Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Myanmar (18 - 26 Feb 2015)

Visa application

1) Make an appointment via online
http://visa.mesgservice.com/

2) Get an email reply and fill up the application form
http://www.myanmarembassy.sg/downloads/Tourist_Visa_Form.pdf

3) Go to the Myanmar Embassy to submit the application forms and the required documents in the morning. Collect in the late afternoon.


$45 for the visa


Changed USD at the rate of 1.3565 SGD to 1 USD

Good reference:
- https://www.youtube.com/user/BurmaBites
- http://migrationology.com/2014/08/41-photos-of-yangon-myanmar/
- http://www.southeastasiabackpacker.com/10-must-try-foods-myanmar-burma
- http://www.go-myanmar.com/
- http://grrrltraveler.com/sightseeing/getting-around/things-to-do-yangon-myanmar/
- 旅行日記

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Flight details:


I paid the high price of the flight due to Chinese New Year period and at the very last moment. The price could have been cheaper


Flight DetailsBooking Date: 6 Feb 2015
DateFlight NumberDepartingArriving
Wed 18 Feb 20153K583
Airbus A320
Flight Duration:  2hr 25min
Singapore
Wed 18 Feb 2015
1720 hr / 5:20 pm
Changi Airport - Terminal 1
Siem Reap
Wed 18 Feb 2015
1850 hr / 6:50 pm
Yangon International Airport - International Terminal
Thu 26 Feb 20153K582
Airbus A320
Flight Duration:  2hr 0min
Yangon
Thu 26 Feb 2015
1145 hr / 11:45 am
Yangon International Airport - International Terminal
Singapore
Thu 26 Feb 2015
1620 hr / 4:20 pm
Changi Airport - Terminal 1
Cost: $643.04SGD


Singapore to Yangon International Airport (Credits to Google Maps) is about 2.5hours.

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18 Feb 15


Departure 3K583




Good bye Changi Aiport




I love the beautiful clouds


Nice sunset


Arrived at Yangon International Airport at about 6:50pm and I had to rush to catch my bus for Bagan which will depart at 8pm. A very risky move indeed.


Originally wanted to get the Ooredoo SIM card for Internet, but due to the rush, I decided to quickly grab a taxi. Very lucky to make it in time.


Bus to Bagan from Aungmingalar Highway Bus Station by JJ Express




Nice lightings in the bus




Light snacks


It is amazing how the staff were able to serve hot drinks on the bumpy bus


At pitstop

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19 Feb 15

Bagan


Arrived at the Bagan bus station at about 4.50am, having a hot coffee to warm the body first.


A bad choice of not booking an accommodation in advance, I had to settle for a very basic room for USD$12 a night


No wifi, not even hot water shower


Was told there's free Wifi at the nearby Shwezigon Pagoda




Emptiness




Morning coffee again


Smoking




Burning rubbish




Monks queuing up


Shwezigon Pagoda




E-Bike rental for 8,000 kyats












Lunch






Bagan Nan Myint Tower, entry for USD$5 with a welcome drink at level 9 restaurant which has good Wifi.


Panoramic view at level 11




Mani Sithu Market


Ananda Phaya


Applying Gold leaf


Shwesandaw - The famous location for sunset






Sunset




Dinner that cost only 2,500kyat and a 500kyat for Coke.




GPS track for the day

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20 Feb 15

Bagan to Mandalay


Pioneer Cruises Travels & Tours, Check-in time is 5:00AM and departure time is 5:30 AM. USD$35
http://www.mgrgexpress.com/


MGRG jetty


Boarded the ferry


Hot coffee, tea and toast were available for breakfast


Sunrise




Burmese flag


Ayeyawady Bridge (Pakokku)


Lunch


Planning for next destination


Testing depth of water


The Inwa Bridge




Arriving at Mandalay


Assorted skewers for BBQ


Met a fellow Singaporean, Dinner for 3,700kyats


Cat at YoeYoeLay homestay


Night walk to see the life at Mandalay


Petrol

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21 Feb 15

Mandalay


Nice breakfast at Yoe Yoe Lay


Meow


Cat who loves beehoon


Motorbike tour


Sandamuni Pagoda


Found cute puppies




Kuthodaw Pagoda


Atumashi Kyaung


Mandalay Archaeological Zone fee of USD$10 that can be used at various sites


Shwenandaw Kyaung




Going up the Mandalay hill. Although reviews state that it is possible to go up by foot, I wouldn't recommend that.


Camera fee


Nice view


Meow


Su Taung Pyi Pagoda






Royal Palace








View from the watch tower




King Galon Gold leaf workshop show room & Sale Centre




Lunch at Amarapura area


Silk making workshop, but was quite empty


Took a 5min boat ride for 800kyats to Innwa


5,000kyats for a motorbike tour around for more temples, Payas, Stupas and Pagodas. Horsecarts are available at 8,000kyats








Field




Bagaya Monastery




The Watch Tower (about 30m), too bad cannot access up due to unstable structure


Mahar Aung Mye bon San monastery






Made use of the Adidas app to track the motorbike tour (5,000kyats) at Innwa


The Irrawaddy Bridge (also Ayeyarwady Bridge, Yadanabon Bridge, Yadanar Pone Bridge or New Ava Bridge)










Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, Sagaing Hills






Little monks






U Bein Bridge


So many people waiting for the sunset shot






Chicken briyani dinner at Karaweik Cafe.


Girl at YoeYoeLay


JJ Express Bus station location: D- 4, Kywesekan Bus Station which is further away from what I expected


Overall movement in Mandalay, Amarapura, Innwa and Sagaing. The day motorbike was 25,000kyats by Kung Naing (09256121312), excluding the meals I paid for along the way

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22 Feb 15

Inle Lake


having to swap bus half-way... at about 4.10am


Outside temperature is so cold


Arrived in Nyaung Shwe about 5am


Pay fee again


Walking around to find a place because we didn't make any reservation






We finally settled for Friday Inn


Breakfast at the rooftop


The room (25,000 kyats)




Boat ride for 18,000 kyats. Managed to split the cost with Michael and Niti


The boatman


Interesting structure


Fisherman posing for photos and asking tourist for money




Houses




Silverware making


Hand-made cigar














Lunch - Chicken noodle soup


Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda










Artist at work


Children leading us up the hill




Improvisation on a broken slipper


Inn Thein


Men repairing the water walls


Long neck


Floating gardens




The Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery (Jumping Cat Monastery). The kitties no longer jump to entertain tourists.


Sunset


Toast to new friends


BBQ


Dinner


Back to Friday inn

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23 Feb 15


Morning


Street snacks


Fresh tomatoes




Spider webs


Local market walk




Fish stall




Young girl cooking our lunch


Lunch (7,100 kyats divided by 2)


Took a bicycle (1,000 kyat) rent to the Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery


Bubbles








Meow


Watermelon fo 1,000 kyats


Dinner for 2,500 kyats


JJexpress bus to Yangon




Simple meal at the pitstop

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24 Feb 15


Taxi drivers crowding around the bus the moment it arrives which can be quite overwhelming


Arrived at Yangon's Aung Mingalar Highway Bustop


Simple breakfast


Walking toward Mingalardon Railway Station


Misty...


200 kyats for the Circular Train


Connecting the trains


The train ride started off quite empty




Starting to get crowded...




Arrived at Yangon Central Railway Station






High Court


Backpacker Myanmar - take note that the Google is different from the exact location


Panoramic view


They say "all roads lead to Sule Pagoda"


Sule Pagoda: 3,000 kyats entry fee




Roundabout of Sule Pagoda


Independence Monument, Maha Bandula Garden with Yangon City Hall in the background


Lunch




Bogyoke Aung San Market




Holy Trinity Anglican Church




Unfortunately, unable to enter the Pegu club


National Museum


Bogyoke Aung San Museum


Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha




Burmese royal barge at Karaweik garden, Kandawgyi Park






Twilight




Skipped dinner, going to sleep early... Fell sick...

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25 Feb 15


Breakfast




Market place at 26th street


Meat store




Yangon General Hospital has a nice building


Park next to Shwedagon


West entrance of Shwedagon Pagoda


Going up the escalator to security check with x-ray machine and walk-through-metal-detector


Shwedagon Pagoda


Collecting water for blessing


devoted


Sunset




Moving to the night




Mini Ferris wheel




Chinatown




Dinner




Watermelon



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26 Feb 15


Taxi to airport


Yangon International Airport




Prepare to take off

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More pictures:
- Bagan, Myanmar (18 & 19 Feb 2015)
- Mandalay, Myanmar (20 & 21 Feb 2015)
- Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake, Myanmar (22 & 23 Feb 2015)
- Yangon (24 - 26 Feb 2015)