The highlight of your time in Myanmar

I have a few, but thought it would be a good idea for some people here that have been to Myanmar and even posted their trip journal to tell us all your highlight.
I just thought it could take our minds from the political situation there and remember something special about the country and the people.

Everyday, almost every hour, was a pleasant surprise in Burma.

The entire trip was a highlight. I met so many great locals, and did so much in so little time, it was all good.

It would be easier to list all the bummers....Oh....never mind, there were none of those either!

:)

Ditto above plus.........the smiles of the locals when you greet them with" Mingalabar",walking to the falls at Hispaw and passing a little boy riding his buffalo,consuming the best sweetest pineapples ever eaten,sitting on top of the boat to Mingun and our first view of the temple,riding our pushbikes out on the roads around Inle Lake,the overnight bus trips,swimming with our 5 children in the river at Hispaw,I could go on and on .Take me back please!!!!!!

A night up at Kyaiktiyo, the golden rock, is hard to beat. It's a pilgrimage site that attracts hundreds of Burmese at any time, including groups of university students who use religious observance and duty as an excuse to go out in mixed groups of boys and girls and stay out overnight, away from watchful eyes. Their English is often good and they are fun to hang out with. You can talk society and politics with them, so long as you exercise a bit of discretion. I remember how fascinated a bunch of them were to talk about the fall of Soeharto in Indonesia after 30 odd years and the rise of Megawati - like ASK, the daughter of an Independence hero - even though they avoided talking about Burmese politics directly, it was obvious that we were using Indonesia as a metaphor for what could happen in Burma.

The Rock itself and the surroundings are gorgeous. Try to go at the full moon.

I managed to book a bus in Inle to go to taungyii for balloon festival one year, I then had to get 12 people together and confirm this. This I did then before we left he tried to up the anti but we had agreed a price so would only pay the one way and would give remainder when we came back. once we paid he then jammed the bus with his family and locals [I think he'd "borrowed" it from local lakeside hotel] ha! Ha!] and off we went we all agreed to meet the bus at 1230am, finally at 130am. We thought we'd been abondoned so we all took a pick up back to schewaung and then 230 a pick up came along with room for all 12 of us on the roof, [including the girls, which normally they wouldn't allow]. most were inebriated and it was simply one of the the most beautiful rides ever, The full moon rose over the mountain, with crystal clear skies and a slight chill in the air and still ballooons in the distance with their fireworks spitting out. Then as we approached Naungschwe the bus that was supposed to bring us back overtook us, all the locals on board drunk and singing and waving, with the driver drunk and happy, despite not having our "return" fare money

Hi I went in 2005 and it is such a magical place I thought Bagan was the highlight for me I went back twice at dusk to see the landscape around the religeous sites-also the eco-structure surrounding Inle lake was really something -how they grew the tomatoes on the floating weed beds. cliff UK

Thazi: meet young lady, (Ma Thu) go to house, fill me with food and drink,(they cant afford) dad gets out his ancient violin, they sing along, i think, ill remember this for the rest of my life. i do, very close friends now. Best folk in Asia, i would have to say yes. if you pass through, Bagan, Kalaw , Mandalay all easy to reach, stay at Moonlight guest house and catch the vibe for a few days.

One of my first visits to Myanmar I visited a monastery school just outside Yangon. I was so impressed with the children that I vowed to return within 6 months. At that time there were about 30 kids and 10 Novice Monks. I was a smoker then (since then I quit) and I liked smoking with the Head Monk who was really quite a likable guy, laughing a lot. Next trip I brought things for the kids. Zip lock bags full of candy, toothbrushes/ paste, pencils, combs etc. The Head Monk had me sit beside him while each of the little kids came up. bowed 3 times as I handed them their bag. Then the Head Monk had the Novice Monks come up to do the same thing, but I stopped them and had HIM give them each bags. I couldn't let any Monk bow down to me no matter if they were Novices. Then the Head Monk had the kids recite some things and it really touched me to hear them shouting the "thank you" address. Well. since then things have changed quite a bit. There are now around 300 kids there. Some Japanese businessman has donated some new school buildings along with electricity. The Monks provide 2 hot meals each day for the children who are only about 1% orphans and the rest are just poor local kids. Last time I was there (this year) I had ice cream (chocolate of course) catered to the school. I was able to get enough ice cream for all the kids and Monks at a cost of about $40.00. I'm sure it was the first time many of the kids had tasted ice cream. Now when I go back I just give money to the school and teachers. Each time I go back though I still get that warm feeling when I make donations. It sure lightens the heart.

Many for me, one day at the monestry watching very young monks playing with "cars" and "bulldozers". The cars were made from coke cans, had wheels and were pulled along by string, and the bulldozers were plastic take away food containers getting filled with rocks and being moved across the yard.
All the lovely, smiling people we met and especially our horse cart driver 123 Naing Naing, we consider ourselves blessed to have been befriended by this lovely man. When he told us we would be in his heart forever, he meant it. Then of course the photo of him and his family, and the laquerware bowl for Mr Trip just reduced us to tears at the airport.
Arriving in Mandalay and thinking, wow this place hasn't changed too much since Bob, Bing and Dorothy were here. I just wasn't prepared for the honesty, and friendliness of the people. Very special, want to go back there yesterday, but will return as soon as I can.

I have just returned - This is the second visit and there will be many more to come. It is truly the most delightful place in the world. I have ben taking trips for the past twenty years and nothing compares to this country and the most hospitable people. Their people can show us so much about customer service that it has to be experienced to be believed. The question everyone was asking me was "when are the tourists coming back"They are being so hurt by the drop in tourisme due to the demonstrations - please please go as so much of your money can go straight to these beautiful people and not necessarily into the hands of the military.

so many memories and I just stayed on the tourist loop. My first pic of novices going for alms by the Ocean Pearl Inn, My trishaw driver in Mandaly, he had to be 70 and skinny as rail dragging this 6'4" 115kg guy around on a 35C day. My horse cart driver in Bagan who now has a Chuys resturant tshirt from Austin TX that is 10 sizes too big for him, sitting in teashops in Yangon and Mandalay drinking tea and taking in the sites for 500 kyat. The views of Bagan at sunset, having a 400 kyat beer in Chinatown...

...finally those 2 beautiful women from Barcelona I met in Mandalay and Bagan, too bad we couldnt hook up again ;)

On my 3rd trip to Myanmar last February it was Mawlamyaine and Hpa An. Beautiful area, different feel than other parts of the country... and as always, wonderful people. On the ferry to Ogre Island, we were the only non-Burmese on the boat. After a few minutes a woman shyly handed us one of the sweetest tangerines I have ever eaten. Her bravery apparently became infectious and soon we were passed pineapple slices, mangoes, crispy crackers with whole shrimp in them... it just kept coming and were were overwhelmed at the kindness. We handed out cookies we had bought earlier and they were met with smiles and laughter all around. Myanmar always amazes me.