuff up to your apartment
- hang it on a clothespin and pull it up.




Large taxpayers only



Remnants of the British Empire



Way more crumbly than it looks here



Little altars everywhere



Lunch



Transportation

The colors are just fantastic

What a great trip. Love all these photos ! Is it anything like the smaller cities in Thailand ?

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Such a colorful country with so many smiling people. Thanks so much for taking the time to include us!

What fabulous photos! Thanks so much for sharing this trip. Can't wait for more if you can find time.

Update. We flew to Inle Lake and came in by boat but did not see much as it was dark when we arrived. Dinner was okay not great. We all crashed.

Woke up the next morning to find ourselves in an absolutely idyllic setting. The grounds here are really something. Sitting on the restaurant patio this morning was so tranquil. Looking at the lake, the boats being rowed in so quietly, hot air balloons and a small herd of goats. Add to this a very good omelette and a chocolate croissant - pretty nice way to start the day.

Highlights for today

First stop the main Monastery for Inle lake it was fantastic.As we got close boatloads of monks passed by us, many on cell phones.

On arrival there was a lot of activity from the monks and lots of locals. We heard loud music and saw two boats decorated with flowers and a young boys in each boat with glittering crowns and clothing. It was their initiation ceremony. Every male child must be initiated into monastery and stay for at least one week. This is a big event, celebrated for two or three days by family and friends.

Then there hundreds of monks coming out of the temple accepting gifts in white sacks. Turns out a group from Hong Kong was offering the gifts to the monks they do this once a year. Monks from all the villages in the area came to participate.

Odds of hitting this once a year offering event and an iniation cermony are pretty small. We were very lucky.

Then our boat was glided through a fishing village, a floating garden, we saw fisherman netting fish. All of this was very interesting and fun.

We also stopped at a village specializing in weaving lotus and silk by hand. Been to many of these places before but this was "the real thing". We went to a small monastery that was quick stop and well worth visiting.

We ended the morning at another hotel I wanted to see and had a great lunch there.

Back at the Inle Princess about 2.00 pm. Ken is looking at pictures, I am writing this reports

LIFE IS PRETTY GOOD.

Inle Lake, Myanmar:






Linda, Chris, & Brad.

Awesome! All of it!

Kim just said it all! WOW!

Love the pictures! We enjoyed Myanmar when we were there earlier this year, but didn't get very far outside of Rangoon. Would love to see Mandalay -- are you going there?

Beautiful photos - what an incredibly interesting place. Love the tranquility and the unspoilt by tourists feel.

Catching up from Yangon

Our last morning in Yangonwe visited Botataung Pagoda, a temple complex with a stupa in the center that is hollow - you wander through gold clad zig zagging hallways, containing hair relics of Buddha and important relics and antique objects displayed in cases. This complex was much more subdued and not on the tourist track.



Devotee and fortune teller inside the stupa.

A few shots taken at our resort on Inle Lake

Breakfast scenery

Lovely! Sounds like such a great trip, can't wait to see for ourselves. Thanks for sharing.
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Helen

Another great day. Today we went to a village with 1000 stupas. First we walked the village and then went to the area with the stupas. From very old to the new. Quite a sight. The lower area with the very old stupas was covered in jungle until 1996. Then we walked further up a hill to even more stupas. The climb was easy on a road and steps as we got to the stupas. We spent a long time there the photographers among the group were very happy. Coming home we stopped at the fishermen for more pictures.

It gets very warm in the afternoons so we stay in and relax after lunch. Tonight we are going to another hotel for dinner, the Sanctum. Probably were I will stay if I bring back a group. Brand new hotel. We ate lunch there and it was good. Now I want to try dinner.

Then fly off to Mandalay tomorrow, one night there before boarding our river boat.