Myanmar Activities

Myanmar may not be packed with modern kid-based thrills, but the combination of beautiful uncrowded beaches and cultural performances worthy of a National Geographic television special should provide parents with enough material to keep children entertained. Traditional puppetry performances and the wild animals at Yangon’s zoo are well worth the ticket price.

Beaches
Most visitors to Myanmar are surprised to learn that the country has no less than 10 unspoilt beach areas ripe for enjoyment. With the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Indian Ocean to the south, parents have plenty of choices if they want to get onto the sand and let the kids run wild. Coastal resorts are open from October to May. Although there aren’t as many water sport facilities available as in more developed countries, the sand is soft and the waters are clear and calm.

Pwe
One of the more entertaining cultural attractions in Myanmar is the traditional theatre known as pwe. This art form appears in myriad contexts, from performances at sporting events to weddings and religious festivals. The form that will most likely appeal to kids is the marionette theatre called yok-thei-pwe. Exquisitely crafted puppets reenact famous Burmese folk tales and other fun stories to the delight of young and old people. Nat pwe, or traditional dance, is another type of performance that is suitable for kids. All the main tourist towns have one form of theatre.

Yangon Zoo
While you’re in the capital Yangon, you can take your kids to the zoo. Myanmar’s only zoo may not blow your socks off, but more than 1,300 species of animal are housed here including some impressive beasts like hippos, rhinos, tigers and plenty of monkeys. With more than 15,000 trees on site, Yangon Zoo has a pleasant leafy feel to it and is a nice place at which to escape the heat. Website: www.yangonzoo.com/.

Myanmar is literally packed with amazing cultural attractions that have retained much of their traditional, timeless feel. From the one-legged boat rowers of Inle Lake to the spire-studded horizon at Bagan, there are some real global highlights waiting to be discovered. Since there is so little tourism in Myanmar, visitors have the added pleasure of exploring these ancient sites without the usual throngs of foreigners.

Bagan
You can’t talk about the heritage of Myanmar without mentioning the ancient town of Bagan, one of the real gems in this country. Even though only 3,000 of the 13,000 pagodas remain, the scene of the temples spread across the valley is surreal and rarely fails to impress visitors. During the golden age of the 11 great kings, Bagan was the centre of religious and cultural life in the region, and it’s easy to see why. This town is no relic, however. There is a wonderful handicraft market, a museum and plenty of places to eat and sleep.

Mandalay Palace
The ancient walled city at Mandalay was once one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in Southeast Asia. The immense structure was burned down in 1942 and only the base, its huge walls and wide moat remain. The ruins are still impressive and easily convey the prestige of this site, however. A large-scale model housed nearby will help you to recreate a mental image of what the palace was once like. Another highlight is the 729 marble slabs at Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contain important Buddhist scriptures.

Mandalay Palace Cultural Museum
While in Mandalay, make a stop at this interesting museum dedicated to the royal heritage of the region. Opened in 1996, most of the artefacts date from the Konbaung dynasty and other eras of short-lived royalty. Quirky exhibits like life-size models of King Mindon’s ministers stand next to regal costumes and lavish furniture dating back centuries.

Mawlamyine (Moulmein)
The crumbling colonial ambiance of this port town is probably what Mandalay and Yangon exuded before tourism and development set in. Its perfect state of decay makes Moulmein a popular stop on the city tour of Myanmar. Beautiful pagodas set against a stunning natural backdrop add to charm, and the ubiquitous elephants which plod along hauling teak logs up the bank are another unique aspect.

National Museum
Myanmar’s main cultural museum is located in the capital and contains a wide range of interesting artefacts. Lavish historical relics such as the Thihathana throne stand out, but there are plenty of obscure items extolling the natural and cultural heritage of this diverse nation. Everything from prehistoric era items to priceless Buddhist images are on display. The museum also features galleries dedicated to Myanmar’s contemporary artistic merits. The museum is located on Pyay road in Yangon. Phone: +95 1 282563.

Pindaya
With its famous lake and vast winding caves, Pindaya is one of the more unique cultural towns in Myanmar. Its main cave runs 490 feet into the mountain and contains 8,094 images of the Buddha made from every material imaginable. The many stalagmites and stalactites with names such as Fairy Princess Loom add to the mystique of the scene. Another marvelous feature of Pindaya is the banyan trees, which are among the largest on earth. Pindaya is located about 30 miles from Kalaw.

Pyay (Prome)
A two-day boat journey from Bagan will take intrepid travellers to the ancient town of Pyay, where you can wander the glorious remains of Myanmar’s largest archaeological site. This was once the ancient Pyu capital of Thayekhittaya, and many of the pagodas, ruins and city walls still stand in decent condition. Highlights include the massive seated Buddha at the hilltop Shwesandaw Pagoda and the smaller Pyu cities of Halin and Beikthano. The town’s small but informative museum is a good place to start. Pyay’s remoteness makes it one of the more exciting destinations in the country.

Temples
Don’t leave Myanmar’s capital without seeing its best Buddhist temples. At the top of the list is Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2,500-year-old stunner which is widely regarded as the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. Botataung Pagoda with its maze of mirrors in the interior and Sule Pagoda, a 2,000-year-old marvel, are also worth visiting. For something different, check out Maha Pasan Guha, also known as the Great Cave.

The cuisine in Myanmar is similar to that in neighboring countries, but ingredients vary slightly due to limited availability. In general, visitors can expect hot and spicy food wherever they go, although dishes are usually toned down for foreigners. As in most Southeast Asian countries, rice is the staple food, accompanied by a range of meats and vegetables.

Noodles play an equally important role in the daily diet of most Burmese, especially at breakfast time when a steaming bowl of spicy noodle soup is the preferred choice. Ample amounts of local vegetables, ginger, garlic and chili also feature in the simple but tasty Burmese menu. Fish is more common than meat thanks to Myanmar’s many rivers. Seafood comes steamed, grilled and fried, and can be found in just about every restaurant in the country. Chinese and Indian cuisines are also readily available in many of the hotels and larger cities.

Myanmar isn’t renowned for its cuisine, but some of the local specialties are quite tasty. Among the most popular dishes found throughout the country are lethok son, a spicy vegetarian rice salad; mohinga, a classic fish soup with noodles; and the wonderfully-named oh-no khauk swe, rice noodles cooked with chicken in coconut milk. The Burmese are also big fans of snacks, so expect to see some appealing items at the ubiquitous street stalls and in the fresh markets, especially in the evenings. Spiced tea is a popular drink found at every eatery, and locally-produced rice whiskey is a fiery specialty.

As the country continues to open up to tourism, the range and number of restaurants has followed suit. Sanitation has improved over the past few years, but you should still choose wisely when dining at the street stalls or markets. If you pay with the local free-market kyat currency, you’ll find that prices are very cheap.

The shopping options in Myanmar have improved now that the kyat is accepted as a free market currency. Regional handicrafts such as jewellery, textiles and wood carvings as well as colonial relics like coins and antiques are interesting purchases for visitors. The selection and quality of Myanmar’s goods are not as impressive as in neighboring countries, but you can find some unique items nevertheless. In larger towns, the local markets known as zay are good places to seek out something special. Street vendors in downtown areas cannot open until 18:00 by law, so you may find better shopping after dusk.

In Yangon, Bogyoke Aung San Market has a decent selection of crafts, souvenirs and food items. Chinatown is a good choice for coins, paintings and other antique souvenirs, while Shwedagon Paya’s entrance is lined with tiny stalls selling an interesting array of trifles. If you need a more modern shopping experience, Yangon’s Dagon Centre and FMI Centre have lots of utilitarian goods imported from China and Thailand.

In Mandalay, Zeigyo Market is your best bet. The goods in shops in hotels and large fancy outlets are much more expensive than those purchased at the local markets. There’s also a thriving scene for more modern knick-knacks like t-shirts, clothes and name brand knockoffs. If Buddhist relics are your thing, check out Yangon’s Phatahe Bazaar.

Most vendors in Myanmar are used to bartering over the price, and if you enjoy the art of haggling you’ll find shopping a fun experience here. Tourists are nearly always charged much higher prices than locals, so bargaining is a good idea.

Although much of Myanmar’s vast outdoor recreation market is yet to be developed for the enjoyment of tourists, there are still a number of activities you can do here. The beaches to the west and south of the capital are quiet and scenic, especially along the Rakhine coast. Walking and rock climbing can found in the east and northwest, while the white water rafting and scuba diving opportunities are incredible in Kachin State. Ecotourism is steadily growing under the watchful eye of the government, offering trekking into the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. If you just want to watch, Burmese boxing is the country’s most popular spectator sport.

Beaches
A little known detail of Myanmar is that there are some amazing beaches along the western and southern coastlines, as well as a bounty of tropical islands near the southern border with Thailand in the Burma Banks. There’s only one resort operating in the islands, but the mainland beaches farther up the coast have plenty of options for travellers. From October to May a trickle of visitors head to the Rakhine and Taninthayi coasts. Ngapali and Maung-ma-gan beaches are two of the best, offering long stretches of soft sand backed by swaying palms.

Rock Climbing
Myanmar’s hill stations such as Kalaw have a decent network of walking trails, and several sites in the east and northwest of the country are getting recognised for their rock climbing routes.

Scuba Diving 
Myanmar's unspoilt Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago promises to be the adventure of a lifetime. For over fifty years the Mergui Archipelago has been left largely untouched. Only recently has this vast and mysterious area been open to tourists, presenting hundreds of exiting new dive sites. Waters are teeming with majestic manta rays and sharks while sea eagles circle overhead.

Traditional Sports
There are two main national sports which are unique to Myanmar. Chinglone is widely regarded as the national pastime in which two teams of six try to keep a rattan ball in the air without using their hands. Burmese boxing is a particularly vicious version of the sport that appeals to the locals. Going to one of these boxing matches is always an exciting and raucous occasion.

Trekking
There are some amazing treks and wildlife safaris in Myanmar which allow access into the hinterlands of this beautiful country. The government controls the ecotourism industry, and treks into some regions like the southern end of the Himalayas can be expensive. However, the lack of crowds and undeveloped nature of the areas are worth the cost and effort. Some of the best national parks are Popa Mountain, Alaungdaw Kathapa, Hlawga and Shweesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary.

White Water Rafting
The Maykha River in Kachin State is the country’s best place to experience the thrill of white water rafting. The river runs through the only snowcapped peaks in Southeast Asia, providing some of the most stunning scenery in Myanmar. The area where the Maykha merges with the giant Irrawaddy River is fast becoming a popular tourism destination due to the sheer beauty of the site.