Mandalay has been the last Royal Myanmar capital before the British conquered the realm and moved the capital south to Yangon. Until today the lively city is one of Myanmar’s cultural centers. It has a large intellectual scene and very popular pagodas. All in all, […]
Yangon, formerly called Rangoon, is the biggest city of Myanmar and was until recently the capital of the country. In 2005, the military junta unexpectedly moved the capital to the city of Nay Pyi Taw. However, Yangon still remains the undisputed commercial and diplomatic center […]
The sight is breathtaking: Thousands of temples rise from the ground in the plains of Bagan. They date back to the 11th to 13th centuries when Bagan was the center of the first Burmese kingdom. Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims visit this sacred landmark each year […]
The first time we walk the streets of a Burmese city, we are shocked by many red stains on the ground. Has there been bloodshed from a violent street riot? Were the recent elections not as peaceful as we had heard on the news? After […]
The river town Mawlamyine lies 6 hours south of Yangon. It is a lively trading port and a colorful cultural-religious melting pot. The diverse set of Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and churches reflect Burmese, Chinese and Indian influences. The city inspired both George Orwell […]
The Inle Lake in the heart of Shan State, Myanmar, immediately casts its spell on any observer: Small longboats with fishermen float over calm waters, thatched cottages line up on the lake shore and grey looming shapes of distant mountains decorate the horizon. If Marty […]
Loi-Mwe, translating to “misty mountain”, is a 1600m high plateau about 30km away from Kengtung. The British military installed a second class hill station here. Up to today, several decaying colonial buildings are reminiscent of the colonial era. With his own car – he got […]
Hpa-An is the capital of Karen state, Myanmar, and famous for the amazing limestone rock formations containing many cave temples in its surroundings. Boat ride from Mawlamyine We travel to Hpa-An by boat from Mawlamyine. The boat ride is already a small adventure. Before leaving, […]
Our guide Sing puts on his hat, says “this way, it’s not so far” and starts to walk up the dusty red path in the midday heat. Christian, me and our Brazilian friends Carine, Gabriel and Fabio stumble out the doors of the minibus after […]
Tucked away in the far east of Shan State of Myanmar, the provincial town Kengtung (pronounced “Chengdong”) is set against a green mountain backdrop. Due to its cultural diverse surroundings the city makes a good base for hiking trips into the countryside. “Shan” is a […]
