Things I leant about Myanmar (Burma)
A far more ‘normal’ country than I was expecting, Myanmar was a fascinating place to spend a couple of weeks. I did the standard tourist circuit though the centre (Yangon,…
Ballooning over Bagan v Lake Inle
Bagan is famous for hot air ballooning, Lake Inle less so, but both are quite magical experiences. Most people take balloon rides if they can in Bagan (you often need…
Lake Inle
One of the most visited places in Myanmar, Lake Inle is a tourist trap, but an enjoyable one. It’s the second largest lake in Myanmar, but a very shallow one,…
Ballooning over Lake Inle
The lesser known alternative to hot air ballooning over Bagan is to ballon over Lake Inle, a different but as good experience (a comparative post will follow). The 5am cold…
Kalaw and Pindaya Caves
Established by the British as a hill station with a more agreeable climate, Kalaw is a popular spot between Mandalay and Lake Inle for hiking. The town retains a frontier…
Mandalay
After several days in rural Myanmar Mandalay was a real shock to the senses, a chaotically busy city of two million people, most of whom seem to own a scooter.…
Community Lodge near Myaing, and Sagaing
One of the best community experiences I’ve had, this lodge was a few kilometres from Myaing in central Myanmar, about a third of the way between Bagan and Mandalay. It…
Ballooning over Bagan, and visiting Mt Popa
Hot air balloons are an iconic part of the image of Bagan, with dozens flying every morning at sunrise across the archaeological zone, scenic from the ground, and even better…
Bagan
If you like Buddhist temples then Bagan is for you, with over 2,000 in a relatively small area, easily explored by bike or on foot. They date back to the…
Yangon
Formerly Rangoon, capital of Burma, now Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city is a fascinating blend of the old and increasingly new. It was basically a village until the British made it…
Devonport
One of the most pleasant suburbs in Auckland, Devonport is blessed with an idyllic location across the harbour from Auckland CBD, and some of the best preserved heritage in the…
Volcán Pacaya
I bookended my month in Central America with two trips up Volcán Pacaya, near Guatemala City and Antigua. Understandably it’s a popular half day trip, exploring an accessible and relatively…
Lake Atitlán and Totonicapan
A spectacular natural wonder, Lake Atitlán is surrounded by several >3,000m volcanoes and a number of villages and towns, the attractions of which decline rapidly with increasing size. The largest…
Around San Cristobal de las Casas
Of more interest than the town itself are the day trip options from San Cristobal de las Casas, visiting fascinating local communities, and enjoying the natural beauty of canyons, waterfalls…
San Cristobal de las Casas
A very pleasant Spanish colonial era city in Southern Mexico, San Cristobal de las Casas is an understandably popular place, for it’s local history and architecture, and nearby natural beauty.…
Uxmal and Kabáh
Probably my favourite Mayan sites in Mexico, Uxmal and Kabáh were certainly the least busy, which helped considerably, but were also home to some of the most elaborate facades and…
Merida
The capital and largest city in the Yucatan, Mérida dates back to the Spanish Colonial era, with many buildings from then remaining. Laid out on a grid system, like Antigua…
Chichen Itza and Palenque
Two of the largest, best known, and most popular Mayan sites in Mexico, Chichen Itza and Palenque offer quite different experiences. Voted one of the ‘Seven New Wonders of the…
Cobá, cenotes and Playa del Carmen
A varied couple of days exploring more Mayan ruins, my first cenotes, and as little time in Playa del Carmen as possible. A couple of things made Cobá a little…
Tulum
Home to the third most popular archeological site in Mexico (after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza), Tulum is an increasingly popular spot on the Mayan Riveria, though far less developed than…