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MYANMAR 10/02/2007 UNTIL 08/01/2008.
Linving modern China, we wouldn't have imagined to discover a country with a so diversified landscape and population, rich in culture and religion.
Myanmar, so different from its neighbour countries, made us experience a great adventure.
We crossed the border overland, after long paperwork and acompagnied by a guide (compulsory), before we could continue freely. First, we headed North, stopping on the way in small cities.
We hiked in hilly areas, in the countryside, through rice fields, banana, tea or sugar cane plantations. Everywhere, it was so pleasant to meet the friendly and smily people. We were a local curiosity, people would often come to us. In the monasteries, monks often invited us to see small and big Buddhas. We spent long hours on bumpy buses and bad roads. We experiencend boat trips as well, not more confortable. Our first boat was supposed to be a speed boat but was very slow. Many breakdowns stocked us for hours in the middle of the river. During our second boat trip, we had to spend two cold nights on the deck, lying on a mat, with many people. We spent Christmas here !
These part of Myanmar see very few tourists because is longer and more difficult to reach but this is what we liked the most. We discovered peaceful villages with wooden or bamboos houses. Then, we got to more touristic places, but also very beautiful and worth to see. We loved cycling around the hundred temples and pagodas of Bagan's impressive Archeological site, taking a canoe and meeting the fishermans on Inle Lake, hiking in the hilly area of Kalaw...
We will not forget Mandalay, a charmless city but where we had a wonderful time with monks who showed us their monastery, get us to know their English teacher and invited us to take a coffee in a local bar.
Actually, every foreigner has to leave Myanmar by plane so from Rangoon, we booked a plane ticket, As our visa had expired (for one day), We were asked to pay 3 USD fine each. One hour from Rangoon, we landed in Thailand where suddenly, we see only tourists ! Now, everything is so easy !
We loved Myanmar and are now enjoying the heat and relaxing atmosphere of Bangkok...
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