Myanmar - Brief Travel Guide & Summary of My 7D6N Travelogue

Flying In Myanmar

Malaysia Airlines only serves a direct route from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon International Airport (RGN) whereas AirAsia is flying into two different airports, Yangon International Airport (two flights daily) and Mandalay International Airport (with a stopover in Don Mueang International Airport of Bangkok). The flight duration from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes. Time difference wise, Myanmar is 1 hour behind Malaysia.

Visa Required For Malaysian

An advance 28-days tourist visa is required before entering into Myanmar. In Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), visa can be applied at Ever Fine Services (M) Sdn Bhd located in Masjid Jamek LRT Station area (between 7-Eleven and Burger King). Total visa cost  is RM141.80, which included RM110 for visa and RM31.80 for service fee. Remember to bring along two passport photos with white background, a photocopy of valid passport and return ticket for visa application.

For more info about visa application, check out from these two of my favourite Malaysian travel bloggers - Kaki Berangan: Myanmar Visa Application and Supermeng Malaya: Tourist Visa Myanmar Di Kuala Lumpur (blog in Malay language)

Alternatively, you can apply through E-Visa which cost US$50 for a single-entry tourist visa.

Currency Exchange 

Myanmar/Burma's currency is known as Kyat. As it's not commonly found in any Malaysia's local money changer, hence it is advisable be prepared with US dollar. But then, ensure that your USD dollar is extremely clean with no marks, stamps or any ink, undamaged, fresh, crisps and as close to brand new as possible. There are number of times whereby our US dollar were being rejected.

US$1 (approx. to RM3.30) = 978 kyat

Here is the summary of my Myanmar Travelogue covering three different cities - Yangon, Bagan and Inle Lake. 

Day 1: Arrived Yangon and Took Overnight Bus To Bagan
Mingalar Yangon & Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda
Opening Hours: 6.30am to 10.00pm
Entrance Fee for Foreigner: US$8 or 8,000 kyat

From Yangon, we took overnight air-conditioner VIP bus to Bagan for 18,000 kyats.

Day 2: Arrived Bagan
Awe-Inspiring & Magical Sunrise View of Bagan


Temples & Pagodas Hopping in Bagan (Part 1)


On the second day, we visited these following:

• Thatbyinnyu Phaya
• Shwezigon Paya
• Gu Byauk Gyi Temple
• Phya That Gyi Pagoda
• Nyaung U Market

Stay: Thiri Marlar Hotel (Currently known as Thurizza Hotel)

Day 3: Bagan
Temples & Pagodas Hopping in Bagan (Part 2)


As for the third day, we went and visited these:

• Soemingyi Pagoda
• Nanpaya Temple
• Manuha Phaya
• MahaBodhi Temple
• Ananda Temple
• Dhammayangyi Temple

How To Get Around Bagan: 

1) Rental of horse chart with a driver cost us 25,000 kyats for a full day (approx. to US$26 or RM100). It's not the ideal way to travel with as it is tends to be slower, shaky, bumpy and uncomfortable with. However, passengers are sheltered away from both sun and rain as Myanmar's weather can be scorching hot.
2) As for rented bikes, it cost us 2,500 kyats each (approx. to US$2.50 or RM10). Don't forget to wear mask as the roads were relatively dusty.

Day 4: From Bagan to Inle Lake 
We bought the 7.30 am bus tickets and the journey from Bagan to Nyaung Shwe of Inle Lake took more than eight hours bus ride. It cost as low as 11,000 kip only (approx. to US$11 or RM45). Overnight bus is available but my friends and I opted the morning one so that we able to enjoy the awesome scenery and landscape.




Stay: Inle Star Motel


Day 5: Inle Lake Boat Tour and Overnight Bus Back To Yangon 
Impressive Inle Lake Boat Tour

We managed to bargain at the agreed price of 25,000 kyats for the six of us on a wooden longtail boat with padded chairs (approx. to US$25 or RM100) and we're requested to pay upfront fee of 5,000 kyats first whereas the remaining can be paid at the end of the trip. Our boat tour started as early as 7 am 

Day 6: Back to Yangon Again 
From Inle Lake to Yangon 

In order to get back to Yangon, we took the overnight bus which depart around 6.30 pm at Nyaungshwe Bus Station. The journey from Inle Lake to Yangon took more than 11 hours and one bus ride cost 22,000 kyats (approx. to US$23 or RM90). The bus journey was extremely one stomach-churning bus ride. My friend who sat next to me keep throwing up throughout the expedition. Therefore, remember to take motion sickness medication before embarking on this long journey.

Stay: Myint Myat Guest House

Day 7: Goodbye Myanmar 


And the following are the details of travel expenses breakdown my friends and I spent throughout our 7 days and 6 nights in Myanmar. As for the group, there are six of us. For this time around, I excluded my return airfares from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur cause I want to keep track and mainly focus on Myanmar spending. 

PARTICULARS	NOTE	AMOUNT
		Per Group	Per Pax	RM
Air Fares KL-Yangon-KL via AirAsia Add: Luggage allowance Hotel Thiri Marlar Hotel, Bagan (2 nights) Inle Star Motel, Inle Lake (1 night) Myint Myat Guest House, Yangon (1 night) Transportation VIP bus Yangon to Bagan Public bus Bagan to Inle Lake VIP bus Inle Lake to Yangon Taxi around Yangon & to airport Admission Fee Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon Inle Zone Entrance Fee Ground Tour Half day tour around Yangon Bagan – Mini Van Bagan – Horse cart & bicycle Boat tour in Inle Lake Foods & Beverages Foods & Beverages Others Tourist Visa Souvenirs, postcards & stamps Tips	1 2 2 2 3	- - US$350 - - - - - 24,000 kyats - - US$66 50,000 kyats 32,500 kyats 25,000 kyats - - - -	- - - - - 18,000 kyats 11,000 kyats 22,000 kyats - US$8 US$10 - - - - 49,770 kyats - 52,500 kyats US$7	138 44 193 90 82 61 37 74 13 26 33 36 28 18 14 168 142 177 23
		TOTAL:		1,397

Exchange Rate:
US$1 = RM3.30
US$1 = 978 kyats

Note:
1. 20kg baggage allowance shared among 4 of us.
2. For more details, you can check out here.
3. Souvenirs including T-shirts, painting, postcards, stamps, fridge magnets and lacquerwear.

If you plan to buy lacquerwear, it is advisable to buy in Bagan cause it's cheaper.

With this blogspot, I am officially completed my travelogue of the majestic and prestigious "Golden Land". 

Mystical Myanmar (2014): Accommodations

Here is the compilation of all the accommodations my friends and I stayed throughout our trip in Myanmar including Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon.

Thiri Marlar Hotel, Bagan (Currently known as Thurizza Hotel)

Among all the three hotels we stayed, this is our favourite one. I couldn't remember how I came across this hotel, either recommended by a blogger or my friend but this hotel also featured in Lonely Planet. 

With the cozy and inviting rooms which exceeded our expectations, top notch services and most importantly, friendly to our pocket, this is absolutely great value hotel. Situated in New Bagan, this hotel consists of 15 spotless rooms which each and every room features beautifully decorated tiled private bathrooms, LCD television, air-conditioned and free WiFi connection. 

Complimentary of free breakfast served on top of the roof

Bicycles and motorbikes are available for rent

Room Rate: US$50 per night for room with queen or twin bed and US$75 for triple room

Inle Star Motel, Inle Lake



Situated less than 10 minutes away from the bus station, this hotel is facing directly to the boat station.

Simple and basic room attached with private bathroom. Each of the room is equipped with television, fan (without air-conditioned), kettle and drinking waters. One of the rooms assigned to us was overlooking the river, it might seems fascinating to watch how most of these boats passby but in the case where you are light sleeper, you may find it's hardly to fall asleep with all the loud sounds from the motorboats at night.   

Another breakfast on rooftop

Room Rate We Paid: RM230 per night for a standard family room including breakfast (Reservation made through Agoda)

Myint Myat Guest House, Yangon

Everything is pretty okay for us - the room itself, clean bathroom, attentive services except for the location. I doubt most of the reviews on Agoda and Tripadvisor lately. I thought this guest house is situated not far away from Boygoke Aung Sang Market but in reality, it was quite distance away that we need to hail for a taxi. 

Room Rate We Paid: RM98.50 per night for a superior room including breakfast (Booked via Agoda)

Mystical Myanmar (2014) Day 4 & 5: Impressive Inle Lake

Date Visited: 12th January 2014

We left the ancient city of Bagan and travelled to a beautiful highland lake, the Inle Lake via a public bus. We bought the 7.30 am bus tickets and the journey from Bagan to Nyaung Shwe of Inle Lake took more than eight hours bus ride. Although the bus ride was uncomfortable and time consuming comparing to those VIP buses which we took earlier from Yangon to Bagan, however it was relatively cheaper, for as low as 11,000 kyats only (approx. to US$11 or RM37). Overnight bus is available but my friends and I opted the morning one so that we able to enjoy the awesome scenery and landscape. 

#1: Welcome to Inle Lake

By the time we reached Nyaung Shwe, it was pretty late evening and instantly we decided to check-in into our hotel before going out for dinner. (I will share about Myanmar's accommodations my friends and I stayed in the upcoming posts). The check-in process wasn't that long, probably there was no other guests except for us and from there, we decided to book a boat trip on the lake. We managed to bargain at the agreed price of 25,000 kyats for the six of us on a wooden longtail boat with padded chairs (approx. to US$25 or RM85) and we're requested to pay upfront fee of 5,000 kyats first whereas the remaining can be paid at the end of the trip. 

Our boat tour started as early as 7 am and luckily for us, the boat station is situated not far away from our hotel. Now, let's start the engine! 

#2: The remarkably skillful and elegant technique of Burmese fishermen to catch fish  

#3: A colony of seagulls flying freely amidst the sunrise view

#4: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most highly revered monastery in Inle Lake

#5: One of the floating villages we visited. Love the reflection of this photo #nofilter 

#6: Can't get enough of this reflection 

Hundreds of these wooden houses are built high on stilts, just like the one we experienced in Tonle Sap of Siem Reap Cambodia but I personally think this one is thousand times better. Inle Lake is also commonly known as "Venice of the East" because the local here are heavily depend on their boat as their mode of transportation. Cruising through these floating villages are indeed a sight to behold and completely serenely picturesque to everyone who had been here.  

#7

#8: Kayan women, who wear traditional rings which elongate around their necks

Our boat driver brought us to few handicraft workshops such as lotus, silk and cotton hand weaving centre until to a certain point, he stopby at Kayan tribe village. Initially I thought Kayan tribe was originally from Thailand not until I visited here, I was totally wrong at all. 

#9: Wooden longtail boat with padded chairs 

#10: The entrance fee for Inle Lake area has increased within a year, from US$5 to US$10

Inle Lake is the last city my friends and I visited, before we travelled back again to Yangon. I found out most of the times, the last city I visited is always my most favourite city of that particular country. For instance, Luang Prabang of Laos and now Inle Lake of Myanmar. Like they said, save the best for last.