Kalaw to Inle Lake trek

At Easter 2006 while travelling in Myanmar we did a 4 day trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake staying in people's houses and Monasteries.

Myanmar Slideshow and Map

Easter 2006 we travelled around Myanmar, visiting Yangon (Rangoon), Kalaw, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan. Despite the evil government we gave no money to them apart from their tax on our plane ticket and the occasional hotel tax. Many local people benefited from our visit.

Fish Eye

People always wanted to get up close and personal. The lens reflection helped too!

Images of Bagan

technorati tags: Myanmar, Bagan

Scared Kids

All the hill tribe kids were scared of us - they'd been told that strangers like us would kidnap them so they hid from us. This little boy was the bravest - still he'd only come close when I juggled and even then if I stood up they all ran away. (smiling all the time of course!!)

Harry - our Guide

Harry is a Sikh descended from his Great Grandfather who went to Myanmar to build the railways and stayed. Harry was superb, his turban caused a few problems in the sun and rain, but he adapted his hat and added a plastic bag to keep his hair dry.
The gold blanket was sent by a dutch trekker and caused loads of amusement with all the hill tribe people - they thought he looked like a temple (paya)

Harry took us through all the villages and we got a chance to wander in to houses, chat to people, shelter from the terrible rain and basically have a brilliant time. The people were so friendly.

Myanmar - the best

We spent 3 weeks over Xmas travelling around Myanmar - trying to avoid giving any money to the government. The place was brilliant, the people wonderful, the best place that we've visited in Asia by a long way (ranks with Nepal for excitement)

We spent a few days in each of the following areas:

Yangon - formerly Rangoon - liked it, found it easy, walked everywhere, met monks every day who showed us around, taught us some Myanmar phrases, and told us where to go.

Kalaw - we trekked from Kalaw to Inlay Lake with a fantastic guide called Harry - from the Golden Lily Guest House in Kalaw - best experience in Myanmar by far - we stayed in one of the Hill Tribe villages and also in a monastery.

Inlay Lake - We stayed here for 4 days - spent a day cycling around, had a day out on the lake - lovely relaxed place.

Mandalay - We had 3 days in Mandalay - initially we hated it - too busy - then we saw the charm in the place. A city of 2million with no street lights!!!! Everyone was super friendly, more interested in us than we could ever be in them. 'Take my photo'!!! was heard everywhere. Great for wandering around aimlessly - the market in the centre is wonderful.

Bagan - Interesting, best at sunrise and sunset, we didn't use the horse and cart option - cycling is twice as fast, the roads are flat, distances looked big on the map but were easy. Managed to find some great quiet temples for avoiding the package tour fools (who pay the government loads and don't even realise that Myanmar is under a military dictatorship). Not really many people there at all - but at sunset they creep out from the woodwork to spoil the view. We stayed there for 4 days and then flew back to Yangon.

technorati tags: Myanmar, Travel, Trekking, Yangon, Bagan, Inlay, Lake, Kalaw, Mandalay