All about Myanmar
The emerging Southeast Asia destination has lots to offer but how to get off the tourist trail and discover the essence and heart of the destination. We hope to provide you some guidance and answers to this key question below through tailor travel experiences high on exceptional content and low of typical tour itineraries.
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Why Myanmar in 2017?
Myanmar expert and ASIA DMC Myanmar Managing Director Gerben Bloemendaal shared with us about the reason why travel to Myanmar in 2017.
Q: What makes Myanmar so unique compared to other destination?
A: Myanmar is honestly one of the most magical, unspoiled and undiscovered destinations in the world: a golden land of breathtaking beauty and charm shrouded in a cloak of fascinating history and traditions. The country has it all - exotic experiences, pristine beaches and unrivaled heritage. It's the perfect choice for adventurers seeking to explore nature, float away in a hot air balloon and immerse themselves in exciting outdoor activities.
Q: It is said that visits to Bagan have become overcrowded due to its rising fame. When are the best times to visit Bagan in particular and Myanmar in general to avoid the crowds?
A: The number of visitors coming to Myanmar, and Bagan in particular, has increased significantly over the past few years. However, compared to other countries like Thailand or India, Myanmar is not crowded at all. Therefore, I prefer to use the word “busy” instead of crowded. The holiday season is always a popular time to visit due to a drop in temperature and a lower chance of rain. However, if possible avoid November and February when it can be very busy. If you do though it’s an ideal time to take one of our experiential trips to more remote areas where you will definitely not find many tourists and you can revel in the real, authentic face of Myanmar.
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Immerse yourself in local culture at Naga New Year Festival 2017
Spreading throughout the north-western hills of Myanmar, most of the Naga tribes are from the Chin State. However, this New Year festival will be organized in the Sagaing division, in locations Khamti, Lashe, Lahe, and Nanyun. The Naga festival is usually in January annually, for this year it will be held in LAHE town ship on the 12th of January, 2017.
The festival is a social event, where 64 clans of the Naga tribes exchange previous year experiences, make plans for the coming year and discuss how to overcome difficulties. On this occasion, the locals pray for abundant crops, healthy animals and good weather. They show their respect to their deities by scarifying the animals. This is also the time for reunion of relatives. The Naga New Year Festival 2017 offers a chance to discover a tradition that only a few experience when the Naga will be dressed in their traditional clothing, participate in traditional sporting events as well as cook traditional cuisine. It's a must see!
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Serious Floods in the Centre of Vietnam
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Nha Trang, a famous beach city in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa, was hurt by floods at the end of 2016 which damaged some streets and houses and caused landslides at multiple locations. Luckily, the flood didn’t affect tourists’ safety but the heavy rains prevented them from touring around the city or islands. Lots of tourists decided to check out earlier as a result. Meanwhile, heavy rain in addition with the water release from a number of hydropower plants in Central Vietnam has caused flooding in several other areas. In Hoi An, due to flooding, many tourism sites have been closed or are tough to access such as Hoi An’s old quarter, Cham Islands, My Son and Thu Bon River. The situation is the same in Hue when the boat ride on the Perfume River has been cancelled. Please check with us for the latest updates. All other provinces and destinations of Vietnam offer ideal traveling conditions so make sure you consult with our on the ground experts before departures.
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Atlas – Yangon's Newest Rooftop Bar
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The Strand, Myanmar’s iconic hotel, reopened its doors last month after an extensive six-month renovation. Built in 1901, the “new” hotel has seen artisans meticulously restore every original architectural detail, such as the teak paneling and antique bedsteads, traditional Myanmar lacquerware and marble flooring. Paying homage to that heritage, the hotel has traditional décor complemented with vintage-inspired textiles and original artwork, but updated with the latest technology across its 31 rooms and beautiful public spaces.
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There can’t be many places in the world where you can gaze out over an ancient golden pagoda, watch a fiery sun set behind endless rice paddies while sipping chilled Champagne – in a city. Achingly cool, with a Moët & Chandon branded champagne bar, comfy sofas and a selection of savory treats from around the world, Atlas keeps things simple on its 12th floor perch. There is no shelter at Atlas so the bar will only be open during the dry season only but the wonderful panoramic view of Yangon and relaxed setting in the up and coming Sanchaung Township is hard to beat.
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Rooftop Craft Beer Bar in Bangkok
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Brewski is the city's newest beer bar offering over 100 craft beers, stunning 30th-floor views of Sukhumvit, along with a free and easy party atmosphere. Best of all there are down-to-earth prices to the rooftop of Radisson Blu Plaza hotel. Beers are available in three glass sizes—100ml for tasting, 250ml for half pint, and 470ml for full pint—with choice selections including Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar Stout from the USA (B120-320) and La Chouffe from Belgium (B100-280). There's also a decent selection of ciders (try the Zeffer Crisp Green Apple Cider from New Zealand, starting from B90) plus plenty of bar munchies like sai krok Isaan (Thai-style pork sausages with fresh chilli, ginger and peanuts, B120).
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In December, ASIA DMC Thailand explored a new cooking class activity hidden away in Silom Road, Bangkok. Right in the heart of Bangkok City, Go! Thai Cooking School is nestled in Bangrak’s oldest fresh market. The talented chefs have excellent English skills to help explain every detail of each dish so visitors can understand the ingredients and the roles they play in creating the final taste explosions. Menus change every day so if your first experience was one to remember you can return for more bursting flavours the following day and learn new dishes and cooking styles that you can carry with you for a lifetime.
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ASIA DMC
47 Phan Chu Trinh street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, Vietnam
www.asiadmc.com
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