Burma

Burma is in the southeast asia, bordering, among other countries with China e India, the two giants of the area. However, Myanmar, as it is also known, it is not small, since it has almost seven hundred thousand square kilometers.

In such a wide territory, you have many things to see. There are big cities as your capital, Yangon, but also small towns that seem to have stopped in time. Likewise, it has majestic temples, but also with wonderful landscapes and mountain routes. In addition, it is a land of strong Buddhist influence that has been opened to tourism not long ago. If you want to know a little more about Burma, we encourage you to continue reading.

What to see in Burma

From what we just told you, Myanmar is a diamond in the rough from a tourism perspective. Relatively recently, it has been incorporated into the circuits in Southeast Asia and its monumental and scenic wonders still do not receive millions of people a year. In any case, we are going to show you some of the best.

Yangon, the former capital of the country

This populous city of more than five million people was the capital of Burma until 2005 and continues to be the main point of entry into the country. However, it is not a particularly beautiful city, at least if we compare it with others.

In any case, it has things you must visit. This is the case of the religious complex of Shwedagon, in which the pagoda of the same name stands out. It is a spectacular stupa (in Burma they are called payas) one hundred meters high and bathed in gold. Although the legend gives it 2500 years old, experts date it between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries of our era. From the point of view of Buddhism, it is the most important in the country, since it houses relics of its own Buddha.

It is not the only stupa you can see in Rangoon. We also advise you to visit the Sule pagoda, octagonal in shape and equally golden dome, or the Chaukhtatgyi pagoda, which houses a colossal figure of Buddha, as happens in the Paya Ngahtatgyi.

Naipyidó, the ghost town

While it is the administrative capital from Burma since 2005, we do not include it here as a recommendation, but because it is a curiosity. It was artificially created in a rural area and is said to cover an area six times that of New York. However, it has a very small population. In fact, the number of inhabitants is unknown, although it is estimated at one million, which is nothing for such a huge place. We do not advise you to visit it, but if you do, be sure to see the huge Buddhist stupa of uppatasanti.

Bagan, the city of temples in Burma

Located on the main plateau of the country, on the shores of the Irrawaddy River, has recently been declared Heritage for its wonderful temples. It is said that there are four thousand, but the ones you must visit in an essential way are those of Ananda, from the eleventh century and called "Burmese Westminster Abbey" for its majesty; sulamani, from XII and whose translation means "Jewel in the crown"; dhammayangyi, unmistakable for its brown color in an area where they are almost all golden, and Shwezigon, surrounded by four clowns each of which has an image of Buddha.

Mandalay, another Burmese wonder

Another essential visit on your trip to Burma is the city of Mandalay, whose evocative name is a preview of everything you can see in it. To start, get lost in the narrow streets of its old town, full of bustle and bars.

But above all, visit the precious Mandalay Palace, where the last king of the country lived. It is located inside the citadel and was built in the XNUMXth century. It consists of several buildings with overlapping roofs and, as an anecdote, we will tell you that the number of them that each construction has indicates its importance.

You must also see in Mandalay the spectacular Mahamuni temple, which houses a no less imposing figure of Buddha. Continuing with the legends and anecdotes, we will tell you that it is considered the only true copy that exists of him in the world.

Finally, if you find yourself capable of climbing its 1700 steps, come to Mandalay Hill, from which you will get spectacular views of the city.

Hsipaw, an alternative visit

It is precisely from Mandalay that the Myanmar's most spectacular rail tour, only suitable for adventurers. It reaches the city of lashio, but stands out for its impressive landscapes and, above all, for the Gokteik viaduct, a fragile metal structure almost seven hundred meters from the surface.

The train also stops in the town of Hsipaw, which offers you an alternative visit in Burma outside of the tourist circuits. In this city you will see what the daily life of the inhabitants of the Asian country is like and you can also visit Little Bagan, the Shan palace and muslim mosque. But above all, go up to the Hill of the Five Buddhas, from which you will appreciate a spectacular sunset.

Kakku Stupa Forest

As you can see, all of Burma is full of temples and stupas. But if you want to see a truly unique landscape in the Asian country, visit the stupa forest of Kaku. It is a huge walk framed by 2500 little clowns, each one with its figure of Buddha, that will leave you really impressed.

Inle Lake, a magical place in Burma

Located in the shan mountains At almost nine hundred meters of altitude, navigating this lake is magical. For starters, it looks more like a river, being a hundred kilometers long by only five wide. But, in addition, on its banks there are two hundred villages whose inhabitants, the Inta (o "Sons of the lake"), retain all the traditional Burmese charm.

Mount Popa and its monastery

Another place wrapped in mysticism It is Mount Popa. It is enough that you see him, lonely on the plain, for you to understand what we mean. In addition, at its top is the beautiful taung kalat monastery, which seems to have been magically placed there.

To climb to the top you must ascend 777 steps. But be careful with the things you carry because endless monkeys they guard the monastery and will seize them with the slightest carelessness you have.

The beaches of Ngapali, the lesser known Burma

Logically, in a country the size of Burma there had to be equally magnificent beaches. In your case, they are in the area of Ngapali. They are beginning to be exploited by tourism, but they still retain a certain virgin air. Enjoying them will allow you to relax after so much visit.

When is it better to travel to the Asian country

Burma has different types of climates. But, in general, it dominates the Southeast Asia. That is, you can find yourself two seasons: the wet and the dry. The first, in addition to being rainy, is the monsoon season and it is suffocatingly hot, so we do not recommend it.

It is better that you visit the country in the dry season, specifically between December and March. However, the first of these months coincides with the high season, for which the prices are more expensive. For all these reasons, we advise you to travel to Burma between January and March.

What to eat in Burma

One of the best ways to get to know a country is by tasting its gastronomy. At least a visit is incomplete if you don't try it. Burmese cuisine is greatly influenced by that of its neighbors China, India y Thailand. Consequently, the rice It is a fundamental ingredient in their dishes and the raw materials also stand out as Andaman Sea Fish.

As for the first, they prepare a glutinous rice or presented as a compact mass that in its variety nga shaykh it is taken for breakfast. Likewise, noodles o noodles they are an essential ingredient.

Regarding the typical dishes, the soups, called hingyo, although the acidic ones are called chiyei. For its part, ngapi They are fermented prawns that are eaten with vegetables and rice; the lephet thoke is a tea leaf salad, which also has cabbage and peanuts, and the hto-hpu nwe It consists of a chickpea flour paste with pork or chicken and garnished with paprika and aromatic herbs.

But the national dish of Burma is mohinga, some rice noodles accompanied by fish and onion broth. You can also take other ingredients like vegetables, boiled eggs, fried lentils and even crispy banana tripe.

But you can also try the burmese curry, which is accompanied by almost everything, although it always has rice, vegetables, herbs, tofu and sauce ngapi ye. Finally the nan gyi thoke It has large fried noodles with chicken, sliced ​​fish, boiled egg and bean sprouts.

To finish your typical meal, you also have sweets in Burma. In fact, take a tea with cakes It is a whole tradition among the inhabitants of the country. The most popular are the mount, a kind of bun sweetened with raisins and coconut, and the bein moun (we assume that mount means something like cake), which are fluffy and sweet cakes.

However, if you prefer fruit, you have some that you will not see in Spain. For example, him durian. But we must warn you that its smell is not exactly pleasant. In fact, there are those who have called her "The stinkiest fruit in the world". However, once you have overcome that impact, their meat has a peculiar flavor.

When it comes to beverages, the the in its different variants it is the national one. But Burmese also consume a lot beer and even Sake. Most indigenous to the area is the tuba, an alcoholic beverage that is obtained from the coconut palm.

How to get to Burma

The best way to enter the Asian country is through the Yangon International Airport. They also have it Mandalay, y Naypyidaw, but flights from abroad are rare.

Once in Burma, to move between cities, the best are the lines of bus. You can find them of all kinds, from modern vehicles with air conditioning to small vans of about thirty passengers. You also have the possibility to rent a car with driver, but it is not cheap. Also, another way to travel is using the boats that flow through the rivers of the country.

Finally, to tour the big cities, you also have buses. But more typical are rickshaws, so popular in this area of ​​Asia. More original are the sidecars and thoun bein, with three wheels and similar to Tuk tuk de Thailand. However, the preferred means of urban transport for the natives is the bike. In all major cities you will find rental points for them.

In conclusion, Burma is a beautiful country not yet exploited much by the big tour operators. However, this is already changing because it offers you wonderful temples y an exuberant and spectacular nature. Do you dare to know the Asian country?