January Myanmar

This City used to be called Ragoon, has 5 million people and a vibrant street life of food stalls and markets.

The 26 square miles of plains contain most of the 2230 temples, many built by the Bagan Kings and built between 1057 – 1287, these are being preserved and restored by organisations such as UNESCO.

This is the 2nd Largest City in Myanmar. The U-Bein Bridge at 1.2 km long was built around 1850 and is believed to be the longest and oldest teakwood bridge in the world. Many crafts people work in the traditional way and it has some wonderful pagodas.

Inle Lake is the 2nd largest Lake in Myanmar and one of the highest at 2900 feet. In the dry Season the lake is around 7 ft deep up to 12 ft in the deepest parts. During the rainy season it can rise a further 5 ft. Most transportation is traditionally done by small boats or by slightly larger boats fitted with single cylinder diesel engines.

Some 70,000 people live in the four cities or small villages along the lake’s shore. Most are devout Buddhists and live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts. They are largely self-sufficient farmers.

Loikaw is the Capital of the Kayah State and until recently has been closed to outside visitors. It is home to around 12 ethnic minority tribes whose cultures are very much alive and can be seen. The Kayah ethnic group is the largest and was named after the bright crimson head wraps and shawls they wear.