BLOG - Asian Tour Myanmar

Newsletter October 2023

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Greetings message from Asian Tour Team

Greetings from Asian Tour Myanmar Team!

After a hiatus due to COVID-19 and other reasons, we're excited to reconnect with our partners and friends, at this October during Myanmar's captivating lighting festival. Let's reminisce about the past groups that traveled to our beautiful land.

For our friends looking East, our doors are always open. Stay tuned for valuable travel updates about Myanmar.

Find us at upcoming Travel Fairs, with the nearest one being ITB Asia 2023. Please don't hesitate to get in touch beforehand to arrange a meeting.

Warm Regards,

Kyaw Pyay Oo
Managing Director
Asian Tour Myanmar

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Visa Free Countries to Myanmar

The ordinary passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa for tourist visits of up to Exemption Period if entering and departing from Yangon, Mandalay, or Naypyidaw International Airports.

No Country Exemption Period

1 Brunei 14 days

2 Cambodia 14 days

3 Indonesia 14 days

4 Laos 14 days

5 Philippines 14 days

6 Thailand 14 days

7 Vietnam 30 days

8 Singapore 30 days

For more detail information, please visit Myanmar Tourist Visa Information

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Governor’s Residence will be re-opened by Memories Group

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2023 Common places to visit in Myanmar

Yangon

Many hotels are now fully operational. Here is a selection of upscale hotels currently in operation in Yangon.

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

Golden Empire Luxury

Parkroyal Yangon

Awei Metta

Yangon Excelsior - Will reopens in November 2023

Bagan

Bagan ancient temples, vibrant histories, tiny villages and friendly locals are swarming with many local travelers and some international tourists.

This photograph was captured during the Asian Tour Team's last FAM Trip.

A selection of luxury hotels in Bagan is now welcoming guests.
Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort
Heritage Bagan Hotel
The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate
Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

Mandalay

Mandalay, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern vitality.

This photograph was captured during the Asian Tour Team's last FAM Trip.

Some luxurious hotels that are opening now in Mandalay are :
Mingalar Mandalay Hotel
Ritz Grand Hotel Mandalay
Hotel by the Red Canal
Mandalay Lodge Hotel

Inle Lake

Inle Lake captivates travelers with its tranquil beauty, floating villages, and the distinct lifestyles of its inhabitants. Unmissable! This sentiment echoed among fellow travelers, and it couldn't be truer.

Some luxury hotels opening their doors to guests now in Inle Lake are :

Villa Inle Boutique Resort
Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min
Sanctum Inle Resort
Aureum Palace Hotels & Resorts
Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort
Sky Lake Inle Resort Sky Lake Inle Resort
Hotel Amazing Nyaung Shwe
Spring Lodge Inle

Festivals around Inle Lake

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

After a three-year hiatus, the remarkable Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, a unique annual spectacle, returns from October 15th to November 1st, 2023. Learn more about this exciting event here: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

Taunggyi Traditional Hot-Air Balloon Festival

The Taunggyi Tazaungdaing traditional hot-air balloon festival in Myanmar is set to return from November 21 to 27, 2023, after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
For additional details about this festival, please visit the Taunggyi Hot-Air Balloon Festival

Beaches : Ngapali Beach

Beaches in Myanmar are renowned for their stunning pearl-white sands, pristine waters, and delightful dining choices. Walking along these golden shores while savoring the calming melodies of the waves is what truly sets this experience apart. Ngapali Beach is easy to visit because of its beautiful scenery and frequent flights from Yangon.

Some luxury hotels in Ngapali Beach that are now welcoming guests are :

Sandoway Resort
Aureum Resort & Spa Ngapali
Pristine Mermaid Resort
Amata Resort
Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa
Bayview Resort

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We would like to Thank You !

We would like to thank you for reading through this update Myanmar travel related news. We look forward to welcoming you or your clients to our beautiful country and providing with unforgettable travel experiences. Stay connected with Asian Tour Myanmar for more exciting updates and adventures. Safe travels!

COVID-19 PANDEMIC HISTORY MYANMAR

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

MARCH 2020 - FEBRUARY 2022

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread all over the world and the situation has our fullest attention. The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. We are monitoring updates and guidance from authorities and health organizations with regards to the Coronavirus very closely. We remain committed to working with the industry to support the delivery of information to our partners from trusted sources, as well as updates on how we are managing the situation.

Myanmar confirmed its two first cases of coronavirus from migrants on 23 March 2020. From that time, airport and borders are closed.

As a second wave by mid August 2020, reemergence of COVID-19 infections started in Rakhine State, Western Part of the country, at a rapid rate. From there, the Government increased the security measures such as lock downs at some districts in Yangon and some cities. Starting from end of 2020, spreading virus rate was going down and keeping in control.

The third wave had hit hard from the beginning of July to end of August, 2021. At that time, average number of new infections reported rise around 4000 and about 100-150 new deaths in each day in some weeks. Average new positive rate is about 25 to 28 % of total tests within a day (24 hours). Most of the cities/ townships are announced in partial lockdown (here called stay at home). At the end of August, new positive rate was getting down.

The number of new Covid19 positive cases are declining every day. Current average new positive rate declined to 2 – 3% of total tests within a day. The Government is releasing the Stay at Home order in cities / townships depending on new positive rate situation of respective city/ township. And also domestic travel restrictions are lifted step by step depending on virus situations of places.

AS IT STANDS TODAY THE FOLLOWING IN PLACE REGARDING COVID-19 IN MYANMAR AND TRAVEL :

All passenger flights to Myanmar are suspended until 28th February 2022.
Visa applications are suspended to all foreign nationals, except Diplomats , United Nations officials and crews of aircraft / ships operating to Myanmar until 28th February 2022.
Foreigners coming into Myanmar are required to present laboratory evidence of absence of COVID-19 infection issued no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel before boarding any airline destined for Myanmar. They will be subject to quarantine 10 Days for fully vaccinated persons and 14 Days for non/ partially vaccinated persons respectively, on their arrival in Myanmar. COVID-19 RT-PCR test need to be done on Day 1 and 9 for fully vaccinated persons and on Day 1, 3 and 11 for non/ partially vaccinated persons with own expense during quarantine. In case of COVID-19 Positive result, the person would be sent to respective hospitals and cured with own expense.
Hotels in different places are re-opening according to Covid-19 Safety Procedures.
Domestic airlines are continuously operating according to Covid-19 safety procedures of Ministry of Health Myanmar. Passengers taking domestic flights require to present negative COVID-19 RDT test result within 48 hours before the flight upon check-in.
There are 7,761 active cases 19,310 death, 514,833 recovery of Covid-19 in Myanmar as of 11-February-2022. Overall total 541,904 cases.
Covid-19 Vaccine injection programs had started on 27th January 2021 and commencing continuously according to priority plans. Now, the overall country vaccine coverage is getting about 37.9%of total population.
Curfew (from 10.00 pm to 04.00am) prevail in the country until further notice.

Just Book Without Hassle !

COVID-19 Booking and Cancellation

It’s up to client desire, you can change travel date, reschedule or cancel with no fee and full refund with prior official information at least 7 days before traveling.

Safety Measures

Conducting increased team briefings, including with guides and drivers, on enhanced safety practices during the outbreak
Sterilization our vehicles
Providing guests with additional hand sanitizers
Providing guests with face masks if they wish to wear one
Regularly checking the wellbeing and temperature of on-the-ground staff.

More about Health and Safety > Health & Safety

Things to Do While Traveling

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Use your elbow or a tissue to cover your cough or sneeze. Immediately throw the tissue away and wash hands.
Wear a face mask if you feel unwell or have a cough. (In Asia, wearing a face mask is in public is common but not necessary if you are healthy, according to WHO.)
Clean and disinfect with an alcohol-based disinfectant frequently touched objects and surfaces such as phones, computers or armrests.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you start to feel unwell, seek medical assistance, stay away from public areas and do not travel.

Asian Tour Myanmar at Corona Time

Asian Tour Myanmar office team is continuously working to deliver reliable, precise and updated information to all our partners and clientele. As our first priority is health and safety of our guests, our employees and our greater travel community, all personals of Asian Tour Team do not gather at the office but are working from their homes. We are in constant contact with our local guides and staff to keep current of changes as they occur.

We can be reached by phone or Skype, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and around the clock as usual via email.

Phones (WhatsApp/Viber) : +(95 9) 513 3958, 511 2006

Skype : asiantourmyanmar

E-mail : info@asiantour-myanmar.com

We know that we are not alone in this struggle and we do appreciate everyone that has reached out to us during this time. We want to express our gratitude to all the frontline health care workers who are fighting for us all. Also, to those in other essential services that continue to provide the services we all need. We pray for everyone in this world for health and safety.

Asian Tour Myanmar at Beyond Corona

Asian Tour Myanmar is financially strong, have enough funding and resources to struggle the Corona crisis time. Even in this challenging time, we stand ready to work with you. As soon as the crisis is over, inbound travel is allowed and international flights are resumed, we will open our tours /activities and be ready to welcome the clients according to preparations and guide lines of Ministry and WHO.

CSR during Corona Crisis

COVID-19 Pandemic spreading all over the world infecting millions of people and facing inconceivable circumstances. Daily wage workers lost their jobs due to lockdowns and families are suffering with starvation. So, we are making donations to daily wage workers and low income persons (such as trishaw drivers, garbage collectors) as much as we can. And also, together with local tourism organizations and stakeholders, we try to donate essential things for hospitals and frontline health care workers.

We welcome you all, to participate in supporting livelihoods and combat COVID-19.

Stay Safe And Stay In Touch With Us

We would like to encourage you, our clients and partners, to stay in touch with us and let us know how we can best support in productive ways for the time of post-virus bounce.

For more detailed Information and Live Updates :

TRAVEL INFORMATION : MINISTRY OF HOTEL AND TOURISM MYANMAR

GLOBAL COVID 19 INFORMATION (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION)

SITUATION DASHBOARD (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION)

CORONAVIRUS DAILY UPDATES (GLOBAL RESCUE)

TRAVEL ADVICE : WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Responsible Beauty by THANAKA

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Thanaka is a paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Myanmar, seen commonly applied to the face and arms of women and girls, and is used to a lesser extent also by men and boys.

People grind the tree bark against a flat and wet circular smooth stone then put the paste on to the face, mainly the cheeks for skin care purpose. Delicate leaf patterns are a common Thanaka style among younger users.

THANAKA TREE

Tanaka tree is called Limonia Crenulata in the botanical terms, including in the Rutaceae Family. They grow in the Low Land of Central Myanmar and also found in Sri Lanka and some parts of India.

There are no particular kinds of trees but different names according to the places they grow. Thanaka which grows in Shwebo is named Shwebo Thanaka, ones in Shin Ma Taung as Shin Ma Taung Thanaka, so on. Among all, Shin Ma Taung Thanaka is the most famous one. According to the nature of the Thanaka tree, ones especially grow in rocky soil is the best, making it compact and fragrant. Thus, its quality depends on the ground it grows. Normally, it takes over 20 or 30 years for a tree of good quality.

WHY MYANMAR USE THANAKA FOR MANY CENTURIES?

The reason why Myanmar people like Thanaka is not only it is good for skin but also it herbal. It protects from sunburnt, removes acne and makes the skin smooth. For skin allergy, you can apply on your skin after grinding it with salt and water.

Some workers who work under the sun coat Thanaka to protect sunburn, because the paste can maintain the moisturizer of the skin. Its fragrance also makes the people fresh.

WHY THANAKA FOR NATURAL SKIN CARE ?

Thanaka contains two active compounds, coumarin and marmesin, which account for anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-acne, and anti-aging properties. In other words, Thanaka is responsible for effectively removing dead skin cells and controlling excessive facial oil.

According to the scientific studies Thanaka contains a high concentration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a nutrient-dense paste packed with vitamin E, which protects the skin against polluted air and free radicals, the unstable compounds that damage cell structure. ... Additionally, Thanaka is an effective moisturizer, and its hydrating and cooling effects makes it ideal for post-sun exposure.

HAIR REMOVER : parmanently gets removed and hence this hair removal method is the best .

SUN PROTECTION : It is no secret that it is hot in Myanmar. Located close to the equator in South East Asia, the sun’s exposure is intense. To protect their skin from this harsh environment, the Burmese uncovered Thanaka as a natural and efficient alternative to sunblock.

BRIGHTER COMPLEXION :100% Pure Thanaka Powder contains properties that inhibit Tyrosinase and therefore brightens a dull skin complexion.

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY COSMATIC !

From chemical compounds that destroy ocean reefs to mined minerals carved out of the earth, many of the active ingredients found in today’s sunscreens have extremely adverse effects on our environment. Thanaka is the most ecological solution due to it’s regenerative nature and can be grown locally through sustainable farming techniques.

Myanmar has rich culture and nature resources. The faces of the local people with Thanaka on their cheeks is one of the favourite culture for travellers. Make a memory putting Thanaka on your face by joining Myanmar tours.

Recommended tour programs are :

1) Yangon Local Adventure

2) Bagan Village Tour

3) Myanmar Highlights

4) Amazing Myanmar

MYANMAR COFFEE HISTORY

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Myanmar has more than 35,000 acres of coffee plantations, most of which are grown in Shan State and Mandalay Region, according to coffee entrepreneurs, but recently other regions (Chin State and Kachin State) have also started growing coffee. In Mandalay, most of the farmers own large estates, and produce washed coffee. Shan State producers are almost exclusively smallholders, most of whom own less than a hectare of land.

Those plantations can produce 12,000 tons of coffee per yield. Of them, 85 percent is Arabica, 14 percent Robusta and one percent other kinds of coffee.

Although Myanmar has specialty coffee species, coffee growers and producers still face challenges due to the lack of technology and a strong market.

Myanmar coffee background:

-Missionaries initiated coffee growing in Myanmar in 1885 at Myeik and Dawei.

-Kayin State (Thaung Daung area) established coffee farms at the same time and produced Robusta coffee which still continues to the present day.

-Catholic missionaries introduced Arabica coffee in 1930 to Southern Shan State. Northern Shan State and in Pyin Oo Lwin (formerly known as May Myo).

-From 1930 to 1934, a large (120 acre) Arabica coffee plantation called "Chaungwe" was established at Naung Cho township of Northern Shan State.

-By 1935/36, the total Myanmar coffee production was 268 tons with exports at 175 tons. Roasted ground coffee production was 108 tons.

-In 1968 to 1994, Ministry of Industry 1 managed the coffee state farms, especially the Chaungwe(NaungCho township), Pwe Daung(Pyin Oo Lwin township).

-In 1998, the GOM Heads of Stat laid down a strategy to extend cultivated areas of Arabica coffee up to 100,000 acres.

-Suitable areas of 50,000 acres in Mandalay division (around Pyin Oo Lwin) and Northern Shan state (around Naung Cho) were selected.

-In 1994, Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation, carried out the cultivation and production of the crop where it remains to the present day.

-At the end of 2005, the total planting of coffee was 35,485 acres.

-As quality of the coffee bean is important, there will be the best yielding, best quality varieties

So, if you want to learn the techniques of coffee production that involves picking, drying and making of coffee powder, join our Coffee Plantation Tour in Pyin Oo Lwin

Get ready to witness the hot cup of coffee that is prepared from tip to toe in front of your eyes and enjoy the pure coffee. For more information, please contact us info@asiantour-myanmar.com

MYANMAR | COLOURFUL TRIBES

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

If you visit Myanmar, it’s extremely important that you try to engage in ethical tourism and, if you choose to visit tribal groups, you do so in a responsible way. Treat those who you meet with respect and dignity, and you will have an incredible experience in Myanmar.

1. Kachin Tribe

Smallest of the Major National Ethnic Races in Myanmar are the Kachin people, also known as (Singhpo). They are mainly living in North-Eastern Myanmar in Kachin Hills and neighbouring Yunnan Province, China and Arunachal Pradesh, India. The name of ‘Singhpo’ is a variation of ‘Jingpo’. About one million Kachin peoples live in the region.

2. Kayah Tribe

Kayah groups are nestled in isolated mountain area between Kayin and Shan State along Myanmar border with Thailand. Kayah State is Myanmar’s smallest state by both geographical area and estimated population is 300,000 people.

3. KAYIN TRIBE

Kayin (Karen) ethnic group is one of the largest groups in Myanmar and their estimated population is around 7 million. Most of Kayin people live in Hpa An, the capital of Kayin state. Possible to reach it by road from Yangon across a Bridge (Thanlwin) over the Thanlwin River.

4. Chin Tribe

Chin, occupying the southernmost part of the mountain ranges separating Myanmar (Burma) from India. Chins is a very big ethnic group and reside in north and north west in Myanmar. Their estimated population is around 1.5 million.

5. Mon Tribe

Mon, also spelled Mun, Burmese Talaing, people are primarily live in Mon State, the Southern part of Myanmar and borders with Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region and Kayan State. The Mon are one of the first people in the southeast Asia and the earliest one to settle in Myanmar. They founded an empire, and introduced both writing and Buddhism into Burma. The Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand. The Mon culture is credited as a major source of influence on the dominant Myanmar culture. Their estimated population is around 8 million. They are always proud of their traditions and culture which is very rich and ancient.

5. Bamar Tribe

Myanmar has a population of around 51 million people, roughly 68% of whom belong to the majority Bamar ethnic group.

6. Rakhine Tribe

Rakhine people or Arakanese are the largest ethnic groups in Myanmar. Rakhine State is situated on the western coast in Myanmar, it is bordered by Chin State to the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayawaddy Region to the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. Arakanese means - a Burmese people of the western Arakan coastlands of Myanmar. Sittwe is the capital city of Rakhine State. Their estimate population is around 3-4 millions.

8. Shan Tribe

Shan is the second main ethnic group in Myanmar after Burma. Shan group is also a very important and powerful group. Most of the Shan people are live primarily in Shan State where is in eastern part of Myanmar and minority inhabit parts of Mandalay Region, Kachin State, and Kayin State.

For more information of Myanmar Tribe Exploration program, please contact us info@asiantour-myanmar.com

LACQUERWARE - TRADITIONAL MYANMAR HANDICRAFT

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Making the inner parts

Lacquer sap (‘Thitsi’ from Myanmar forests) is the required main raw material needed to produce lacquerware. Lacquer sap is used to make the product durable, water-proof, to enable the products to be decorated with designs. Lacquer sap is produced in Shan State, Mawlamyaing, Ya-mae-tin, Mongywa and upper Myanmar. Bamboo is also a main raw material for producing lacquerware. Bamboo taken from the forests in Chin state and mostly transported from Katha, Shan State and upper Myanmar. The bamboos used to make the inner part of the lacquerware and are used as the base to make these masterpieces and lacquer is applied at several stages to get the finishing touch. The bamboo worked to give the shape of the desired object: bowls, dishes, vases, cuts, plates, various boxes, most famous being the box for betel leaves and nuts. The craftsman draws up the bamboo on forms. In certain cases one uses also the horse’s tail. Wood and cane are also used for bigger lacquerware products. Major raw materials such as lacquer sap, bamboo, wood and cane are transported to Bagan via Irrawaddy River.

Lacquering

One carries out the first lacquering the interior is covered with “Thayo” a made resin paste with lacquer and mixed ashes. This work is in general carried out with the hand (or with very fine gloves). The number of times where the object of layers will be coated determines the quality of the lacquer (at least to count seven times for a beautiful lacquer). The layers of lacquer are coated with the hand to guarantee of it the smoothness, but also the regularity. The craftsmen who carry out this work used this technique since generations and generations. Most of the lacquerware makers are families working on this from generation to generation.

Drying

After the application is finished on the mold in bamboo, and then let it dry for about a week in an obscure and wet place. They then apply a few more coats, each time adding sawdust, cotton fibers or crushed animal bones and waiting for another week. All the workshops of lacquer have thus places corresponding to necessary qualities where they store the lacquers in manufacture. If the moisture is not sufficient, then good quality lacqureware will not be produced.

Washing

Once finished drying, the lacquers carefully are washed and sandpapered if necessary. This stage is important for the quality of the future lacquer. This washing and sandpapering is carried out some time with charcoal, resulting from very widespread trees in Myanmar like teak.

Polishing

After the first drying, one carefully sandpapers the object, one washes it, then one passes by again, the second layer and one turns over to drying. As one passes by again of the layers, the mixture is increasingly fine, one uses ash of ox bone. The layers of the lacquer are carried out evenly and continuously. Each time when a layer is finished, one may polish the surface with a fine fabric.

7 layers of Lacquering

The object thus makes several outward journey and return with the warehouse of drying. Each time it thus receives a new layer of lacquer. At the last layer of lacquer, traditional Myanmar lacquerware typically employs only three colors — red, blue and green — though some shops also use gold paint, raising the price of the final product. And when applying the colors, only one can be added at a time. The color is obtained by adding powder of mercury cinnabar to the lacquer. This mixture is called Hinthabada. After last drying for the 7th or 8th times, the lacquer is again sandpapered with teak wood ash, then washed carefully and it then will be decorated.

Decoration

The last stage for a complete lacquer is decorating. Craftsmen use their bare hands, without model to engrave the work, using a stylet and of a brush. The lacquer is inalterable, and the objects in lacquer can preserve all their beauty during years. Not only are the small objects enameled, utensils of crockery, or another objects of worship, but also of the pieces of furniture, the cupboards, the tables, large decorative objects, the musical instruments, earthenware jars etc… are being decorated with beautiful colors. And Lacquerware are also decorated with Burmese floral designs depicting Buddha’s Life or are gilded in gold. Moreover, Myanmar Lacquerware is widely used as kitchen ware, trays, jewellery boxes souvenirs, home decorations and petitions. After carrying out all these processes, the lacquerware are now marketable throughout the country and to overseas.

Three types of Lacquerware

Bagan is well-known for lacquerware products. There are plenty of lacquerware workshops and shops to visit in Bagan. There are three types of Lacquerware in Bagan— Relief molded (Thayoe Pan Yun), Incised (Ka Nyit Yun) and With real gold leaf (Shwe Zawa Yun). In Myanmar, the most distinctive vessel is probably a rice bowl on a stem with a spired lid for monks called hsun ok. Lahpet ok is a shallow dish with a lid and has a number of compartments for serving lahpet (pickled tea) with its various accompaniments. Stackable tiffin carriers fastened with a single handle or hsun gyaink are usually plain red or black. Daunglan are low tables for meals and may be simple broad based or have three curved feet in animal or floral designs with a lid. Water carafes or yeidagaung with a cup doubling as a lid, and vases are also among lacquerware still in use in many monasteries.

For a Bagan traveller, the local lacquerware is a one of the best things to do in Bagan to understand more about local life. Tourists not only come to study the art and architecturee of historical monuments but also buy lacquerware as esteemed souvenirs.

Famous lacquerware workshops in Bagan where you can explore steps of production are

U Ba Nyein Lacquerware workshop : Address : Main Road, New Bagan.

Moe Moe Family Lacquerware : Address: Main Road, Ywar Thit Quarter, New Bagan.

If you haven’t a chance to buy in Bagan, you can buy lacquerware in Yangon as below:

Pomelo : Address : 89, Thein Phyu Rd, Yangon.

Myanmar Lacquerware Shop : Address: No. 7, 13th Street, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon.

For more information of Lacquerware tour, get in touch with our expert info@asiantour-myanmar.com

You can enjoy this activity in our popular tour > Insight of Myanmar

Myanmar National Sport - Chinlone or Cane Ball

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

As you explore the villages in Myanmar, a group of six men tossing around a basket-like ball is a common sight. At a single glance, this game would definitely capture your attention due to its unique setup. You may wonder what that small ball is as it creates a distinct sound while it’s being tossed around. This ball is made from handwoven rattan, and it locally known as Chinlone. It’s a type of sport that’s non-competitive; in a way that all the players work towards one goal – to not let the rattan ball hit the ground. And the fun part? It’s a very fluid game wherein you can use your hands, head, shoulders, legs and knees to creatively pass and toss the ball without touching the ground. With the harmony that comes along the game, it can also be described as a form of art!
The word ‘Chinlone’ means ‘Cane Ball’ in English, Chinlone is a traditional national sport of Myanmar. It has been developed and played by Myanmar nationals since ancient Pyu Era and spread out to other regions through Sumatra and its small islands. Chinlone sport can be played by men, women and children, sometimes together, interchangeably. This ball size is five inches in diameter and is normally made from hand-woven rattan, light to hit and that sounds like a basket when hit. Chinlone had been played for Myanmar royalty as an entertainment since over 1500 years ago.

Burma’s own “keepy-uppy”

Nowadays, in both Urban and Rural areas play Chinlone sport. This game consists of five or six players as one team. It is entirely non-competitive and there isn’t an opposing team, with typically six people playing together as one team, has no focus on winning or losing. Despite of there being no competition it is still a highly demanding.

How To Play Chinlon Game

This game is played inside a circle which is usually around 22 feet in diameter and individuals passing the ball in the air by using their legs between each other. Typically, the hands are not allowed to touch the ball within a circle. The players are walking while passing the ball with one player in the center of the circle, showing different methods of controlling the ball in the air with some manoeuvres of dancing. The player in the center is called a soloist and tries his or her best to demonstrate sports and dance moves.

Players use six main points contact with the ball; the top of the toes, the sole of the foot, the instep and outstep of the foot, the heel and the knee. Play stop once the ball has touched the ground start again as a new round and some of the most difficult of which are performed “blind” with the ball behind your back. When playing with a traditional orchestra, we can see it like as dancing of a male dancer without delay.

What to wear?

Professionally, teams wear a matching kit of t-shirt and shorts, but there’s no hard and fast rule for what players should wear – many men hitch up their longyi and Burmese monks wear their maroon robes. The ball is very light, so playing barefoot or in special chinlone shoes allows players to sense and feel where the ball is.

Three Main Type of Chin Lone

There are three main type of Chin Lone based on each of their difficulty levels and each type has 10 masterful skills. These three types are:

· Chin Gyi which is the oldest and most difficult skills

· Chin Latt which is the medium range and everyone can play and

· Khit San or Modern Chin Lone which is simple and as easy as we can see todays.

As this sport is unique to the Burmese culture and is quite authentic to the core, The National Chinlone Federation was established with the goal of inviting amateurs to learn the game and share it to the rest of the world. Chinlone was also officially played in the 2013 SEA Games hosted in Myanmar! True enough, it’s a sport that identifies the Burmese culture; and being a country that significantly pays respect to its roots, Chinlone is still played until our modern times.

Chinlone Festivals

It has become a featured part of the many Buddhist festivals that are held in Myanmar. At the annual Waso Chinlone Festival held this Chinlone Sport Competition as more competitive form in the small stadium in the grounds of the famous Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay. This Festival takes place for a month around the Full Moon of Waso, usually falls in July every year. Teams from all over the country travel to Mandalay to perform to live, loud and rhythmic traditional Burmese music at this festival.

Whether you’d like to watch the game or even experience playing it yourself, we will definitely assist you with an itinerary that will allow you to do so!

You can enjoy this activity in our popular tour > 14 Days Amazing Myanmar

American Doctor ‘Gordon Seagrave’

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

In the border town of Namkham, there is a very famous hospital and a great nursing school.

It became a reliable hospital not only for Kachin, Shan, Lisu, Rwandese, Palaung, and Chinese in the area but also for American soldiers while Second World War. In 1922, the hospital was founded by Gordon Stifler Seagrave, an American born in Yangon, Myanmar and he was the son of American Baptist missionaries Rev. Albert Ernest Seagrave and Alice Vinton. Seagrave was born in 1897 and raised in Burma, and his first language as a child was not American English but Karen. Seagrave loved Burma very much and considered Burma as his homeland.

As a teenager, he became a surgeon at Johns Hopkins University in the United States in 1921. As soon as he became a doctor, he returned to Nam Kham and set up a hospital. At that time, his hospital was a well-established hospital that could treat people of all ages around Namkham with Western medical surgery. But in this arid region, he struggles alone with many medical problems. At that time, his wife, Marion Grace, an American and his nurse tried to help him.

They had to pick up rocks from the Namsari River in Namkham with local manpower and built a hospital with each rock. All the hospital buildings and nursing schools are just built with natural stones of Namkham. Many of the stone hospital buildings on the banks of the Shweli River are a testament to their hard work.

In his famous book, Burma Surgeon, Seagrave wrote about these difficult medical conditions in the jungle, despite the hardships of the hospital. Since Seagrave was the only doctor in the area, he had to train his own nurses to help him. They were also known as Burma nurses. He served as a U.S. Army medical doctor during World War II, he and his nurses served as main medical team for the Allied Army. After the Second World War, he returned to Nam Kham to continue his medical treatment.

After the death of Seagrave in 1965, it was nationalized by the government, and to this day, the Namkham hospital and Nursing School operates under the Ministry of Health.

The grave of Seagrave, his wife, his baby and his nurse are still lying peacefully in the family cemetery near their beloved Namkham Hospital.

Pack Up for Travel Beyond Pandemic

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

1. Flying over Bagan

Bagan was once the capital of the ancient Bagan kingdom and now a top tourist destination in Myanmar, attracting visitors from all over the world to come and admire the spectacular sight of man-made wonder.

The experience of flying in a hot air balloon in Bagan can be magical. It's nothing like flying in a plane, and more like floating in the breeze. There are essentially no sounds, other than the odd blast from the burners, or the clicking of camera shutters.

As the balloon lifts off from the ground, you'll be asked to sit down for the launch, and shortly after you'll be given the OK to stand. The winds are fairly predictable, and your flight will last about 45 min or so. The basket is very stable, and doesn't sway at all.

Hot air balloons over Bagan are not a budget friendly experience, but most people consider it a once in a lifetime opportunity. So if you're in Myanmar, and you have the means, it's certainly something worth considering. It might just be the cherry on the top of your Bagan visit.

See more for this activity > Sunrise Balloons Ride in Bagan

2. Bike among the ancient temples

Taking an electric scooter to speed by Bagan’s temple terrain might be faster, but biking around Myanmar’s most famous ancient city is the more untrammeled approach to getting intimate with its history.

Mornings and before sunset are the best times to pedal—both for cooler temperatures and marvelously lit views that are iconically Bagan. Cheers to adventure!

To see any place from the back of a bike is one of the best ways to get to know it, and this is especially true for Bagan.

See more for this activity > Bagan Cycling

3. Hike up Mt. Zwe Ka Bin

If you fancy mixing in a bit of culture and adventure, why not try your luck climbing the famous Zwe Ka Bin Mountain? The trek takes 2-3 hours long depending on your fitness level and takes you through a Buddha forest with a sweeping viewpoint overlooking Myanmar with a few cheeky monkeys to make the viewpoint more interesting. Most travelers that venture here are usually based in Hpa An.

You can enjoy this activity in this program > Combination of Kayin And Mon Tribe

4. Explore the hidden Saddan cave

Since the inside of this cave has pagodas, drawings, and images of the Buddha scriptures, you’ll have to walk barefoot and feel the mushy ground underneath. Going back to the main entrance will require you to either go back through the cave or take a better route with a boat ride capturing the phenomenal views.

You can enjoy this activity in this program > Southern Myanmar Overland Loop

5. Count your steps at the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world

Let’s take a break from all the pagodas and temples to get closer to nature. U-Bein is just a perfect place for it. Located outside Mandalay city just a bit, U-Bein is fairly easy to visit.

This bridge is the longest teak footbridge in the world and spreads about 1300 yards across the Taungthaman Lake.

U-Bein is even more perfect to visit during sunset. Remember to bring your camera to capture breathtaking photos. You’ll also have chance to interact with the locals and see tranquil their daily life around the lake.

See more for this activity > Half Day U Bein Bridge and Amarapura Tour

6. One night trek to Inle Lake

Trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake is a popular way to experience the agricultural side of Shan State. Extraordinarily breathtaking scenery will join for the entire trip. Hikes usually take three days to complete and there are various pathways that cut through fields filled with anything from rice to tea. The steepest part of the journey is right outside of Kalaw.

The busy season for hiking between Kalaw and Inle is during Myanmar’s winter months (November to February). Expect to share the trails and temple floors with many other adventurers during this time.

See more for this activity > Off the Beaten Track from Kalaw to Inle Lake

7. Take a boat ride on the lake and see the traditional fishermen

It’s no lies; Inle Lake is one of the most stunning lakes in the world, not only for its beautiful scenery but also for the great views of the golden stupas and rustic stilt houses.

One of the best ways to enjoy the beauties of Inle Lake is to ride on one of the long tail wooden boats just like the locals do. This slender boat will take you around the lake to see its most beautiful moment during sunrise or sunset. The real privilege is watching the local village life unfolding before your eyes while floating on the water.

Explore more for this activity > Highlights of Inle Lake

8. Journey across Goteik Viaduct via rail

Once the highest viaduct in the world, Gokteik Viaduct is now a popular spot for visitors who travel between Mandalay and Hsipaw. The train ride over this verdant valley is full of interaction, fun and thrill.

The ride over Gokteik is probably one of the most rewarded experiences in Shan State. This part of Myanmar Train Travel is not expensive yet offering so much interaction with local people.
Many choose the journey from Hsipaw to Mandalay which lasts for 4, 5 hours while the other stops at Pyin Oo Lwin, famous for European like hill station and it takes about 3, 5 hours. This travel allows you to meet vendors, fruit sellers both onboard and at the stations the train passes through.

You can enjoy this activity in this program > Charming Colonial Town and Gokteik Viaduct

9. Jungle Trek in Ngapali

If you want to catch a glimpse of Myanmar’s lush jungles, you can embark on a 3-hour trek to the top of a mountain to give you stunning views of Ngapali Bay. Known as one of Myanmar’s most popular beaches, this short trek will take you through rice fields and small villages all while you see some of the jungle’s vibrant wildlife. The hiking path is quite clear although guided tours are also easily available.

10. Dive into the Serene Water of Mergui Archipelago

Looking for some activities to do in Myanmar? Well, we’ve got you covered! Head to the Mergui Archipelago to view some of the unique vibrant fishes and explore the marine life underwater. This site serves as the perfect spot to snorkel, dive and relax on the shores but make sure you book for the packages in advance as commuting from one place to another might be little difficult here otherwise.

Discover more for this activity > 3 Days Snorkeling Trip to Nyaung Oo Phee Island

Is this enough to get you thrilled for adventure journey to Myanmar? If it is, let us arrange your best adventure trip to the country by sending your request to info@asiantour-myanmar.com and get our experts start planning your Myanmar itinerary today!

Health and Safety

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0200

COVID Safe Services

Travelers must follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

1) ACTION BY CLIENTS

i) Guests should bring masks and pocket sanitizer
ii) Wear mask in vehicles and when indoors, wash hands frequently, avoid touching face
iii) Expect regular contactless temperature screening at entrance of any place
iv) Social distancing
v) Personal refillable water bottle

2) ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT

i) Spray with pesticides to the passenger’s luggages
ii) Show the health certificate of the respective country
iii) Measure the temperature of passengers and 3-feet apart from one another
iv) Passengers and all responsible persons must wear masks and use hand gel
v) Follow the decisions of the health team and accept the necessary actions

3) DEPARTURE FROM AIRPORT

i) Travelers who connected to the tourism company must use the vehicle provided by the relevant tourism company
ii) Travelers who want to use a taxi must choose only registered vehicles
iii) Use shuttle bus or privately planned vehicles

More About Health and Safety > https://www.asiantour-myanmar.com/health/

Myanmar| Update On Covid-19 Pandemic

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0200

If you have to come to Myanmar urgently travel reasons, there are relief flights by Myanmar Airways International between Incheon and Yangon. Foreigners coming into Myanmar will have to stay a total of 21-day quarantine, a one week home quarantine in their respective country before flying, another one week facility quarantine after arriving in Myanmar and finally one more week of home quarantine in Myanmar.
Foreigners need to contact the relevant embassies for the required documentation information.

More Update information for Covid-19 > https://www.asiantour-myanmar.com/pages/covid-19-update-information/

Myanmar Domestic Tourism Reopen

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0200

In the first “survival” phase, the government relaxed taxes, reduced license fees, postponed the collection of rents as well as provided loans for hotels and tourism businesses. The Hotels and Tourism Ministry also provided online training for tourism professionals and staff, discussed new destinations and assessed the tourism market.

The second “reopening” phase runs over three months – June, July and August – and involves the use of standard operating procedure for screening travelers and staff. The government will also promote domestic travel as local destinations have started re-opening this month of June. Pagodas, museums and parks will also be reopened in accordance with the national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

The third phase, which will focus on re-launching the industry, will be implemented over six months to a year and will include new campaigns and long-term plans for reinventing Myanmar’s tourism. The government plans to create a “travel bubble” through bilateral agreements with Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam once the countries reopen.

Myanmar is closed to international travelers until July 31, though Yangon airport remains open for domestic and relief flights.

Myaing Community Based Tourism

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200

RICH NATURAL VILLAGE - MYAING

The Myaing CBT is the first CBT initiated which was officially recognized and approved by the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism, Myanmar Government.

Myaing is located in Magway region, 2 hours drive from Bagan. ActionAid Myanmar, a non-governmental organization, initiated the CBT project to showcase rural Burma Culture. The initiative was implicated in 4 villages in Magway: East Kangyi Taw, West Kangyi Taw, Inn Yaung and Suli Pan. There are about 200 houses and its population of over 1000 people in these villages. All revere in Buddhism. They rely on animal husbandry (cow, chicken), weaving, traditional snacks and mostly farmers which grow sunflower, paddy, sesame, peanut, and pigeon peas and etc. The young volunteer group campaign to become plastic free areas in the village around.

RURAL HOUSING

Myaing Township does not have tourist attractions like Bagan, and Mandalay which are major tourist cities of Myanmar, but it is an authentic rural lifestyle of Burma Society which can be seen pure smiles and a warm welcome from people. The villages provide a comfortable and convenient stay for tourists. Guest houses are made of traditional building materials bamboo, palm leaves and wood. Dry Zone Development Manager Aung Min Naing from Action Aid Myanmar said “We built these houses as country style bungalows which are more suitable for the rural area and look like the other houses built around here. But we have to build them better than the actual houses of local people. For instance, we built a wooden floor instead of the traditional bamboo floor, apart from that, the basic design is the same as rural housing”.

VISITORS BENEFIT

The community aims to show their friendliness, hospitability, way of life, and way of living. The Myaing CBT members are empowered via skill training such as tour guides, handicraft, and weaving. Cycle around the villages and observe the routines of the locals as well as visiting the impressive 170-year-old monastery near the area. Enjoy to ride a traditional bullock cart which is major transportation and farming toos in dry zone. More than that, taste local delicious cuisine by villagers, paint thanakha on the face, plant trees with own name, can participate in making traditional snacks and enjoy village performance (U Shwe Yoe dance).

VISITORS FEEDBACK

One Swiss tourist was interviewed by Mizzma expressed about CBT experience as ‘Actually, this is quite joyful, so much nature and the people are so nice with their smiling faces. We saw how the villagers work and how they solve their problems. As for me, this is a very nice authentic moment’. Tourists have amazing hand-on experiences of authentic local community lifestyle and hospitality.

All in all, villages in Myaing Township’s rich natural assets and cultural lure have the potential to make these places one of the top tourism destinations in Myanmar.

FAQ :

· How to get to Myaing CBT Village

Community-based tourism (CBT) in Myaing, which is far from 78 km from Bagan and 2-hour drive. From Bagan to Myaing CBT Village, you can take only private car.

From Yangon, you can get by plane, Public Bus, Train, Ferry or Private Car. Not all of these goes directly to Myaing village, but through Bagan we have to go further.

· Package Price

The estimated price for the Myaing CBT 2 Days Tour is around $ 200 per person (need to check final price upon booking). For more detail price, please contact us > info@asiantour-myanmar.com

· How many days to spend in Myaing CBT Village

The two days spent in Myaing village are just enough to see about its natural beauty, rural customs and pleasant environments.

But if you want to spent for three or four days with village life style, we can provide you with the option.

Most Popular Food in Myanmar That You Should Try

Sat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Traditional Foods;

You will find a number of great specialty dishes in Myanmar that you absolutely mustn’t miss. Some of Myanmar Traditional Foods to try include.....

1. Mohinga

Mohinga is a champion of breakfasts!

Myanmar's unofficial national dish is Mohinga - a type of fish soup with thin rice noodles, banana stem and perfumed with lemongrass. Optional toppings include boiled egg, akyaw (crispy fried bean fritters) and coriander. You can add drops of lime juice, fish sauce or dry chili powder for your preferable taste. It is Myanmar's traditional breakfast but is also taken as a snack which people love to eat throughout the day.

2. Ohnn Noe Khaut Swe (Myanmar Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup)

The best tastefully noodle soup!

Ohnn Noe Khauk Swe (Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup) is also famous as Mohinga with its own different style. It's wheat noodles with a curried chicken and coconut milk soup. You can add heard boiled egg, crisp noodles, sliced onions, chili powder and fish sauce for your preferable taste. 2 or 3 drops of lime or lemon juice will make the soup better. You can find coconut noodles almost everywhere at tea-house and street vendors in town.

3. Nan Gyi Thoke (Rice Noodle Salad)

Burmese version of Spaghetti for any kinds of people!

Nan gyi Thoke is another popular breakfast food. However, it is available from morning till afternoon as some people eats regardless of the time. It has been equated as a Burmese version of spaghetti. The name 'nan gyi' refers to the round thick rice noodles and 'thoke' means salad.

The dish is made with thick round rice noodles mixed with specifically prepared chicken curry. Nan Gyi Thoke is commonly served with topping like coriander, crispy fritter and boiled egg. Small bowl of soup is usually accompanied by the Noodle when you order Nan Gyi Thoke in Myanmar. Of course, it's a complementary and you can ask for extra soup in case you want more. That is one the most interesting culture foreigner may find or perhaps strange when visiting Myanmar. Be sure to try this wonderful Nan Gyi Thoke. It is very delicious.

4. Laphet Thoke (Tea Leaf Salad)

Well known Myanmar Salad!

Pickled tea Leaf salad is a dish which plays an important role at social and religious occasions throughout the country. To make the dish, the sour, slightly bitter leaves are mixed by hand with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes, crunchy deep-fried beans, nuts and peas, a splash of garlic oil and pungent slices of chili and garlic.
Laphet Thoke is the most popular Myanmar food in everyday life of Burmese people. Whenever people gather at someone's home or at a tea shop, usually expect to enjoy this cold dish together with hot green tea. It can be a snack, an appetizer or, coupled with a plate of rice, a meal.

5. Kaut Nyinn Paung (Sticky rice)

The best choice for people who likes ‘steamed sticky rice’!

In Myanmar, Kaut Nyin Paung is mostly served for the breakfast or sometime at the tea time in the afternoon. It is one of the dishes always can be easily bought in markets and tea shops. It is steamed sticky rice brown or white, served with pea, sesame powder, salt and shredded coconut. You can eat with tea, dried fish and also with deep fried tempura.

6. Si Hta Min (Yellow Myanmar Sticky Rice)

Delicious Simple Sticky Rice!

Si Hta Minn or Yellow Myanmar Sticky Rice is always simple and delicious. It is one of the typical breakfasts in Myanmar and also a popular dish in pagoda festivals. Steamed peas and baked dried fish are a perfect duo with Si Hta Minn. It is sprinkled the Si Hta Minn with fried onion and sesame powder.

7. Burmese Coconut Rice

Full Nutrition Burmese Dish!

Coconut Rice – is a really delicious dish that couldn’t be simpler. It is prepared by soaking white rice in coconut milk or cooking it with coconut flakes. It goes well with many Thai dishes, some southern Indian dishes, as well as traditional Burmese cuisine.

8. Rakhine Mote Ti

The best hot and spicy traditional food!

Rakhine Mote Ti is the traditional food of Rakhine State in the western part of Myanmar. Most people usually have this in the afternoon and evening. The taste is sour, spicy or some combination of three. The ingredients are thin rice vermicelli, fresh fish, ngapi (shrimp/fish paste), lemongrass, pepper, garlic, green chili paste, red chili sauce, crisp garlic garnish and coriander. You can try with two different style; one is salad with the taste of sour, spicy and salt and another style is trying thin rice vermicelli with the fish soup. You can get it spicier by combining some chili paste, tamarind liquid and fish paste liquid. Rakhine Mote Ti is not only in some tea shops but aslo in some stalls as a street food in down town Yangon, Mandalay and other cities also.

9. Ngar Htamin (Shan Style Rice Salad)

For people who like popular Fish Receipe !

Known in Burmese as Nga Htamin (fish rice). It is originally from Shan State and the Shan cuisines are popular in our country. The recipe is prepared with rice cooked with turmeric and then mixed curied fish, some adding home-made tomato paste. This dish is served with leek roots, cloves of raw garlic, fried pork rinds and fried chili. Yummy!

10. Shan Noodle

Must-try Rice Noodle Salad !

Shan noodles are the popular dish and its traditional food of Shan Ethnic. You can see everywhere in tea shops or in local markets. It's served with thin rice noodle with chicken or pork broth as a soup. Or you can mix the noodle with chicken gravy, sesame and roasted peanut as a salad, adding pickled mustard green and chopped leek in both versions.

11. Tofu Nway (Warm Tofu)

Tasty Yellow Bean Paste !

Tofu Nway known as “Warm Tofu” is one of the popular dishes of Shan Tribe in north-eastern Myanmar. A thick porridge made from chickpea and served with variety of supplement such as rice noodles, chunks of marinated pork or chicken and covered with a layer of chili oil.

12. Mote Lone Yay Paw

Best Thingyan Festival Food Ever!

Mote Lone yay Paw is one of the famous traditional Burmese sweets. Literally means ‘rice ball on the water’. This food is made from sticky rice flour with Palm sugar. The food is often served during the celebration of Myanmar New year Festival which is also known as Thingyan. However, you can find it in every corner of Yangon today.

13. Mandalay Myee Shay

Mandalay Speciality !

Myee Shay is the specialty of Shan State but Mandalay version is mostly spread throughout country. It is medium size rice noodles served with the meat sauce mainly made of pork or chicken. Toasted chickpea flour is added for the thick mixture and garnished with bean sprouts and crispy fried garlic to be balanced taste.

Street Foods;

Street food is one of the best things about our country. There’re so many delicious street vendors dotted around the cities, with local snacks for cheap. Here’s our top picks of the best Myanmar street foods. Get ready to drool…

1. E Kya Kway (Burmese Youtiao)

Best Breakfast ever!

E Kyar Kway is one of Myanmar peoples’ favourite breakfast food and can be found in every small and big tea shop. It is made with wheat powder. The golden dough is deep fried in hot oil, they’re savoury. Dip them into coffee or tea for a hearty breakfast and its taste is seriously delicious! It is sometime consumed with Mohinga. In Shan State, it is sometime consumed with Shan Tofu Nway (Warm Tofu).

2. Dosas (To Shay)

Finest Indian Style Burmese Food!

Dosas is crispy, savoury pancake from the Indian part of Burmese food. A Thin layer of batter is spread quickly inside a concave metal pot over hot stove, and the back of a ladle is used in a circular motion to ensure the dosa is evently cooked. The curry was smooth and the pancake did an excellent job of sopping up everything till the final drip. You can find them on many street corners in downtown Yangon.

3. Burmese Nan Pyar (Nan Flat-bread) and Pe Pyoke (Brown peas)

Nan Pyar (Nan) is Indian style nan, and mostly eat with brown peas (Pe Pyoke) or sometimes eat with butter and sugar. These Nan and Pe-byoke are sold in the markets and tea shops. The vendor normally bagged the beans and added a torn-up naan on top or spread margarine and spill sugar on it– to go. You can dip it into tea and eat it too.

4. Samosa Thoke

Yummy Street Food!

In Yangon, after sneaking through British Colonial Building, samosa salad shop is a good rest for a refresh. Grab a seat and observing local vendor preparing your salad and snack is very inspiring. This salad is with Samosa, form of triangle preserved with potatoes, onions and Indian spice masala. It's served with chopped samosa and yellow split pea fritters, mixed with shredded white cabbage, sliced tomato, shallot and boiled potato. And pour chickpea flour soup on it and add tamarind liquid, mint leaves and chili powder. The taste varies slightly if you put chili flakes or sweet sauce. Yum !

5. Fried Burmese Tempura (A Kyaw Sone)

Greatest Burmese Street Food!

"A Kyaw Sone" includes variety of things which are deep fried like onion, potato, peas, banana, gourd, shrimp and so on. The sauce is made from tamarind with onion and coriander leaves. It is not only delicious but also nutritious.

6. Grilled Skewers

When the night falls in Yangon, what catches your attention the most in China town is the smoky BBQ stalls abundant of aromatic meats, chicken wings, tofu or fish. The street turns crowdy from 19.00 and showcases the influence of China cuisine.
Try a glide of enoki mushroom, stick of broccoli marinated in sweet lime chili sauce then try the fish baked on intense flame and of course, take a Myanmar Beer.

Famous Snacks;

Myanmar has a number of popularity snacks that you can enjoy while spending your vacation. Here are some of them to start with…….

1. Myanmar Tea

If you ever go to Myanmar, one of the first things that you'll notice that every town, and usually every block in every town has a tea shop at it.

Tea is a part of Myanmar culture and important in daily life. Myanmar is one of the countries that cultivate best tea in the world. Most of the Myanmar people enjoy a cup of tea and tea shop will be full with many visitors, lively and noisy. Of course, for most people who are crammed in a small house with every other member of their family, tea shop is not only to have a cup of tea but also a place to gather outside of home and chat or just hang out.

2. Mote Lin Ma Yar (Husband and Wife Snacks)

This is a quite popular Myanmar Street Food and so delicious with it’s fun name. Literally called as “husband and wife snacks,” these tiny bites are a visual delight. These crispy snacks look cute and the taste is really superb.

Dollops of rice flour batter are added to a large sizzling cast iron pan that resembles a muffin tin. Toppings such as quail eggs, scallions, or roasted chickpeas are added to half of the dollops, and then, like a husband and wife, the two halves are joined to make a little round cake.

Mote Lin Ma Yar vendors are found all over the downtown area, but a particularly picturesque cart can be found on Anawrahta between 29th and 30th. Here the fried bites are extra crisp, and the quail eggs are cooked perfectly, not dry and oily like at other vendors.

3. Lan Tha Yel Mote (GANGSTER SNACK)

This snack has a funny name and fresh vegetables are stuffed inside mixing with grand masala, spin onion and chili. You can find this snack around the downtown area and don’t hesitate to try it.

4. Khaw Pote

Crispy Sticky Selection!

Khaw Pote is a kind of appetizing snack of the Shan national race, who lives in the Southern part of the Shan State. Khaw Pote is not only a popular snack for the Shan nationals, but also for all nationals. We can easily eat Khaw Pote by frying or roasting it. Khaw Pote is more delicious if you eat with roasted and pounded sesame, and brown slab sugar. And you can also eat Khaw Pote only without mixing with other ingredients.

5. Mote Kalamel

Mote Kalamel is one of the Myanmar Traditional Street Snacks. When making Mote Kalamel, coconut is one of the most essentials. As the dough Mote Kalamel has no chemicals dyes and smell, it is suitable for any kinds of people and can get the tastes of sweetness and softness from the mixture of coconut and black sticky rice.

6. Bain Mote (Street Pan Cake)

Bain Mote is one of the famous breakfasts in Myanmar and it is the Myanmar Style pancake which is made with rice flour, palm sugar, coconut chips, peanuts, garnished with poppy seeds and butter. It is fluffy in the middle and slightly crispy on the sides. Taking a bite out of it will make you feel like celebrating.

7. Mote Sein Paung

Mote Sein Paung is suitable for the people who don’t like sticky rice!

In our country, most of the desserts are made of sticky rice. But, Mont Sein Paung is not like other snack. The meaning of Mote Sein Paung is “Steamed Rice Cake” and made of rice, jiggery and you can see two layers that the brown layers is made of jiggery and the white color is only made of rice. After steamed, we can eat together with coconut shreds and a few sesame salts. The taste of the jiggery layer is sweet and the white layer is rich in taste. If you like sweet, you can say to seller ‘please, give me more brown color’. Mote Sein Paung can available from vendors, hawkers and Myanmar traditional dessert restaurant.

8. Kauknyintok (Banana Cake)

Kauknyintok is a kind of banana cake that you should try in Myanmar. Its crust is made from glutinous rice and its kernel is made from a banana, sugar and coconut milk. You can find Kauknyintok Banana Cakes at any small restaurant, vendors, streets or Myanmar traditional dessert restaurant. You should try this food as a wonderful taste when visiting the capital of Myanmar.

9. Shwe Yin Aye

Shwe Yin Aye – one of the popular Myanmar traditional dessert, is sweet and soft. It is made by steamed sticky rice, coconut milk jelly, tapioca seeds, coconut milk, sugar bread and ice. It is served free to everyone during Thingyan (Myanmar New Year) as New Year donation by most of the local families. However, there are also street vendors selling Shwe Yin Aye, so better make sure before you eat its fee or not. This simplest dessert is sweet, delicious and usually cooling on hot days and easy to make.

10. Shwe Kyi

Must-eat dessert!

Shwe Kyi is a Burmese traditional dessert cake / pastry, made with semolina, sugar, butter, water, eggs, shredded coconut, poppy seeds and salt. This sweet semolina cake is a popular tea time treat in Myanmar, and often comes in a diamond-shape. Shwe Kyi is sometimes also called Sanwin Makin, depending on whether additional ingredients like walnuts or raisins are added. It is popularly served during traditional donation feasts, satuditha feasts and as a street snack. It is typically sold in the streets in large round pans. But also, it can available from markets, vendors and Myanmar traditional dessert restaurant.

10 Amazing Things to Do Around Inle Lake

Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Things to do Around Inle Lake

1. Boat Excursion around Inle lake

The number one of all the recommended things to do in Inle Lake for good reason, no visit to the area is complete without a day spent exploring the lake itself by boat. To get a glimpse of the local life, set on out on a boat tour which stops in small stilt houses along the way. Get out in the early morning, it is the very best to experience the sunrise on the lake if you can. Your Asian Tour guide or boat driver will know where to go but he will give you some options that you can visit or not.

The boat tour mainly takes you through tourist attractions like floating garden, floating villages, floating colorful local market, Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the Jumping Cat Monastery, small workshops, factories and shops on the lake, some more interesting than the other. You can visit shops like cigar or gold maker and factories where they create beautiful clothing. Next up, visit Maing Thauk Village which is located on the east side of Inle Lake. This village is almost completely built on the water and it is impressive to see how these people live their lives. Indein villages, located in the Western side of the lake, you will find a small river leading up to the village of Indein. Here, you can find an endless row of pagodas and stupas all lined up in one area. In this densely populated area, you will find these monuments both old and new lined up for visitors to see. Encounter with the fishermen during sunrise or sunset. It is impressive to see how they easily balance on the tip of the boat trying to get fish into their netted cages. Remark: One day or Two days is required to visit depending on your time.

Explore 1 Day Sample Program, Highlight of Inle Lake

2. Boat Tip to Sagar Village

However, the best part of the visit to Sagar is not the village itself, but the boat journey to get there. As you leave the main body of the lake, and your boat winds down the narrower waterways on its way to Sagar, you’ll have plenty of time to lean back and enjoy your idyllic and picturesque surroundings. Although it takes some time to get there, you won’t be bored. With the hazy Blue Mountains constantly on the horizon, you’ll pass by floating farms and several more stilt villages. You’ll come across ponds covered with lotus flowers, and spot migratory birds flying above you. The whole journey there was spectacular, and the camera had another good workout! Remark: One day is required to visit.

Explore 1 Day Sample Program, Unforgettable boat trip to Sunken Stupas Sagar

3. Say hello to Long-necked women

Padaung tribe or Kayan, is especially famous for the so-called long-necked women. These women use brass coils to elongate their neck, starting as early as five, adding more rings as they get older. The long neck actually doesn’t get “longer”, rather their collarbone and chest is pushed downwards and their chin upwards, creating an illusion of a longer neck. These women are working on their garment. This is pure for tourism purposes to show-off their ‘Long-necks’. Worth a visit! In Inle, you can find long-necked women around the floating market. Remark: Long-necked women exploration should be combined with your full day boat excursion.

If you want to explore home of Long-necked women, Loikaw Tribes

4. Experience with Exotic Boat Lunch on Lake

Exotic and memorable dining unlike any you have ever experienced before: lunch on Exotic Boat Lunch on Lake. They transformed a rice carrier boat into a fully equipped restaurant. On-board chefs prepare your gourmet lunch on the boat while you take in the breathtaking scenery and enjoy exquisite dining, an experience you will never forget. Remark: This option will be expensive, but really authentic, about US$ 65 per person for group of 4 persons.

Explore 3 Hours (Approximately) Sample Program, Exotic Boat Lunch on the Lake

5. Kayak through the floating stilt village

While Kayaking through the floating stilt village, you get a deeper understanding of the culture and local traditions. It is one of the best ways to get a complete insight on Inle lake in just one day. You can get up close and peek into the life of villagers who live on the lake.

Explore 1 Day Sample Program, Kayak and Trek in inle

6. Explore around Inle Lake by bike or cycle

Exploring the area around Inle Lake by bike is both environmentally responsible and social sustainable. Also, it’s the best way to get around the town and a great way to explore. Wander around small rural villages, located Eastbound out of Nyaung Shwe. Other areas worth visiting are the Maing Thauk Village, a ramdom art gallery, the countryside, rice fields, bamboo forest, visit ethnic villages and enjoy some pleasant sceneries. Remark: Half day or One day is required to explore the area around Inle Lake.

Explore 1 Day Sample Program, Inle Kayak and Bike

7. Adventure trekking

There are lots of really popular trekking routes around Inle Lake, most starting from the village of Kalaw and descending down to the lake. This usually takes between two or three days, but it is more than worth it as you will get to stay in local monasteries along the way and can enjoy the jungles around Inle Lake firsthand which are dotted with streams and waterfalls.

Explore 2 Day Sample Program, Off the beaten track from Kalaw to Inle Lake

8. Take a hot air Balloon ride over Inle Lake

One of the newer things to do in Inle Lake is a balloon flight. Wake up with your head in the clouds and enjoy an unforgettable moment. Oriental Ballooning runs morning balloon flights in Inle Lake from October to April. These balloons are smaller than the ones in Bagan, and it’s a fair bit less popular, but the scenery during the flight is nonetheless breathtaking. The views over the lake, the floating gardens, and surrounding villages were spectacular. Remark: Average Hot Air Balloon rides 45 minutes.

9. Join a Shan cooking class

The area around Inle Lake is known for its delicious Shan cuisine and now you can also learn how to make this for yourself. Depends on your time, some program will take you to the local market first when you can learn about the local ingredients used in Shan cooking. All programs let you learn how to make some of the signature dishes here such as chicken with cashews and the best part is that you get to eat all the tasty treats at the end of the class.

Explore 4 Hour Sample Program, Experience Inthar Cuisine / Cooking Class

10. Visit Red Mountain Estate Vineyard and taste wine

Just a short distance from Nyaung Shwe is a winery that gives amazing views of the area from high on the hill. The Red Mountain Estate Vineyard produces nine different varieties of wine made from locally grown grapes. You can visit the Vineyard for inexpensive wine tastings that includes 4 locally produced wines and vineyard tours. The whites are much better than the reds but all are surprisingly drinkable.

Perched on the lower slopes of the mountain, the winery is a perfect place for relaxing at sunset with a cheese platter and a glass of wine. From the outdoor terrace, visitors can take in the panoramic view towards Nyaung Shwe and down the valley towards Inle Lake itself. Remark: Half day is required to visit depending on your time.

Explore Half Day Sample Program, Wine and Bike to Red Mountain Vineyard - Half Day

Contact our experts to add this splendid experience > info@asiantour-myanmar.com

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More Information

How to get to Inle Lake

To get to Inle Lake you will have different options by Public Bus, Plane or Night Train from Yangon, Bagan and Mandaly.

Flights will go to most of the popular destinations. Heho airport is about 45-minutes from Nyuang-Shwe and 1-hour from Inle Lake.

Weather in Inle Lake

It’s best time to visit Inle Lake from November to February. Temperatures in the daytime are around 30°C where it can get quite cool in the night because Inle is over 1300 meters above sea level.

Number of days spend in inle lake

With two days to spend in Inle Lake, you have enough time to both see the most common sights and go a little off the beaten track. If you like to travel slow and want to explore more in Nyaung Shwe, you should stay for three or four days.

We hope our experience will help you live yours in the most fulfilling of ways and that you will make amazing memories in Myanmar.

Please share this blog post with your friends and let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Myanmar New Year Wish and Coronavirus Time in Myanmar

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Have a Wonderful Spring Time At Home

This time is also giving you different experience the best of ‘spring time’ to revive and re-energise at home.

Stay In Touch With Us for Beyond Corona Bounce

As the Coronavirus continues to spread, we sincerely hope that you are able to stay safe, and find ways to deal the best. As social distancing is the common theme to beat Corona, we, Asian Tour Team remain working at home. We would like to encourage you, our clients and partners, to stay in touch with us and let us know how we can best support in productive ways for the time of post-virus bounce.

Coronavirus and Myanmar

These are tough times for all of us, but we want you to know that we will be with you all the way. Take good care and we hope to keep supporting you for beyond Corona Traffic season when people stay away from home.

Thank you for your continuous partnership and keep safe !

Best Regards,

Kyaw, Pamela and Asian Tour Team

WATER FESTIVAL 2020

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200

This festival, THINGYAN called in Myanmar is public holiday, from 12 April to 17 April in 2020. The period of holidays are the most important and the biggest festival in Myanmar. Thingyan allows people to celebrate the Burmese New Year. Thingyan is a time for happiness and friendly attitudes.

MEMORIES OF MYANMAR THINGYAN WATER FESTIVAL :

THINGYAN FLOWER, Padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) blooms only once a year around Thingyan with first rain shower.

THINGYAN FOODS— During the Thingyan Festival, festival foods are also the most important for Myanmar. MONT-LONE-YAY-PAW, MONT-LAT-SAUNG and SHWE-YIN-AYE (assorted jelly, bread and sticky rice in coconut milk or watered down jaggery caramel sauce) are favourite Thingyan desserts/sweet snacks. MONT-LAT-SAUNG only has one type of jelly, and no bread or sticky rice. Depending on the area, you might get different colours of jelly – either green or white – and the sauces will be different too. A time-honoured tradition is MONT-LONE-YAY-PAW, glutinous rice balls with jiggery (palm sugar) inside thrown into boiling water in a huge work. Young men and women help in making it and all are welcome.

ACTIVITIES — Many people in Myanmar celebrate Thingyan Eve by visiting a Buddhist temple. When visiting these temples, it is considered proper to leave an offering of green coconuts and bananas. These kinds of offerings usually consist of a single green coconut surrounded by a circle of bananas. Myanmar people will also wash Buddha statues with sacred water that has been scented with flower extract. When washing Buddha statues, people start at the top by drizzling water over the head. Thingyan (A-KHA-DWIN) is a favourite time for SHINBYU Novitiation Ceremonies for boys – when they join the monks (SANGHA) and spend a short time in a monastery.

A-KYO-NAE — In Myanmar, the first day of the festival is called A-KYO-NAE and is the start of a variety of religious activities. On A-KYO-NAE, THAGYA MIN (Sakra, Lord of the Devas) makes his descent from the heavens to earth. At a given signal, people come out with scented water in a silver bowl is sprinkled using sprigs of THABYAY, then pour the water onto the ground with a prayer. During the Thingyan Festival, people pour water over one another and children use water pistols to drench their friends, relatives, and anyone else in range - only monks and the elderly are safe. When night falls on Thingyan Eve the fun begins in anticipation of the water festival. Festively names stages (MANDAT) made from bamboo, wood and beautifully decorated paper. Local women sing and dance in chorus lines uniformly dressed in traditional outfits. Most girls wear fragrant THANAKA and sweet-scented yellow PADAUK blossoms in their hairs.

A-KYA-NAE—The second day is known as A-KYA-NAE. On A-KYA-NAE, the water throwing might have already started. Large crowds of revellers, on foot, bicycles and motorbikes, and in trucks, will do the rounds of all the MANDAT, some making their own music. PWE (performances), orchestras, YEIN dance troupes, comedians, film stars and singers including modern pop groups are common place.

A-KYAT-NAE AND A -TET-NAE— The soaking lasts three/four days until the end of A-TET-NAE(Last day) when THAGYA MIN (Sakra, Lord of the Devas) returns to the heavens. As the day ends it is common to throw your last drops of water exclaiming – “THAGYA MIN left his pipe and has come back for it”.

MYANMAR NEW YEAR DAY— After the Thingyan Festival, New Year’s Day is coming. People are going to pagodas and monasteries, offering food and aims to monks, paying respect to parents, teachers and elders, setting free fish and cattle and so on. And also people offer food donations called (SATUDITHA) at various places. They typically provide free food to those participating in the New Year's celebrations.

If you are in Myanmar during Thingyan, prepare to get wet. Everyone is likely to get soaking as people roam around with buckets of water or hose, spraying water on anyone they can. This tradition originates from the custom of washing away the bad luck and misfortune of the previous year, entering the New Year cleansed from the past.

MYANMAR VISA SUSPENSION

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0200

(a) Suspension of the issuance of all types of visa (including social visit visa) to all foreign nationals, except diplomats accredited to Myanmar, United Nations officials resident in Myanmar and crew of ships and aircraft operating to and from Myanmar.

(b) Suspension of visa exemption granted to all foreign nationals on the basis of bilateral arrangements, including those from ASEAN member countries, except those holding diplomatic and official passport.

(c) All diplomats accredited to Myanmar and United Nations officials resident in Myanmar may obtain entry visas through respective Myanmar Missions abroad. They shall be required to provide certification of the absence of COVID-19 infection issued by a recognized laboratory no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel and before boarding any aircraft destined for Myanmar. They shall be subject to home quarantine for 14 days on their arrival in Myanmar.

(d) Crew of ships or aircraft operating to and from Myanmar may also obtain entry visa through respective Myanmar Missions abroad. They shall be required to follow the latest guidelines and directives issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Union of Myanmar.

2. Foreign nationals who are required to visit Myanmar on urgent official mission or for a compelling reason may contact the nearest Myanmar Missions abroad for possible exception on certain entry restrictions from the authorities concerned of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Dated. 28 March 2020

SUSPENSION OF BORDER ENTRY

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0200

With a view to preventing importation and spread of COVID-19, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has temporarily suspended entry of any foreign nationals through any border check point being opened between Myanmar and its neighboring countries. The entry and exit of local population on both sides of the border through the existing check points concerned will not be restricted. They will be subject to health check and temperature screening at the entry of the border check points.

Any foreign national with valid entry visa may enter and exit to/from Myanmar only at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports in accordance with the existing rules and regulations.

Thank you for using eVisa
Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population

https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/Home/AnnouncementList/en-US?fbclid=IwAR3QFOoWhtahP6nPpusX7266cb2PI_110kOqb7jlCp4Zp06XDPxXcdSjTSM#1

Featured Article by Raini Hamdi, Skift: Myanmar Tourism Gets a Second Chance: Is It Ready for It?

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0200

A tsunami of other issues — coronavirus, Brexit, Trump’s impeachment, wildfires in Australia, trade war, climate change — has instead preoccupied the world. Last month’s International Court of Justice ruling on the genocide, though deemed too lenient by commentators in the Asian media generally, has also provided some closure, according to Myanmar tourism players.

Southeast Asia’s second largest country has proven that ethical tourism is a reality and that tourists, particularly Western, don’t need courts in The Hague to mete out rulings. They scuppered Myanmar’s aim to achieve 7.5 million arrivals and revenues of $10.2 billion this year, by refusing to visit in 2018/2019 after thousands of Rohingyas fled the Rakhine state from August 2017 to escape the military’s ethnic cleansing.

In 2018, in the latest available data from Myanmar’s Department of Immigration, there were 3.6 million arrivals spending $1.7 billion, not even a fifth of the 2020 revenue target. The destination was in fact better off in 2016 when it had fewer tourists, 2.9 million, but higher earnings of $2.2 billion due to longer-staying Western visitors

Myanmar’s first tourism wave was from 2003 to 2012, the year it hit the one-millionth visitor milestone. A tourism masterplan for 2013-2020 was then drawn, with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank and financed by the government of Norway.

Like any tourism masterplan, it charted the strategies, priority projects and activities for Myanmar to achieve the $10.2 billion revenue goal without losing its charm and character. Like any developing country, it did — but the biggest wrecking ball that demolished its charm wasn’t construction cranes but the persecution of the Rohinyas.

REBOUNDING

Little wonder that tourism businesses are relieved to see interest returning for Myanmar from the Western markets.

“We foresee an improvement in the next high season [October 2020 to March 2021] now that the ICJ [International Court of Justice] had concluded its findings,” said Jehan Wick, who has been in Myanmar since 1997 and now runs his company, JW Hospitality Management.

“This improved sentiment was [noticed] by most operators since the World Travel Market [in London] in November,” he added.

Khiri Travel Group, an inbound agency handling Western clients in Asia with an office in Myanmar, said bookings rebounded from countries such as the UK, Netherlands, and Scandinavia after the justice court ruling. The court ordered Myanmar to file a report every six months on steps it has taken to protect around 600,000 remaining Rohingyas from genocide and not to destroy any genocide evidence.

“In December 2019 and January 2020, bookings increased 25 percent,” said Herman Hoven, CEO of Khiri Travel Group. “The luxury segment which focuses on unique experiences is coming back en masse.”

While coronavirus is a challenge with some cancellations being recorded, tour operators have their eyes peeled on the longterm prospects of Myanmar being back on tourists’ radar. Diethelm Travel Myanmar’s managing director, Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, expects a 35 percent increase in bookings from France and minimum 20 percent from the UK this year.

The question, however, is whether the destination is prepared for the next wave.

PREPAREDNESS

In the first wave, Myanmar was cast in a soft glow as the last frontier of Southeast Asia, a spiritual land of gilded pagodas and of warm, gentle people, with the added romantic notion that tourism might help change a repressive state.

Myanmar could no longer bask in that novelty. Moreover, tourists themselves have changed, their expectations of experiences, products and service delivery higher. Yet, with less tourism income, development in Myanmar has stalled.

“The improvements every owner was planning to implement for their hotels, staff development, et cetera, have been frozen until numbers improve,” said Wick. “Arrivals didn’t decline to an extent where hotels had to be closed, instead, we had to encourage more domestic tourism with incentives and attractive packages.”

The tourism masterplan was laid to waste. “Much was achieved in the early periods following the release of the plan, but circumstances changed so quickly that many of the development markers from that time are not as relevant now,” said John Koldowski, who contributed to the masterplan and is now professor and foreign expert, School of Tourism, Leshan Normal University, Sichuan, China, and special advisor to the CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association.

To Koldowski, Myanmar’s priority now is service delivery, which can help repair its battered image. In today’s world, Myanmar has to be prepared to deliver the world to tourists, he said.

“Word-of-mouth remains a strong factor [to attract tourists]. If the overall experience is below expectations, if Myanmar gets negative social media reports by those who have been there, it can be very difficult to manage.”

DIVERSITY

Word also needs to get out that Myanmar has diverse attractions that are in tune to today’s demand for authentic experiences, according to industry players.

“Myanmar is not widely known,” said Diethelm Travel’s Phyoe ruefully. “But those visitors who have been to Myanmar tend to return to explore emerging destinations such as Loikaw, Hpa An and the Mergui Archipelago. These travelers are very good advocates for the destination.

“The sights in Myanmar are definitely not overcrowded. Today, that’s a huge privilege.”

The recent downturn in fact has allowed some entrepreneurs time to reflect and to invest in creating new experiences and accommodations in anticipation of a new wave of travelers.

“In recent years Khiri Travel Myanmar invested time and effort to create new excursions to less developed areas including Salay [town] and the Mon and Kayin states, remoter parts of Inle lake, Samkar and Pekon lakes, and Loikaw. New boutique hotels are also popping up, such as Anavila Bagan, Zwekabin Valley [Resort and Spa] in Hpa An, and Lalay Lodge in Ngapali. There really is the feeling that the second wave is about to start,” said Khiri Travel’s Hoven.

People think Myanmar is limited to temples and little else, he said. “To many people this can be a bit boring. Unfortunately, many tour operators have stuck to the old programs developed during the military regime when tourism was akin to a Buddhist pilgrimage trip.

“We focused on letting clients meet friendly locals, have lunch in a family home, take public transport, interact with professors, former royalties, traditional tattoo artists, boxing champions about local life and their passions. We want clients to return and tell all their friends about the unforgettable experiences, which in turn creates referrals,” said Hoven.

LUXURY SHINE

New luxury hotels such as the 205-room Rosewood Yangon, which opened on February 12, and the 88-room Peninsula Yangon, scheduled to be completed by 2021, could drive interest further, especially among well-heeled travelers who enjoy heritage building restorations.

Hilton Hotels is opening its fourth hotel in Myanmar, the 308-room Hilton Times City Yangon, in 2021. Plus, it has two other properties in the pipeline, in Inle Lake and Bagan.

Regional general manager for Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, Peter Webster, said there are “good signs,” such as Asian Development Bank’s forecast of 6.6 percent economic growth for Myanmar for 2019, a reported $3.5 billion foreign direct investments in the country as at end of July 2019, and Bagan’s official inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July last year.

Hilton was one of the first international hotels to enter Myanmar with the opening of Hilton Nay Pyi Taw in 2014, followed by Hilton Ngapali and Hilton Mandalay in 2017.

“Myanmar has not been as affected by COVID-19 [as other Asian neighbors]. We still have high hopes for 2020 and we are excited what the future holds,” he said.

SECOND CHANCES

But in the end, it all hinges on political stability and a positive image of Myanmar, said Diethelm Travel’s Phyoe.

“The people of Myanmar suffered the most. Tourism became very important and many people’s incomes depended on it. These people were hit hard, which also meant a step back for the country’s development,” he said.

Hopefully the reality of ethical tourism has sunk in with the powers-that-be in Myanmar, enabling the locals to have a good second chance at tourism.

Credit link : https://skift.com/2020/02/19/myanmar-tourism-gets-a-second-chance-is-it-ready-for-it/?fbclid=IwAR26ZACqI1rbA5x9Rr2T1swI97Cl5xR4wKMKMiqdS5ht3bYmLe1-eFnSLmM

Featured Article by Kara Godfrey “The Sun Media on 11-March-2020: TOP TRIPS The coronavirus-free holiday destinations around the world”

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0200

There are still a number of destinations Brits can travel to which currently have no reported cases of the infectious virus.

However, this could still change at short notice, so it is advised to be up to date with local travel advice, as countries remain on high alert.

Where in Europe has coronavirus not been reported?

Most of the countries in Europe have reported a few cases of coronavirus, although Turkey remains coronavirus-free.

Islands in Greece such as Santorini and Mykonos have avoided the virus as well.

However, many cruise ships have cancelled their trips, which could affect the Greek islands, with Norwegian Chief Executive Frank Del Rio telling the Wall Street Journal: "If places like Santorini, Mykonos, any of the other islands or Athens are hit, it will be a nightmare.

"The market for the Mediterranean will basically collapse."

Italy, Spain and Germany have the highest recorded numbers of coronavirus in Europe, with Italy's numbers nearing 10,000.

All of these destinations are currently monitoring the situation but the travel advice states they are safe to travel with no restrictions.

Despite this, it is worth taking out travel insurance and checking you are covered in case of a coronavirus outbreak.

An outbreak could result in flights being cancelled or hotels being closed, as well as additional expenses when booking new flights.

Where else in the world has coronavirus not been reported?

Holidays further afield to Cape Verde can go ahead without any travel updates, as coronavirus has not spread to these regions, while Bali remains free of the virus, although a number of cases have been reported on the mainland of Indonesia.

Turkey has also not reported any cases of coronavirus, while Laos and Myanmar in south-east Asia remain unaffected, although caution is advised due to their close proximity to countries reporting high cases of the virus such as China and South Korea.

Despite facing no coronavirus cases, the countries are still struggling as tourism plummets.

Other destinations that have cases are struggling too - Indonesia is planning on spending more than £500,000, on a tourism drive due to a drop in numbers, while the finance minister of New Zealand said the country faces "serious impact" from the virus.

Italy has seen 90 per cent of bookings cancelled as the whole country goes into lockdown, while hotel bookings in Thailand are down 10 per cent.

Credit link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/11052313/countries-coronavirus-free-holiday-turkey/

Featured Article by Latvian Influencer: 12 Reasons to Visit Beautiful Myanmar by Anita Sane

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0200

1 Inle Lake Fishermen
Inle Lake is the second-largest in Myanmar (Burma) and the Inthar fishermen have become real bait for tourist visits there. These Burmese fishermen have mastered an unusual technique for paddling their boats. They are carefully balancing on one leg, wrapping their other leg around the oar to guide the vessel through the freshwater lake. This way, the fishermen can keep both hands free to handle the nets. The men in this region begin fishing when they are 13 years old and carry on until around 75 years old. Every day the fishermen will catch a small selection of carp using conically shaped nets which they submerge in the 10 ft deep lake. Inthar means ‘sons of the lake’ and the Inthar fisherman has long been an iconic image of the people of Inle and Myanmar.

2 Bagan hot air balloon ride
Since long time ago, mystical pictures of Bagan temples were blowing my mind. As you may know, Bagan is famous for its thousands of old pagodas and stupas stretching into the horizon. I think the flight over the area at sunrise is the best way to have a memorable aerial perspective of the place. Sunrises cast their light against ancient temples and pagodas, and they are even more incredible from the soaring heights of a hot air balloon. A hot air balloon ride over Bagan was named among "Top 10 Things to Do in Indochina Region" by Odynovo (formerly Odyssey) Tours. Balloon flights typically take place at sunrise or sunset and last around an hour. And it only runs from October to end of March every year. So even though it’s not cheap at all, it could be your memory of a lifetime.

3 U Bein bridge
The beautiful U Bein bridge is one of Myanmar’s most photographed and iconic sites. With its picturesque structure, lively local life and legendary sunsets, it’s one of the country’s premier tourist attractions. Situated 11 kilometres south of Mandalay, the unique U Bein is the world’s longest and oldest teak bridge, stretching 1,2 kilometres across the shallow Taungthaman Lake. It is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists only, along with four covered pavilions and is supported by over 1,000 wooden posts. The bridge is around 150 years old and was constructed of timber, just a part of poles had to be replaced by concrete supports. The bridge is named after mayor U Bein who supported its construction. Views of the bridge are most impressive at sunset, and the best photo opportunities are from a boat to get a close up view of the bridge from the water.

4 Biggest book in the world
OK, it’s not a book the way you usually imagine books. It is a series of huge stone tablets surrounding the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar. 729 marble tablets tell the story of the Tipitaka, the central text of Theravāda Buddhism. Each stone slab has a small pagoda erected over it. When they were built at the end of 19th century, the writing was filled with golden ink and decorated with precious stones, but unfortunately, when the British invaded in the 1880s, the soldiers looted the ink and the gems. In 2013 Kuthodaw Inscription Shrines were included in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

5 Sunsets of Myanmar
Myanmar is called the “Golden Land” so you can imagine that country has some of the best spots to experience the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I saw quite a lot of sunsets and a few sunrises and I can say they are awesome. The one I liked the most was a sunset view from a Mandalay Hill and also the one from Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery near Inle Lake. Visiting Winery and having dinner and a glass of wine is the perfect way to end the day exploring the area surrounding Inle Lake. This winery has some 400,000 plants on its property, claiming to produce some of the best wine in the country, with plants imported from Spain and France.

Everyone who arrives in Mandalay usually visits Mandalay Hill, which is the landmark of Mandalay and overlooks the city. It is believed that the Buddha predicted that a great religious city would emerge at its base. The Mandalay Hill summit is 230 meters above the city so you can enjoy panoramic views of Mandalay and its environs from the top. In the evening, the platform of Mandalay Hill’s Su Taung Pyi pagoda is crowded with tourists who come to experience beautiful sunsets.

6 Street food
I find street food in Asian countries to be a real key to feeling the real taste of the country. So it was the same with Myanmar. The country has food influences from China, India, and Thailand. The food varies from region to region. The most traditional dish that you will find all across the country is rice with different kinds of curry. You can get Burmese curries typically in chicken or pork served with 4-6 small side dishes to go with a plate of rice. These curries are not very spicy, so they are safe to try for everyone.

If you are a fan of barbecue, you can’t miss grilled skewers from vendors on the street. Delicious skewer of peeled baby potatoes will be grilled with any ingredient of your choice. The best street food can be found at temporary carts set up by vendors each morning or afternoon.

7 Puppetry
In Myanmar, string puppets were born during the Konbaung dynasty, in the late 18th century. From then on, puppet theatre grew in popularity. It wasn’t until the 1920s that the theatre started to decline, partly because of the arrival of the cinema as an alternative entertainment. A Burmese marionette troupe must have 27 characters, including a king, animals such as horse, elephant, tiger, monkey and parrot, ministers, prince and princess and buffoons. A traditional Burmese orchestra usually provides the music. Puppets are usually made of wood. Growing interest in tourism has given a boost to the flagging puppet theatre in Myanmar.

8 Arts and handicrafts
There are many kinds of traditional handicrafts including wood carving, gold leaf beating, silk fabric making and lacquerware in Myanmar. Since Myanmar produces good quality teak wood, intricate wood carvings can be seen on religious buildings and hotels. Travelers may bring home wood carved fridge magnets like these.

In Myanmar, gold leaves are widely sold at the pagodas to gild the Buddha image or stupa with gold-leaf. The typical gold-leaf square measures just 0.000127 cm, thinner than ink on a printed page. Gilding a Buddha image or a stupa with gold leaf brings great credit to the gilder, so there is a steady growth of gold leaf cover on many images in Myanmar. These gold-leaves are made in Mandalay.

Myanmar people used to dress in silk gowns on special occasions like wedding and religious ceremonies. It served as a ceremonial dress. Mandalay and Inle are the origins of silk fabric production in Myanmar. Both spinning and weaving are done manually by a wooden spinning machine and wooden hand looms.

Lacquer-ware is a famous local craft that has developed over time into an art form of refined quality. Lacquer-ware is crafted from a mixture of the sap of the thitsi tree and ash applied on the surface of woven bamboo or wood. At present, the Bagan area is the best known for Myanmar traditional lacquerware products. By the way, did you know that Burmese week has eight days like pictured on this tray: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning (00:01-12:00), Wednesday afternoon (12:01-00:00), Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Each day is linked to a star sign. A child is often named according to the day of the week he (or she) was born. For instance, Monday is denoted by letter “K” and names like Khin, Kyaw, and Kyin.

There are many artists in Myanmar, especially in Bagan.

They offer their paintings of the surroundings and people made in different techniques, so you can choose the right one for you.

9 Mandalay rum
Frankly speaking, I am a cognac drinker with special appreciation of Otard brand. In Myanmar, imported alcohol is quite expensive so I decided to try something local and I was happy about my first choice: Mandalay rum. Mandalay Rum dates back to 1886 and now it’s manufactured and distributed by Victory Myanmar Group Co. The company makes a robust lineup of rums, including white rum. According to experts, Mandalay rum has some brandy qualities in it so it really fits my taste. You can feel wine, fruits and oak, mostly, plus hints of fresh sugar cane. Unlike other distilleries that use oak wood to mature the rum, Mandalay Rum is aged in yamanay wood, which gives a smoky palette to it. Most world rums, including Caribbean rums, are artificially flavoured and coloured and are much sweeter than Mandalay Rums. By the way, rum is surprisingly cheaper than beer in Myanmar, so give it a try. A bottle of Mandalay Rum costs about 3000 kyats (2 USD) or more depending on where you buy it.

10 Affordability
In my opinion, Myanmar is very affordable and you can get good value for your money. The local currency is kyat and I paid in kyats mostly. In some places, they do not accept dollars and in most places, they accept only brand new dollars so I found kyats easier to use. For a short taxi ride in Yangoon, you pay about 2000 kyats (1, 30 USD), for longer up to 4000 (2, 60 USD). For a tuk-tuk, for a whole day in Mandalay, I paid 30 000 kyats (19 USD).

For a half day trip to Mount Popa from Bagan by taxi, I paid 35 000 kyats (22 USD).
Eating out in Myanmar is inexpensive – you can expect to pay $1 to $3 for a simple meal at a local eatery. For western food, you should pay no more than $5 to $10. Upscale places are more expensive. Tap water is not safe to drink so you will need to buy bottled water, which costs around 30 cents per bottle. Most historic sites require an entry fee for foreign travellers, which range from US$2 to $25; smaller and less well-known sites are cheaper. Bagan archaeological site entrance fee is 25 000 kyats (16 USD), Inle lake area 13 500 kyats (8,5 USD), Mandalay main sites combo entrance fee is 10 000 kyats (6,3 USD).

I used Asian Tour services of transportation, transfers, and lodging (not tours) for my trip so I have no my experience for the price of hotels. I paid 513 USD for 11 days 10 nights personalized package trip per person for two persons sharing 3-star hotel rooms. I think it is a great value for money.

11 Safety
Much of the country is perfectly safe, including all the places I visited. Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Hsipaw, Kiyakto, and the Mergui Archipelago have no travel restrictions for tourists and pose no risk for leisure travelers. The U.S. Department of State ranks Myanmar as a Level 1 country, the same as Canada or the Netherlands, and recommends that travelers "exercise normal precautions”. But even if it’s safe, is it ethical? Myanmar has had issues with its treatment of more than 130 ethnic minorities since long time ago. There’s nothing new here. So moral conflict attached to visiting Myanmar has been around for much longer than the past five years. Keep in mind that homosexuality in Myanmar is actually illegal. Only a few years ago, a citizen of the EU was sentenced to seven years in a Burmese prison for a "homosexual act". Be careful with tattoos and images of Buddha. It was only in 2016 that a Spanish national was deported from Myanmar after monks found a tattoo of Buddha on his leg. In some Burmese tourist spots like Mt Popa, you will encounter monkeys that will harass you for food. My advice is to just give them what they want as they might bite you.

12 People
People of Myanmar are friendly and try to give you the best advice they can.

Some service people try to cheat tourists, for example, I was laid off by taxi driver about a kilometer away from Karaweik Palace in Yangon where I wanted to go, even though the taxi was arranged by my hotel and I paid a full price, so follow your way on maps.me. I got a great service from Asian Tour Travel Company who fulfilled all their promises and gave me a feeling of safety and reliability during my entire trip. Like it? Pin it!

What did you think? Have you been to Myanmar? Or perhaps you’re thinking of visiting there in the near future? Either way, I’d love to hear from you so please add your comments below.

Published by Anita Sane on December 15, 2018

The Exotic Myanmar Wedding

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0200

Wedding customs in Myanmar vary according to ethnic groups. Countries like Myanmar have many, many different kinds of wedding ceremonies due to having many different ethnic groups within the country. Myanmar wedding ceremonies may also be simple or elaborate, depending on the family’s financial status.

Other factors may also influence the long-term success of the match. Some elders believe that those born on particular combinations of days of the week are not suitable for one another. Saturday-born and Thursday-born; Friday-born and Monday-born; Sunday-born and Wednesday-born; Wednesday-evening-born and Tuesday-born are all poor combinations, according to traditional beliefs, and some families take these warnings seriously.

Nowadays, people prefer to celebrate their wedding ceremonies elaborately and uniquely among their community. Some couples sign the marriage certificate at a courthouse, celebrate at the hotel and some invite a judge to their home. Generally, monks are invited to home in rural areas. In metropolitan areas, families go to monasteries whereby the couple offers food to the monks and listens to a sermon.

Here is an example of a very simple village wedding in Myanmar. As marrying is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, Myanmar women regard the wedding ceremony very seriously and you can be sure the bride will be having cold feet, butterflies in her stomach and perspiration on her forehead as she faces this very special day of her entire life.

Most Burmese people find their own life partner but sometimes they may have an arranged marriage conducted by their parents or a middleman. Traditionally, when a man goes to ask a woman’s parents to bless their marriage, he brings a gift to his future wife. After that, both parents arrange a marriage ceremony at a monastery or at the bride or bride groom’s house and build a MANDAT (PANDAL).

On the Wedding day, Buddhist families will invite monks (members of the SANGHAS) and listen to their sermons at the PANDAL. The offering of soon to the Buddhist Monks is called ‘MINGALAR Soon’ (food offered to monks to bless a marriage).

The village headman leads the marriage ceremony and pronounces the couple as husband and wife, in the presence of both parents, relatives, honourable guests and friends whom are invited, so that they will be recognized as a newly married couple.

On this day of matrimony, it is a customary for the bride's family—parents, brothers and sisters—to dress her up in the finest of attire and bedeck her with the best jewelries they can afford. The bride is pretty and quite attractive with beezadoun (knotted hair) on her head. Her beezadoun is adorned with flowers, diamond hairpins and diamond comb. She wears valuable HTAIN MATHEIN INGYI (hip length jacket) and silk or BROKADE HTAMANE (skirt or sarong). She also wears jewelry on her neck and diamond bracelets on her hands. Her face is painted with a high quality make-up. The bridegroom wears Myanmar silk jacket, LONGYI and velvet slippers. The bride’s friends tease her and praise her newly wedded life.

It is customary for the friends and relatives who attend the nuptial ceremony to shower the couple with gifts such as household items and personal affects that will help the marrying couple get on their feet with their life-long journey. Parents of the bride and bridegroom heartily welcome their guests with smiles and handshakes.

On the wedding stage, the bridegroom and bride are seated on the cushion, parents sprinkle drops of scented water on their heads, recite a few words of blessing, place the wedding garland on their necks and put wedding rings on their fingers. A music troupe organized by the villagers entertains the invited guests with Myanmar classical songs or folk songs.

After the wedding rituals are completed, the guests are treated to refreshments offered by the couple. A large crowd of invited guests in the village gather at the PANDAL and are served abundantly with HTAMIN (cooked rice), pork and chicken curries, sour flavoured thin soup, boiled or pickled vegetables and a sauce of fish paste. The married couple warmly greets and thanks the guests who have attended their wedding. The guests in return bestow on the couple their best wishes for prosperity and a long and happy married life! The cameramen are busy with the work of recording the whole wedding ceremony with their cameras and video cameras.

A woman among their relatives came out from the audience and scatters coins and popcorn from the silver bowl on the audience just to let them know the successful ending of the marriage ceremony. A group of local young men or village lads ask for pocket money which is customarily given on the occasion of a marriage.

After rituals, a buffet of Htamin (Cooked Rice) and many kinds of Curry are served in abundance.

After the wedding ceremony, when the married couple arrives home, they pay their respects to parents of both sides according to traditional Buddhists customs. In turn they are blessed by their parents. Polygamy is illegal in Myanmar however divorce is common. A couple who wants to divorce will divide their property. After marriage, a couple may live with their in-laws for a short time or for a lifetime.

The Salone Tribe: Sea Gypsies of Myanmar

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0200

There are many theories to the origin of the Salone. One source says they are of Austronesian ethnicity. Another says they migrated from southern China some 4,000 years ago. The Salone people had lived, in the ancient times, on the Malay Peninsula until the Malay incursion when they left their native places and lived scattered throughout the Myeik Archipelago. Nowadays, the Salone can only be found on the coastal islands around Kawthaung, the southern town of Myanmar.

They are experts in swimming and diving. Salone have an extraordinary ability to see clearly underwater, and stay underwater for long time. They are used to diving a day. Even the children treat the sea as their playground. During the summer season, they live on boats and during the rainy season, they live on land with temporary huts. Freely roaming the ocean in small boats from birth to death, they live simply off the riches of the sea. Their lives are romantic but increasingly difficult.

During the hot and cool seasons, they survive their living by fishing, gathering and selling of natural marine products (sea shells, oysters, seaweeds, pearls, edible bird's nest, etc.), and honey and medicinal plants that grow on the island.

Every year, the Salone festival in the Myeik Archipelago is celebrated during the month of February, to promote tourism and to avoid bad luck. During the festival, all the Salone people gather at the village. They believe in two kinds of gods - the good and evil. Shamans are involved not only at the festival but also during illness or at deaths. They pray to the spirits to be better their own business, for good luck and good health. The festival includes popcorn, alcoholic drinks, honey, betel nut, and the flesh and blood of ducks, chickens, dolphins and turtles. There are diving competitions, rowing competitions and a traditional feast. One of their musical instruments is a drum made from monitor lizard (Varamas Spp.) skin.

The Salone do not easily mix with other people. They do not participate in economic, social or even cultural development of the country they live in. Their society has different cultural values from those offered by modern society.

1 Day Snorkeling Trip to Nyaung Oo Phee Island

2 Days Snorkeling Trip to Nyaung Oo Phee Island

3 Days Snorkeling Trip to Nyaung Oo Phee Island

Myanmar's Hidden Secret - The Mergui Archipelago

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0200

Salone or Moken, Sea Gypsies of the Adaman Sea

Most of the islands are uninhabited, but few islands that do have people remain home to tiny villages with hardly any infrastructure and mixed populations of Burmese and the semi-nomadic Moken, so-called ‘Sea Gypsies’ who move from island to island and live by fishing.

The Myanmar ‘Sea Gypsies’ or ‘Men of the sea ’, namely Salon in Myanmar. They live a traditional lifestyle on the Southern part of the Myeik Archipelago, off the coast of Myanmar. Also known as Moken, many of the salone are still nomadic people. The salons are among the smallest minorities in Myanmar. There are many theories as to their origin. One source says they are of Austronesian ethnic group. Another says they migrated from southern China some 4,000 years ago. The salon people had lived, in the ancient times, on the Malay Peninsula until the Malay incursion when they left their native places and lived scattered throughout the Myeik Archipelago. Now- a -days, the salon can only be found on the coastal islands around Kawthaung, the southern town of Myanmar. They are expert in swimming and diving. Moken also have an extraordinary ability to see underwater clearly and stay underwater for long time. They used to dive and submerge several times in a day. Even the children treat the sea as their playground. During the summer season, they live on boats and the rainy season, they live on land with temporary huts. Freely roaming the ocean in small boats from birth to death, living simply off its riches. Their lives are romantic but increasingly difficult.

Top Sights In Mergui Archipelago

Three Islets

This large area consists of one small island and two large rocks, all of which rise well above the surface. Each could be considered a separate site; there is no way to see them all on a single dive, or even a full day of diving. All three islets are perfectly suited for multilevel profiles, with thriving marine life from the bottom to the surface. While the main island probably offers the best diving, both smaller islets are also worth exploring. The south islet features a submerged reef that nearly connects with the main island. Assuming you use currents to your advantage, it is normally an easy swim between the two. The north islet, on the other hand, is at least 100m from the main island and is best done as a separate dive.

Lampi Kyun (Sullivan’s Island)

Lampi Island is the most popular island for the tourists in Mergui Archipelago. It is famous for its rich of many wild animals, Mangrove Rivers, birds, clean water and Coral Reefs and moreover virgin forest are growing. On this island reserve a National Marine Botanical Garden. It will take three days in Lampi to see in detail. There are nine different parts in it. The southern part of the island is good for fishing.

Horse Shoe Island

Horse Shoe Island is included in the Salone Islands Group and the visitors can go for the day trips. Horse Shoe is also known as Myin Khwar Island locally. The visitors could enjoy the lime stone rock, cave, corals, fishes, lagoon, beaches, forest, and birds around the Horse Shoe Island.

Nyaung Wee Kyun

A seasonal home for the Moken, this island has beaches, clear water and wildlife, making it a popular stopover for boat tours. Nearby 115 Island sees a lot of tour groups too and has fine beaches and snorkeling.

115 Island

Also known as Frost Island, 115 Island is about 38 nautical miles away from Kawthuang. 115 is a group of islands where is crystal water and worth to snorkel to see many colorful school of fishes, hard and soft corals. It is fantastic one of the finest islands to spend time on hiking and jungle trekking through the rain forest. You’ll find here are the very definition of pristine very white and powder sand beaches. It’s no wonder visitors come from all around to sink their toes into miles of pure white sand.

Kyun Phi Lar

Kyun Phi Lar, also called Pilar, is off Myeik and is one of the most popular islands in the beautiful Myeik Archipelago. The long white beaches stretch for kilometers without a soul around.

Ma Kyone Galet Salone Village

Ma Kyone Galet Salone Village is located on Bo Cho Island between 10.40-N and 98.16 E. Salon Festival is held at this village every year. The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely Salon in Myanmar. They live on boats during dry season and remain on land during rainy season. They still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques used for generation. In the present times some Salone inhabitants dwell peacefully on this island permanently with other people. Be careful of Strong current which is flowing near the village. It makes difficult for anchorage.

Shark Cave Island

Another of the top Mergui Archipelago diving sites, Shark Cave is known for its resident docile nurse sharks. The ragged cave entrance is on the North West corner of the islet, and is 5-16 meters deep. Often found guarding the entrance are several grey reef sharks, long- fin trevally and silver sweet lips. On the far side of the bowl a tunnel leads to the other side of the island and a beautiful hard coral reef.

Myauk Ni Island @ Red Monkey Island

Myauk Ni Island is included in the Salon Islands Group and the visitors can go for the day trips. Myauk Ni Island is known as Red Monkey Island among the foreign visitors. The visitors could enjoy the white sand beaches, corals, fishes, forest and birds around the Myauk Ni. Visitors could meet with Salone (Sea Gypsies) around the Island. Salone live on their boat ("Kabang") to collect shell, fish and various marine animals around the Red Monkey Island.

Thuye Kaung Kyun - Su

Thuye Kaung Kyun_su is aptly intended on a group of islets tagged with the names of Myanmar ancient heroes. This area consists of Nga Htway Rue, Nyaung Oo Phee, Nge Lon Lett Phei, Nga Khin Nyo Island and other small islets. This big area is well known as one of the best places for scuba diving, due to its depth of 20 to 50 Meters and clear water.

Kho Yinn Khwa Kyun

This horse shoe-shaped island 40 nautical miles from Kawthaung. There are at least 20 known dive sites around the island, including North Rock, where sea snakes and sea turtles are often sighted.

Sailing Around Mergui Archipelago

The tropical water and temperature around this archipelago are continually warm and pleasant. You can enjoy sailing throughout the year. Between November and April will be the best time for the sailing. The weather condition between December and February will be the most comfortable. The best time for snorkeling and diving will be around March and April because of the less wind with clear water. All of the island group is loaded with secure anchorages.

Diving In Mergui Archipelago

One of the allure attractions for divers will be the exploring the interesting living thing such as sharks and rays. Furthermore, there are enormous species of smaller fish and coral reefs. Not so many people have been there before and so this will be the excellent dive destination for you. Due to the trawling and long line fishing, it causes many effects on the fish populations. The worst threat will be the blast fishing with dynamite. You will hear the noise of explosion at least one time during your trip around Mergui Archipelago. Even some sites are bombed regularly, there are many corals, cuttlefish and other species are still undamaged and survive. In addition sharks and rays are also remain alive even the explosion is very close.

How to get there from Yangon:

You can find flights from Yangon to Kawthaung (Victoria Point), which is the gateway for discovering Myeik Archipelago. It takes only about 1 hour 40 minutes to fly. From Kawthaung, you can hop on to the express boats to reach Myeik.

How to get there from Bangkok:

If you want reach Mergui from Bangkok, you can either fly or travel by bus or train to arrive at Ranong, which is a small town on the Thai side border on Pakchan River. Mergui is situated 40 nautical miles from Kawthaung and Ranong. There are regular flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani. From Surat Thani, you can reach Ranong by car, which will take about 2 hours 30 minutes. Also, you can board the train to Chumphon and from there you can travel to Ranong by car. Alternatively, you can fly to Phuket from Bangkok and reach Ranong by private or public transport.

How to get there from Phuket:

Phuket is one of the easiest ways to reach Mergui Archipelago, since you have the options to travel by air as well road. There are regular direct flights between Phuket and Ranong. You can also find numerous buses and mini-vans travelling between these two destinations. After reaching Ranong, you can board the long tail boats at the jetty to get to Kawthaung. Simply ask the boat man that you need immigration stamp and he will guide you in the right direction.

The best time to visit Mergui Archipelago

December to February offers the most beautiful and comfortable weather conditions, in March and April – there is less wind and higher temperatures and the best time for diving and snorkeling, from November to April is the high season for visiting Myeik Archipelago.

Accommodation

The 4 best hotels & places to stay in Mergui Archipelago are Wa Ale Island Resort, Awei Pila Resort, Victoria Cliff Hotel and Resort in Nyaung Oo Phee and Boulder Bay Eco Resort.