In this week’s post, Trudy and I take you through the ancient and incredible city of Bagan in Myanmar, we travelled there earlier this year and had some wonderful experiences. Bagan was one of my favourite places in South East Asia.

Imagine red, dusty roads and a horizon on all directions silhouetted by thousands of ancient Buddhist temples. Some are in ruins and completely empty, waiting to be explored. Others are still as grand as ever, huge golden Buddhas nestled serenely within. Some are climbable and lend you jaw-dropping views of gorgeous pink hued sunsets, others are better suited for the early morning sunrise. Gaze on as hot air balloons ascend slowly and skim the sky above the staggering temple vista. Got your camera? I hope so.

Welcome to Bagan.

Monks stroll through the temples, as a horse & cart winds its way through the dust.

We were in Bagan for 4 nights in total, and we rented bikes for 3 days to give us a chance to explore this Myanmar gem.

To give a brief historical account, Bagan is all about the temples. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, the Bagan (the capital of the Pagan Empire) built over 10,000 temples. Today, almost 2,300 temples remain – almost all of which can be explored to your heart’s content! Trust me, after Bagan you’ll be templed out, but the adventures that precede that point will be forever memorable.

As we rode around, it was a normal affair to pass clickety-clopping horse and carts, old motorbikes manned by locals would beep as they whizz past, sending up faint trails of dust to puff amongst the balmy air.

Wandering the myriads of temples is certainly one way to pass your time in Bagan, but let me tell you about the tofu – yep, the tofu.

My favourite dish from all of Myanmar was this:

This happens to be a tomato tofu curry, and it was amaaaaaazing. I’m not vegetarian (Trudy is), but I couldn’t get enough of this stuff. It wasn’t like the normal tofu you can get back home. Myanmar tofu (from the Shan state) is made from yellow split peas, and the taste and texture will blow your mind! This should be top of your food list if your heading to the Shan state area of Myanmar

Buddhism still plays a huge role in day-to-day Myanmar life now, as it did in the past. Expect to see Buddhas of all shapes and sizes, huge golden and glorious statues and small and ancient picturesque artworks.

It was possible to climb many of the temples, which was awesome as this lent stunning views across the plains, where the thousands of temples are scattered willy-nilly.

Trudy even found time for a spot of Yoga.

Since my Yoga skills are poor at best, I had to settle for some jumping.

A flag flies lazily in the heat, as a flock of birds soar above this crumbling beauty.

The locals of Bagan were a friendly, hard-working bunch. If you’re going backpacking to SE Asia, Myanmar deserves to be on the list along with the Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam trinity. It’s not as “easy” to travel as Thailand, but the rewards are worth it.

Active Backpacker | Bagan: Travel This Ancient City Of Myanmar

I touch on the personal and shed a few thoughts on being home, but this is also a research post – it’s time to round up some of the best camping spots that I would love to check out in Australia!

So it’s been a little quiet around here lately. I’m back home, in Australia, and I’ve been re-adjusting to life.

Is the travelling over? Of course not, it never is.

However I am actually excited to start exploring my own country, before I had left Australia to discover the rest of the world I had absolutely no interest in seeing all that Australia had to offer. Sure I’ve been to Sydney and Melbourne and Adelaide and down a fair bit along the coast, but Australia is HUGE and the checklist of what I have done here is minuscule.

Europeans love Australia, and Australians love Europe – oh the irony. Often it can feel like the grass is always greener. You know what though? It’s slowly dawning on me that Australia has some very green grass indeed! Doing some camping is high on the list, so let’s discover some of the brilliant camping areas found around Australia.
 

Fraser Island (Queensland)

This one is closest to where I am living at the moment (Brisbane!). Immerse yourself amongst the white sandy beaches and explore the rain forests and freshwater lakes found amongst the island.

Over 184,000 hectares, get ready to go camping on the largest sand island in the world.

Why I’ve never been before is a mystery – this is the first one I’ll be knocking off the list! It’s good to be home!

Main Range, Kosciuszko National Park (NSW)

The track along here, known as the “Main Range Track”, is considered one of the greatest day walks in Australia. The best time to experience this walk and the number of campsites in the area is between December and March when the Australian wild flowers are in full bloom.

This area is a national park and is about 5 hours drive from Sydney, I’ve been skiing around here before in winter but never came in summer. It’s on my to-do list, what about yours?
 

Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay (NSW)

The gorgeous white sands of Booderee National Park is an absolute gem for camping. This area really showcases Australian bush at its best with some amazing walking trails. There are three camp sites to choose from in the area: Green Patch, Bristol Point and Cave Beach.

Ryan’s Den, Great Ocean Walk (VIC)

How’s this for a view from the toilet?

Ryan’s Den is a campsite found along the 7 day “Great Ocean Walk”, it’s a basic camp site with a composting toilet and fabulous views.

The Great Ocean Walk is another Aussie adventure that I want to conquer!
 

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park (WA)

Welcome to stunning Western Australia. This is Lucky Bay.

Famed for having one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, watch out for the Kangaroos that like to laze in the pristine white sand.

The campsite here acts on a first-come, first-serve basis (you cannot make bookings ahead). Bring along your camping equipment and gas stove, and don’t forget your swimmers and snorkel – this is a little slice of paradise.

So there you have it, some of the awesome camping spots found all throughout Australia. We can’t touch Europe on history, but we rival the best of them when it comes to nature!

Image credit: lucazappa | tk_five_0 | sydneydawg2006 | jaroslavd | murrayvalleybushwalkers | alioc | graeme | 64250623@N08

This post was brought to you in partnership with Thomas and Argos.co.uk.

Active Backpacker | Discover The Five Best Camping Spots In Australia

A fun little guide on what to do in Portland based on our personal experiences!

At first glance Portland is a city of bridges, a vista of grey buildings lend it a working class industrial look and you could even go so far as to say it’s a bit ugly. Luckily, this is simply a thin outer veneer that when scratched reveals a rough-hewn gem ready to be explored.

Generally, and definitely to those living in the North-West of The States, Portland’s reputation precedes it. Most people are aware that Portland is a buzzing and vibrant hub where artists, hipsters, gastronomy lovers and hippies all blend together to form a creative crockpot of cultures and people endeavouring to lead a more unconventional lifestyle.

If you’re into vintage clothes, know how to use Photoshop on your MacBook and have a sleeve tattoo, it’s easy to image you would be sipping a local craft beer in a trendy Portland pub.

There are three things I think Portland is especially “known” for, and that’s what I’m going to share here. Microbreweries overflowing with independent craft beers, food trucks serving up delicious organic fare & quirky vintage clothes shops and funky stores. We did a bit of each, and it was awesome!

Microbreweries: Portland Loves Craft Beer

Everyone knows Portland does craft beers, and when you start nosing around it won’t take long to realise the choice of local brews is staggering. The city is literally teeming with microbreweries, we went to four very different ones to get a feel for the craft beer scene.

McMenamins – Kennedy School

This little brewery concocts a magical mixture of craft beers which it sells amongst it’s infamous brand of McMenamins spots. We checked out “Kennedy’s” which was an old school that had been expertly converted into a hotel, dipping pool, multiple bars and a restaurant. It was funkily decorated and if you’re in Portland, you should definitely go! Find the Boiler Room Bar inside, and try the Ruby Ale – or if you’re feeling particularly adventurous get a “Rubinator” (Terminator Porter mixed with Ruby Ale).

More info: McMenamins – Kennedys School
 

Deschutes

Classy decor with detailed wood carvings and a friendly atmosphere, Deschutes was the next brewery we investigated. Large windows afforded a view of the huge bronze brewing vats. We ordered a tasting selection and then some food – the beers were great, but the food was average. Ah well, it IS a microbrewery!

More info: Deschutes Brewery
 

Rogue

This is more like a normal pub in terms of decor. They don’t show off any brewing vats in the background and it doesn’t feel overly fancy, but the beers have won some international prizes and are certainly worthy of acclaim. It’s also quite a relaxed atmosphere and you can tell everyone is welcome.

Their Amber Ales and IPA’s have won immense numbers or awards so make sure you try them. Trudy and our friend Jane loved the chocolate stouts, perfect for a chilly January day!

More info: Rogue Brewery
 

Bridgeport

Having sampled quite a few beers at this point, we were ready to slow down. The place was definitely busy and they had a decent range of microbrews on tap – it seemed like a popular place and it had an upstairs and downstairs level.

We went for a pale “Summer” ale that was a refreshing finish to the day even if it was the middle of winter…

Overall it was great to see Portland this way and try out some of the local craft brews. Portland is very big into IPAs which I would not say are my favourite type of brew (I like a subtle honey kick or a unique flavour without any overpowering bitterness).

More info: Bridgeport Brewery
 

Food Trucks: Portland Gastronomica

There was no way we were leaving Portland without slotting in a quintessential “food truck” experience. We stopped in at a little parking lot showcasing a couple of promising looking food trucks. We went for the one specialising in Mexican and the other in Crepes & Milkshakes. It did not disappoint.

Trudy got a Vegan Burrito and I grabbed myself a Chicken Burrito and a Fish Taco. Both were awesome – especially the taco! Yum!

We also tried a couple of milkshakes, one being Lavender and Honey which was a bit of heaven in a cup. No seriously, super tasty.

We chatted with the bloke behind the Mexican food truck, he couldn’t believe that Portland was known for its food trucks in Australia. He was so amazed he accidentally overcharged me for the fish taco, but he picked up the mistake (I hadn’t even noticed) and made sure to pay me back.

All around Portland there are areas where food trucks abound, if in the area, this is a must-do. In fact, do it more than once. Eat at a food truck for lunch everyday you’re there!

It’s Vintage Shopping Time!

No trip to Portland is complete without playing spot-the-hipster. We wandered around Hawthorne Boulevard, stopping for coffee at the Waffle Window – a Portland icon famous for selling delicious waffles through a little booth window. Unfortunately it was far too cold to be selling waffles through a window when we were there so we settled for warming up inside with coffee and sampling all the different flavours they had on offer which were all equally amazing.

Directly opposite was the Red Light Clothing Exchange, possibly one of the most famous vintage stores in Portland and where our game of spot-the-hipster really took off. One of my personal favourites was a bloke in fluro rainbow leggings, a flannelette shirt, black boots and of course an epic beard. Everyone was really lovely though, I didn’t find that there was any air of pretension and everyone we spoke to was very friendly.

Hawthorne is a neighbourhood filled with awesome boutiquey little shops. Powells book store is yet another Portland icon that had me in book heaven wandering the aisles and exclaiming over the huge variety of cycling culture books available (of course). Just wandering around the neighbourhood I found a huge selection of beautiful gifts, clothing and books.

Everywhere we went in Portland we discovered quirky and unique stores, I could have easily spent a months travel budget in this town. If you are after a bit of a shopping spree make sure you also check out NW 23rd Avenue. While a little bit more chain storey than Hawthorne it had a wide variety of fun shops to discover including Pottery Barn, Kiehls, Paper Source & Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe.

Portland definitely lived up to its reputation and we loved exploring it and sampling all it had to offer (take me back to those food trucks!) If you are on the western coast of the states is definitely worth a trip up north and make sure you include its big sister Seattle in your itinerary!

Active Backpacker | What To Do In Portland: Microbreweries, Food Trucks & Vintage

This guest post was brought to you in partnership with Carly on behalf of Travel Zoo, the “beaten path” is always a topic of hot debate – a very interesting post!”

A well travelled road – the Eiffel Tower, but still so magical to see! – Image Credit

Experienced backpackers sneer at it, travel brochures discuss “getting off” it at every opportunity, and no-one can really say conclusively what constitutes it or not. What am I talking about? The so-called “beaten track” that’s what. Although you may have been lead to believe that you should try and avoid it at all costs, in reality it has certain advantages worth mentioning. Today we’ll explore a few of these reason…

It’s Cheaper

When lots of people travel to a place, budget airlines sniff a money-making scheme, and before you know it they are offering bargain holidays with a price tag that appeals to budget travellers. There is no stopping you hopping on a flight to the popular destination and then heading out on your own adventure down the lesser trodden paths.

Friendly Faces

Even the bravest amongst us can find landing in a foreign country with nothing but your backpack and a (nervous) smile an intimidating experience. This inevitable fear is something that many travellers thrive on, but they’ll also be forgiven for needing a little period to acclimatise. It is much easier starting your travels in a place where you are surrounded by backpackers with whom you can share experiences and tips, and enjoy a friendly beer or two whilst getting yourself adjusted to this foreign country. Once you feel braver, head off alone – but the safety blanket of knowing that other travellers are around is not to be sniffed at.

Sacred Stone Henge – beaten track or not? – Image Credit

It’s Easy To Get Around

Anyone who has landed in Bangkok will tell you that finding a bus to your next destination is the easiest thing in the world – travel shops quite literally line the streets of backpacker hang outs, and all of the touts speak respectable English. You will be easily able to communicate where you want to go and at what time. Being able to sort things out this easily at this stage will build your confidence so when the time comes to negotiate the private motorbike tour with the guide who speaks no English – you will be well-versed in negotiation.

Share Experiences

Even the hardiest of travellers will crave a beer and a chat with someone from home at some stage in their travels. You should make the most of these inevitable meetings and use them to learn about where others have been. You may meet someone who tells you about a wonderful family that they stayed with in the jungle, how you should get there and who you should ask for. You don’t find these tips in travel brochures. This word-of-mouth knowledge is the best source of information you will find on the road.

There’s A Reason Why It’s Beaten!

Why would so many people have been there before you if there wasn’t something wonderful to experience? Exactly. Don’t turn your nose up at what the road most travelled has to offer, or you might miss out on some spectacular sights and experiences. If the beaten track is a thing of the past then why is the Eiffel Tower so popular, why do hundreds of thousands of revellers flock to the Rio carnival ever year… because it’s fantastic, awe-inspiring, and actually worth the visit!

Surely the Rio Carnival is worth the visit? – Image Credit

Active Backpacker | When The “Beaten Track” Can Come In Handy

This guest post was brought to you in partnership with Carly on behalf of Car Hire Market. Canada has, without a doubt, some of the most gorgeous hiking trails in the world! Enjoy!

Wherever you choose to visit in Canada, you’re never far from the wilderness, nor the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. Any trip through Canada is enhanced by taking to the road to absorb as much of the country – and its spectacular scenery – as possible.

A Gorgeous Hiking Trail in Canada – Image Credit

Although Canadians strive to preserve their country’s natural beauty, the roads here are well kept and usually easy to drive, although of course take extra care in cold weather! Car hire is easily arranged even in Canada’s smaller towns, so you can stay eco-friendly and save money by renting only when you need to drive, and hiking, biking or using public transport the rest of the time. Canadians are very hospitable, too, with plenty of cool accommodation ranging from palatial hotels in the fashionable ski resorts, to cosy lodges tucked away in the forests, and beautiful campsites along the trails.

With the practicalities sorted, it’s time to find your perfect place to hike – and you’re spoilt for choice in Canada! Although Western Canada does offer a particularly wide diversity of landscapes and sights to see. Here’s a guide to the best hikes the country has to offer.

Alberta and the Rocky Mountains

In a province that’s often dominated by the Rocky Mountains, many of the trails that offer some of the best hiking and scenery in the world are located in Alberta. Start in Banff National Park and you’ll find your car invaluable, giving you time to take in as many routes as possible.

Moraine Lake Sunrise at Banff National Park – Image Credit

Lake Louise is an obvious choice for hiking around, since it’s one of Canada’s most iconic natural sights.

Lake Louise at Banff National Park – Image Credit

The most famous hike here is the Plain of Six hike, which is open to hikers of all abilities. Spend a full day exploring your surroundings, with mountains, glaciers, forests and their wild inhabitants all accompanying you on your journey. Whilst in Banff, also check out the trails at the Stanley Glacier and journey south to walk the famous hike from Sunshine Village to the glorious Mount Assinboine.

The trails at Wilcox Ridge and Parker Ridge take you from Banff into Jasper National Park. These two hikes are located close to each other and are a great way to spend a few hours exploring the fine glacier views. Once in Jasper, make sure you set aside a few days to enjoy the Skyline Trail, which will take you on a 26km hike along one of the finest mountain routes in the country. Throughout your time hiking through the Rockies, keep your eyes peeled for eagles, bears and moose, amongst many of the iconic animals of Canada that live in the mountains.

Canadian Brown Bear – Image Credit

British Columbia

Sitting on Canada’s Western Coastline, British Columbia brings the best of Alberta’s mountain trails and adds the lure of the Pacific coast. The Kinney Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is arguably one of the most stunning hikes in the province. It provides spectacular views of the imposing Mount Robson and takes you over 23km through the park and past glaciers and lakes. The park is extremely well set up for hiking and there are many campsites available if you want to explore the whole trail, which is great for beginners and expert hikers.

Vancouver Island offers up the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to explore the Pacific coast whilst drinking in the skyline of the Olympic Mountain. Take your pick of doing a day hike or taking a few days to completely explore the trail, which stretches over 47km in total, using the bays and beaches as your stops along the way.

Vancouver Island – Image Credit

Active Backpacker | 5 Excellent Hikes In Western Canada

Seattle might be rainy, but nothing dampens the mood of the bustling and lively Pike Place markets in Seattle that run along the river. We arrived to explore in the late afternoon so we could stroll around and finish with the sunset.

As tacky as it may be, we couldn’t resist ducking into the original Starbucks, the first ever store of the now massively global brand. We had to wait a long time for our coffees which started to wear thin on our patience, but we amused ourselves looking at the weird & crappy logo that Starbucks used to have.

Coffees acquired, we began to meander through the famous Pike Place markets.

From handmade wooden goods and jewellery to homemade jams of weird & wonderful flavours and lots of fresh produce you can certainly fill a few quality hours investigating Pike Place.

So much fresh amazingness.

The sun began to set lighting up the area in gorgeous hues of orange, purple and red. Walking along Pike Place allows you great views of the water and it was the perfect time to do it. I snapped a few shots of the sunset as a ferry was drifting lazily past in the harbour. A local walked up to me and said ‘You can’t get more Seattle than that’. I couldn’t agree more and it was beautiful.

Our friend Jane who was showing us around the North West is a Seattle local and is incredibly proud of her friendly city. She positioned us in front of the Pike Place Fish Market to witness the famous fish throwing in action. I had studied the Fish Philosophy at work a couple of years back so it was a lot of fun to see the energetic fishmongers at work.

Let’s hope the other guys catches it!

Us with our lovely friend Jane – a Seattlite born and bred.

We finished the market adventure by ducking into Beecher’s, which was an awesome store that made it’s own cheese (with wide glass windows to show you the machines and cheese makers at work). It’s also an iconic Pike Place store, having been there for such a long time.

We couldn’t resist grabbing the “World’s Best Mac & Cheese” – and you know what? It was damn tasty (maybe it IS the world’s best?).

A busker marvelled us by simultaneously balancing a guitar on his chin, playing harmonica, singing, playing ANOTHER guitar across his chest and doing the odd strum and flip on the guitar balanced on his chin…oh, all whilst doing the Hoola Hoop! Sounds crazy right? We snapped a pic – was a random fun sighting, that’s for sure!

Seattle has a laidback, genuine vibe that to be honest won us over more than it’s trendy neighbour Portland. This city makes you feel like you can be whatever you want to be and you will be accepted. On a chilly winters afternoon we felt like a relaxing wander through a market with a wonderful friend and that’s exactly what Pike Place provided.

Click the photos below and above for the super HD version. Go on, you know you want to!

Active Backpacker | Pike Place Markets in Seattle

Famous for its fire spinning, Haad Rin beach at night explodes into a launchpad for furious fire twirlers eager to strut their stuff.

You may know of Haad Rin Beach in Kho Phangan due to the infamous full moon party. I’ve been to one before, and whilst an epic experience it’s a post in itself so I won’t derail my own thread of thought here. This time around we were visiting Haad Rin at a quieter period between full moons, only one bar was heaving at night, the notorious Cactus Bar.

The fire spinners rock in at around 9.30 – 10.00 PM and do a slow warm-up whilst sipping on a few Chang beers. Shirtless and wearing skinny jeans, they start spinning with relaxed ease.

Click me, I’m HD! – Kicking off the fire spinning with style.

This is a little video we made using my iPhone 3GS (yep, still have a 3GS ), so the quality is not the best but gives you a taster of the speed and skill of these guys to complement the photos below.

The youngest one, still obviously an apprentice, is the most theatrical of the group, although more accident prone than his older counterparts.

Prone to theatrics!

Click me, I’m HD! – Showing us how it’s done. Just a quick flick of the foot and you’re off.

Flashing a bit of the Calvin!

Sometimes they shake off the excess fuel in a roar of flame before starting the spin (and yes, that’s a white boy. The others even referred to him as “white boy”.)

Click me, I’m HD! – I love the shadows & silhouettes in this shot.

Most of them are super skinny! I guess a product of sweating and fire twirling every night.

This guy with the pony tail was one of the best, he was so fast it was unbelievable.

Woah, burn it up much?

Click me, I’m HD! – White Boy shows off his own fire bursting skill.

The tricks of the trade.

I’m guessing it’s called the “Helicopter” but I’m not an industry pro.

Click me, I’m HD! – Ponytail looking relaxed (even a bit bored?)

This fire spinner had a mean underswing that would come incredibly close to his body.

Oops? It ain’t foolproof kids, don’t try this at home!

So if you find yourself on Koh Phangan on Haad Rin beach, grab yourself a bucket (just one, mind – those things are dangerous ) and sit down and enjoy the show.

Active Backpacker | Fire Spinning: Twirling Fury In Haad Rin, Koh Phangan

The Sagrada Familia is an absolute gem. If you’re going to Barcelona, don’t miss this. I’m not religious, yet I found Antoni Gaudi’s Basilica simply stunning. This is beyond worthy of being Gaudi’s shining legacy, his life’s work.

Hot, balmy days are a common occurrence in Barcelona. We trudged our way to the Sagrada Familia unsure exactly what to expect. The one piece of advice we did receive was “make sure you go inside”. Lucky we had this to go on, as when we arrived the queue to get in stretched right around the block. A bit daunting, as no-one enjoys lining up in the heat. Dreaming of frozen yoghurt we waited patiently in line.

So how did the Sagrada Familia come to be?

The basilica has a long history, and is still not actually finished. Construction commenced in 1882. Gaudi is known for stating that his “client is not in a hurry” and in fact, upon Gaudi’s death in 1926 the building was only around 20% complete.

Luckily Gaudi has left behind models and blueprints so that the building can be finished as per his grand design. According to the official leaflet, due to new and advanced construction techniques they estimate the Sagrada Familia will be complete in 2028. Whether it’s finished or not, it was already insanely impressive when we visited and a true example of how one man’s dream could continue on through the generations.

Standing outside the front entrance at the “Passion” facade.

So we were in the queue, and it actually went surprisingly fast, and we walked up the steps to explore the basilica. The outside was amazing (if a little weird), but the inside was glorious.

Columns rise up to the incredibly high roof, you’ll find yourself doing a slack jawed 360 trying to take it all in.

The idea of nature takes a huge role in Gaudi’s vision and design of the Sagrada Familia.

Beautiful stained glass windows are a given, splashing multitudes of colour across the towering pillars and gentle stonework.

It was so beautiful and impressive, we spent hours gazing around and exploring the Church.

You can also climb up the towers of the Sagrada Familia, which lent great views out over the city of Barcelona and quirky tops of the towers that look like clumped berries.

At the other side of the church, you are met with the more traditional “Nativity” facade (I say more traditional as the sculptures are done in the classic Neo-Gothic style.)

One of my favourite sculptures is the knight riding a horse, found on the “Passion” facade – if you head underneath the building there is a comprehensive overview of the sketches and real life models used to help in the construction.

So what are you waiting for? Book yourself a hostel or hotel in Barcelona and see the stunning building with your own eyes.

Trust me, these photos don’t even come close to doing it justice. It was one of my favourite experiences from our trip to Barcelona.

This post was brought to you in partnership with HostelBookers.

Active Backpacker | Sagrada Familia: Antoni Gaudi’s Basilica Masterpiece in Barcelona

Yangon, grimy and dusty, yet full of smiling people naturally curious about the white tourists who fly in via Bangkok. Coming out of the airport we were met with the hotel bus, it looked like something from the 50′s that had survived a war zone – awesome!

The city is an amazing place to see, and a little bit dangerous to boot (and not for the reasons you might think). In some ways you feel a bit like a rockstar as everyone is looking at you, it’s quite unnerving at first because you just don’t get this in Thailand. The reason I mentioned that Yangon was “dangerous” is the mere fact that the streets are in such disrepair, dropping your leg into a gaping black hole is something that must be actively avoided. Thank goodness there isn’t much of a drinking culture in Myanmar, stumbling back to your hotel or guesthouse drunk is just asking to wake up on your back with a few rats and a stray dog.

Everyone we pass in Yangon wants to wave and say hello, a horn of a truck will beep loudly and three men will lean out and wave frantically. Children come running up to shyly say “Hello!” or “Bye!” and run away again.

Once the capital of Burma (let’s not get into that now), the city itself has numerous glorious Buddhist temples to attend. Motorcycles are banned so it’s an eclectic mix of old Toyota taxis (the best one we caught was held together with copious amounts of what looked like duct tape) and bicycle rickshaws.

Speaking English At A Local Class

You may remember the story of how we met Udama Parla at the Shwedagon Pagoda. Well he roped us into teaching English lessons at his English school, we jumped at the chance to meet some younger Myanmar locals curious about the outside world.

He picked us up bright and early at 7.30AM with his assistant. He had a brand new Toyota (no idea what that was about, must have been a donation to the temple!) and spirited us away to the class. Beforehand though, we stopped in for a traditional breakfast in Myanmar known as “Mohinga”. It’s a fish broth with noodles and deep fried banana stems. It’s delicious (if you can stomach it in the morning).

This is what Mohinga looks like. Yum!

This is the street side stall one can order Mohinga from!

Udama eating Mohinga with myself and a friend we made in Yangon (Erin!). Thanks for taking the photo, Trudy

Speaking English with the students was both rewarding and tiring, they were at different levels and the teacher very much left us to it which was a little daunting at first.

The classroom we were speaking to the students in.

We were split into 3 groups and Trudy had all men, and I had all women. It was great to hear about their lives living in Yangon. A few interesting tid-bits:

• A good monthly wage in Yangon was about 100,000 kyats (or $115 – $120 USD).
  I asked what the girls do for fun. They looked at me a bit confused. Fun? They didn’t have time for that really. Most of them worked 6 days a week and on their day off washing and chores had to be done. Maybe a movie if they were lucky.
• The boys in Trudy’s group sang a different tune. Football ranked primarily, and they knew everything about all the big players in Europe (and would watch the games). Most of them would play “Chinglone” – a game where one keeps a wooden cane ball in the air for as long as possible. Trudy also told me that most of them were obsessed with James Bond, and had watched every single movie. It’s still quite traditional in Myanmar, the women work/cook/clean and the men work and play.
• In Trudy’s group, three of the men were studying Engineering. Their ultimate goal was to get to Singapore as the work there is extremely well paid (compared to Myanmar).
• Many were from smaller villages, and admitted to me their dislike of Yangon and how dirty and big it was. They were only here for work or study, and in terms of living arrangements would rather be back at home.

Some of the students treated us for tea and snacks after class.

Afterwards, the teacher thanked us and presented us with a book of the story of Buddha which he had translated himself. It was in both English and traditional Myanmar lettering.

Walking back to our guesthouse, Trudy and I were both wiped from 3 hours of talking about ourselves and asking questions. We stopped in at a local restaurant and polished off an Indian curry (for under $1.00 each I might add) that was delicious.

Curry for under a $1.00. Whaaaat?
 

Funny Signs In Myanmar

We came across a few funny signs for businesses and what-not in Yangon. Couldn’t help but share them here.

I’m not sure how we live without Facebook Fashion in the west!

The REAL Walmart

The Spice Girls are still going strong here in Myanmar!
 

Bogoyke Market in Yangon

Every city has a market, and in Yangon it’s the Bogyoke Market. We had a poke around there to check it out, there were some great wooden carvings and other trinkets. Here you can go Longyi shopping (traditional Myanmar sarong worn by both men and women).

Trudy got a lot of attention and smiles when she wore a Longyi around – the locals loved it and appreciated it. I didn’t quite have the kahunas to wear one, my western impulses distressed at the thought of wearing a dress. I had to make do with my loose fisherman pants!

Obama visited Myanmar for 4 hours and met Aung San Suu Kyi. You can find this image everywhere in Myanmar now!

A colourful pile of Longyis!

There were lots of nice wooden carvings. We liked the three wise Chinese men, one resembles health, one wealth and the other education. Almost wish I had brought them now (they were about $25-$30 USD). However customs Australia and overseas wood products don’t play well together.

Yangon in Photos: The Cream of the Crop (+HD)

We got some fantastic shots of Yangon that hopefully help bring the city to life for you.

Some of our favourite photos can be clicked to load up the maximum quality HD version.

Click me, I’m HD! – Birds on the power lines as the sun begins to peep up in Yangon.

You like stuff?

I like stuff!

Probably the best way to get around Myanmar!

These are the public telephones. No phone boxes, just normal phones where you pay the person behind them for use.

Sweet bunting!

Click me, I’m HD! – This is probably the coolest monk we’ve ever seen. I dub him Mafia Monk.

Off to work?

This sprawling old British Colonial Building has been let to seed by the current government. I believe they’re now trying to sell it off! Such a waste.

Click me, I’m HD! – This train trundles its way through the rubbish and the slum.

How can you not pat this puppy?

Of course trying the local brew is a must!

Hanging outside our guest house, Motherland Inn 2, ready for an adventurous day!

Click me, I’m HD! – I love the blossoming of colour, this is Myanmar.

Have you been/want to go/are going to Myanmar? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Active Backpacker | Yangon: Dirty & Wonderful; Arriving In Myanmar

This round of Cinemagraphs features the quaint little city of Delft, in The Netherlands.

Here I’m in the main square of Delft, you can see the gorgeous buildings behind me and people make their way through the square on foot and bicycle as I adjust the zoom on our Canon camera.

We found a little bar tucked away in a side alley with live jazz. Oldies were dancing and good beers were flowing, I captured this moment with (almost) all the band in finger tapping action!

Active Backpacker | Travel Cinemagraph Series: A Touch of Dutch in Delft