April, our US Director of Operations and Tours, recently got back from her first trip to Myanmar with her husband. They found the country to be vastly different from its neighbours. They also learned football is football regardless of the setting …
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What did you do to prepare to go to Myanmar? Was this different than what you would have done before traveling to other places?
I tend to explore the history of every country before I visit, but when traveling to Myanmar I wanted to know a lot more. A guest recommended a book called The River of Lost Footsteps: A Personal History of Burma, which I found especially interesting. Myanmar (Burma) has experienced so much in its history. The book didn’t go into depth on all of it, but it touched on the many important historical time periods, which I found explained a lot about the modern experiences the country has currently gone through.
What was your impression of the country before you left?
This is a hard question! I would say my impression was that it was a country that recently not only came out of a military rule, but also come into the light of the world. I expected the country to be rich in history and temples and I expected to see a lot of tourists as I know it’s a “hot” destination. I knew a lot about each city in theory – what sights there were to see, hotel options and hot spots. I’d even explored a lot of pictures and video – so I thought I had a pretty good sense of what our trip would be. I also expected the country to be similar to the other countries in Southeast Asia, in style, service and in customs.
And after?
Visiting Myanmar was like visiting the world’s best kept secret. It’s the best way I can describe it. Yes, there were the temples and museums which we expected to see, but what goes unsaid is that there was an element of us feeling like the only tourists there. We walked around temples on our own, hearing stories of kingdoms, Genghis Khan, and village life — only to be interrupted by locals coming up to touch or stare at us. To me, Myanmar is completely different from all other Southeast Asian countries. I found the level of quality and service at hotels to be nowhere near the standards I’ve come to expect in the rest of SE Asia, yet I found the destinations themselves to be far richer in history, culture and natural beauty — it was a real mix of being a top destination in my book, to being at the bottom of quality standards.
What was your favourite destination?
My favorite destination was Bagan – it quite simply took my breath away. There is no place in the world like it. The temples sprawled across the whole city and I just kept trying to get my eyes to go bigger to I could take it ALL in!
Favourite activity?
My favorite activity was attending a professional football game in Inle Lake. The stadium was as good as the professional stadiums in the United States, in fact it reminded me a lot of going to an LA Galaxy game — minus David Bekham. The rest of the game was an absolute reminder that we were in Myanmar attending a football (soccer) game. The entire stadium on one side was saffron colored because monks had filled the stands. Through the whole game a local band played local music. Instead of peanuts and cracker jacks they served quail eggs. We sat in the general seating, but upgraded for a spot with shade, next to us was the VIP section where some of the most powerful people in Myanmar and a local rap star sat to watch the game. Soccer is a big deal in Myanmar and you could tell a lot of money was invested in the game. I could go on and on about the experience, from the people we sat next to, to the top quality teams, to the food, to the non-gender specific bathroom (out of my comfort zone!), to being pointed at by the little kids attending the game and having our guide say they’ve never had any Europeans attend the game as a spectator. It was the absolute gem of our trip.
Favourite food?
Favorite food – The Bagan Feast which we had in Bagan. Jo Jo, our guide, asked us if we’d like to try local food and we said “absolutely!” After he orders, 7 dishes come out and my husband and I were so excited to try everything — but then they just kept coming out with more and more trays! In all, 33 dishes in all came out for us to try, which means I can now confidently say that I’ve tried every local dish in Bagan. My favourite? There was a curried potato dish that was amazing. I wish I could remember the local name. Also, if you are ever in Inle, the avocados are absolutely amazing. I ordered an avocado salad, it was basically delicious guacamole served with a fork.
Did you have a favourite guide?
Our guide in Bagan, Jo Jo, exemplified what a Journeys Within guide is. He welcomed us to his home and made us feel like we were friends traveling in town, yet he still gave us plenty of historical information. He made the city and its history come to life. He also made us laugh — a lot. I absolutely loved having him as my guide, and my husband agreed without hesitation.
What did you find most challenging while traveling there?
I ran out of sunscreen and it was next to impossible for me to find some in the local markets. Also, internet access is very limited.
How was Myanmar different from other SE Asian destinations you have visited?
Myanmar is very different. The main difference is that you can clearly see signs that this is a country that has undergone a lot of suffering in the past and that they are still learning to adjust to new rules and a new way of life. Many of its people lived their entire lives under military rule that often violated human rights, and they have just very recently come out of that. I think there will be a long time for adjustment and belief that things have truly changed. Many people seemed to be guarded because of this past, and I think that it’s very different from the warmth of the rest of SE Asia. That being said, I think that the people are kind, and good and that there is so much potential for greatness for the country and so much new opportunity for the people there.
Lasting impressions?
Myanmar is a country that isn’t easy to travel to. It is a country which requires you to be mindful of the present and the past. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been from Schwedegon Temple to Bagan to Inle’s floating farms to the Bay of Bengal — every location was breathtaking in their own magical way. Travel should make you learn and grow and Myanmar is a destination for those who want an experience that allows them to do that. I absolutely loved the country in its entirety and I would mark it as a top destination in my book.