Bagan, Myanmar

Giving soccer ball to village between Bagan and Mt. Popa.

Christmas 2013

Sunrise over Bagan

Sum It Up
No words can describe the mystical land of Bagan. By far, this is one of our family favorites.

Whereabouts
Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Shelter
Mid: Bagan Hotel River View, pay the extra money to get a room facing the Irrawaddy River. Location and amentities are available steps outside your hotel.
High: Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

Nourishment
Bagan Hotel River View has free breakfast but I would not go beyond the breakfast at this hotel.
and the food at Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort is mainly European fare. I have to admit that we stopped at Thiripyitsaya to get the kids a meal that I knew they would devour.
Sarabha II: good, cheap eats near Ananda Pagoda.
San Thi Dar: Freshly prepared Burmese food and sweet owners.
Aroma 2: Our whole family was excited to find this family-run Indian restaurant. Bonus: My daughter had a cat sleep on her lap during lunch.


Happenings
Where do I begin? The Bagan Hotel River View has everything you could desire in Bagan, steps out of the hotel gates. You can rent bicyles for $2/half day, electric bikes for $4/half day, $10 horse carts for a 1 hr ride and the sweetest, kindest children that will show you secret pagodas to watch the sunrise or sunset (tip them as you see fit).
Make a day trip to Mt. Popa to see the monkeys.
Hot air balloon at sunrise over Bagan.
Take a boat out on the Irrawaddy River to watch the sunset over Bagan.

Unwind
Lay by the pool in the afternoon to relax from the heat of the day and pagoda viewing.

Kid Highlights at Myanmar Andaman Resort
Playing chinlone (local sport) and soccer with the village kids, picking beans with the farmers, electric bikes, climbing the pagodas with their headlamps before dawn with the local kids, applying Thanaka Powder in the village.

Life Saver
My 7-year old son brought soccer balls to hand out to various children throughout the country. He made instant connections and he was thrilled to be playing his favorite sport.

Best Time to Visit
November, December and January

Transportation
Fly to Bagan via Yangon. Pick up a taxi at the airport for $10.