Back from Burma too...
 

Hi everyone,
Wish I could write a trip report,but time and life...So, as a "picture is worth a thousand words",here is my take on a wonderful country.Hope you'll enjoy! Comments are welcome and I will gladly answer any questions you might have
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick...7626126346707/

More excellent pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

Hey Patrick! I left you a message on my earlier thread, but wanted you to know I loved your photos!! Excellent. You did a fabulous job. Too bad we didn't meet up in Myanmar since it looks like we were at the same time.

Hi Patty,
Thank you for the good words.
Indeed,I wish we could have connected. We were there at the same time.My wife has a shot of that novice procession in Bagan where there is a few "foreigners"(as we are called there) in the background.If you are interested,send me your email and I'll send it to you.You might see yourself there...We are going back! This country is a photographer paradise...

Thanks so much for sharing your lovely photos. They bring Burma back to me, and of course, I'm going back to Burma.

If you feel inclined to share what events/places/experiences were special highlights for you, I'd be interested. I'e outlines a rough itinerary for our trip in Nov/Dec, but there is still time to make changes.

Sure! [email protected] Would love to see the photo and I'll have to see if I have any of the crowd.

Hi Kathie,
From what I remember of your great trip report,we did roughly the same circuit than you,excepted Inle Lake,which we intend to cover next time.I don't remember if you went to Bago and the Golden Rock,but if you didn't ,it would be something to see.We hired a guide who drove us there and waited for us while we spent the night. If you intend to go you must spend one night at the top as it is a little too much to do in one day.The walk up is pretty strenuous,but you have the option to be carried (like royalty) by 4 strong and skinny Burmese men...And then Bago has several pagodas where you are basically alone while visiting.A giant python(around 17ft) covered by offerings(money,food)is also something to see,specially if you arrive when they bathe him...This trip in the South Eastern part took us 3 days.If you are interested,I can give you more details.

Thanks, cestgaston. We did not go to Bago or the Golden Rock. It sounds like it's worth considering. (Of course, I already have too many places to consider!)

I've already done a bit of research on Bago, but I have to admit that the Golden Rock didn't strike me as a have-to-see place. Can you give me a bit more of what you enjoyed? As I remember the logistics, we'd need a car and driver from Yangon. How were the roads?

I'm sure I'll have a list of places I still want to visit even after this trip!

Hi Kathie,
You would need a car from Yangon.The roads are quite nice and uncrowded(unlike Vietnam or Cambodia)and the countryside is beautiful. You can stop along the way in several villages,each one with their specialty local product. The Golden Rock,although amazing,was a bit of a disappointment for us...very crowded(we were there on a weekend!)and those diesel-spewing trucks that take you from the base-village to the other base-village(were you start walking) were kind of a nuisance... You are packed like sardines in a can...If you fork the extra 6000 kyat,you can buy the whole front of the truck for yourself,but there is fierce competition to do that...
Bago, we liked! A day trip from Yangon or overnight if you want to get into it. There is beautiful serene temples where you are all by yourself...It is not on the radar but well worth the detour.If you decide to spend one night there,the Bago Star hotel is the only address in town(quiet,cheap,walking distance of the 4 huge sitting Buddhas).The Hanthawaddy is also the best restaurant in town(Clean,good,great view of the main Paya)
We had a great guide/driver with a decent air-con car and if you want I can give you his contacts.
I just secured our international flights today and we will be there Jan.25->Feb.9

Thnaks so much. Your description and the other description I read of Bago sound great. I think we'd really enjoy that. The Golden Rock... maybe not so much. I've heard similar things from others.

I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me. If I can help out at all about Inle, let me know.

Hi Kathie,
I did have a question about Inle Lake.In your opinion,is it better to stay ON the lake or in the village(Nyaung Shwe)?We have 2 nights there and have to decide...

IMO, I'd stay on the lake... magical. We loved the place we stayed, Inle Lake View resort, owned by a woman from Yangon. I love the great work she is doing to encourage economic development among the local peoples. And the hotel is lovely.

Thank you for the input ,Kathie.I will ckeck it out

We really liked the Paramount Inle Resort on the lake. The service there was excellent as was the food. The only downsides of staying on the lake is that you are limited in your choice of restaruants and also no access to shops in your free time. However this is balanced by the serenity (apart from the passing boats) and the views.
We found booking the hotels through an agent worked out cheaper than booking directly through the hotels.