Take yourself to Gaw Wein Jetty on a Saturday and watch the local women hang out their colourful washing to dry. Climb Mandalay Hill or take a taxi to the top, hop on the escalators for a fantastic view of the city from Su Taung Pyai Pagoda. Watch the sun set at U Bein bridge in nearby Amarapura. Admire the […]
Most people travel to Bagan to see the mind blowing Bagan Plains, these need to be viewed at different times of the day to see the changing colours and the sun set. There are some raised areas which lend themselves to sun setting scenes. Grab yourself a horse and cart ride to see the temples up […]
Maybe I was charmed by the deep orange colour or the colonial history – I don’t know which ……but I do know the bar man on the cruise ship Ananda is a skilled mixologist. The cocktail is a blend and shake of gin, cointreau, bitters and lime juice named after the Pegu Club in old Rangoon……….. you […]
The Irrawaddy is at its lowest during April as the weather has been hot and dry for some months…in fact when I was there it reached a staggering 102F. With the water low the sand bars and river banks are revealed and on day three of The Grey Traveller’s Irrawaddy River Cruise we were invited to a BBQ dinner […]
On a cruise down the mighty Irrawaddy I found myself in Nyaung – U a district of Bagan. The market there was enticing as I smelt all types of spices before I had even entered. The market seemed to be mainly operated by women selling dried fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, clothing and sweets and often […]
My first excursion from Sanctuary Ananda cruise ship in Myanmar was to the town of Sagaing south of Mandalay on the Irrawaddy River and it was there I visited a monastic school. There are three types of education; private which parents pay for, public which is provided freely by the government and monastic where children are taught […]
On my third day of a Sanctuary Retreats Irrawaddy River Cruise I found myself at Tan Chi Taung where along with my guide Khin Nyein Thu I climbed high to a beautiful pagoda and golden stupa. Once I had oohed and ahhed at the shiny temple and views I got to see a traditional elephant dance put on […]
What a colourful place Gaw Wein Jetty is, I embarked Sanctuary Ananda in Mandalay on a Saturday so this coincided with washing day! Two ladies took our heavy suitcases and promptly raised them above their heads and carried them aboard the ship not blinking an eyelid as they crossed a makeshift gang plank to the luxury ship […]
