Top 6 things to do in Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan certainly belongs in any Myanmar itinerary worth mentioning, and indeed many travelers make sure to cover Bagan when exploring greater Southeast Asia. When you are in Bagan, make the most out of your visit by taking on one of the adventures listed here.

Explore the Temple Plain

The majority of Bagan's temples can be found within the Bagan Archaeological Zone; a $20 ticket must be purchased before entering the Zone. Luckily, you don't have to see all of the 2,000 temples to get the full Bagan experience. If pressed for time, you can visit these must-see temples in the space of two days.

As the temples are active Buddhist places of worship, visitors must pay proper respect before entering — footwear must be removed (no exceptions!), modest clothes worn, and proper behavior followed. Read about Buddhist temple dos and don't's for a clearer look at the rules.

Fly in a Hot-Air Balloon Over Bagan

Bagan's temples are best viewed from a high vantage-point, and there's no higher (or more jaw-droppingly gorgeous) perspective than the one you'll get from a hot air balloon gliding 2,000 feet in the air.

Unlike helicopter and ultralight flights, balloon flights are relatively silent and static, combining with the reddish angled light of the sunrise to create the best conditions for viewing Bagan's temple plain. If you've got the cash to spare (flight rates cost between $300 to $500 per person, read about money in Myanmar) and if you're visiting during the short ballooning season (from October to mid-April), put balloon flying over Bagan on your must-do list.

Three companies provide ballooning services over Bagan: Golden Eagle Ballooning, Oriental Ballooning, and the company that started it all, Balloons Over Bagan. Flights can last between 45 minutes to an hour, not including the pre-dawn pickup from your hotel.

Watch the Sun Set Over the Irrawaddy River

If balloon flights are beyond the reach of your budget, you can still climb on a dwindling number of multi-tiered temples to see Bagan's gorgeous sunsets reflecting off the Irrawaddy River in the distance.

Before tourism became a major Bagan concern, most temples permitted visitors to climb to their upper decks. But after increased tourist traffic and not a few accidents marred the temple-climbing experience, the government has cracked down: visitors may only climb five temples in Bagan, and additional closures can be announced without notice.

Two temples alongside the Irrawaddy River will never be affected by these closures, as they lack tiers to climb, thus making them excellent (and much safer) candidates for sunset viewing. If you're mobility-challenged, lacking travel insurance or just prefer riverside views, head off to the gourd-shaped Bupaya and the sacred Lawkananda temples for your sunset fix.

Explore a Local Market

You'll find two major town settlements outside the Bagan Archaeological Zone. To the Zone's west, you'll find “New Bagan”, the town created for former residents of the Zone who were forcibly moved out by the Government. To the north is the older town of Nyaung-U, site of the Bagan Airport and some of the area's most interesting local color.

You can't miss Mani Sithu Market in Nyaung-U — it's located next to the main road near a central roundabout. For a non-temple break to the stupa cycle in Bagan, Mani Sithu is top-notch: a working morning market full of locals buying and selling fresh meat and dry goods.

Forget about souvenir-hunting in Mani Sithu; come here to do more sightseeing than shopping. Stalls selling live animals, freshly-butchered meats, packages of areca nut and betel leaf, cooking oil, and dried fish — you'll see, hear, and smell them all, altogether an authentic Bagan people-watching experience worth making a detour for.

Shop for High-Quality Lacquerware

Lacquerware feels like it belongs to the past — non-microwave-safe, hand-carved, and crafted using traditional materials and centuries-old formulas. But like many ancient crafts, lacquer has a beauty that few modern equivalents can reproduce.

The town of Myinkaba near Bagan has been a center for lacquer production for centuries, having been introduced by Siamese and Lanna emigres in the 1500s. The present-day lacquer workshops use techniques little changed from their ancestors' time - from curing lacquerware in underground cellars to hand-carving designs into the lacquer with styluses.

Unlike other handicrafts, lacquerware improves with age: colors brighten as the years go on, making antique lacquerware particularly prized by collectors. Bagan lacquer craftsmen favor black, yellow, green and red colors in their products, seen all over the jewelry boxes, coasters, cups, and jars sold in shops all up and down Myinkaba's main drag.

Attend Ananda Festival

The biggest festival in Bagan takes place in January, on a moveable feast day that coincides with the full moon of the Burmese Pyatho month and the end of the harvest season. In the weeks leading up to Ananda Festival, the locality around its namesake temple fills up with bullock carts bringing pilgrims and their offerings.

In a place of honor near the temple, locals set up a fairground hawking traditional Myanmar food and other diversions for visitors.

The festival gives Burmese Buddhists the chance to earn merit by providing donations of food and clothing to the local community of monks, who line up by the hundreds near the Ananda Temple to receive the offerings provided by grateful locals.

See more: 24 hours exploring Inle Lake, Myanmar

Source: Internet

Discover the neighborhoods of Nara, Japan

Nara may not be Japan’s biggest city, but historically it is one of the most important regions in the entire country. Whether you want shopping, dining, history, or nature, there is a Nara neighborhood to suit your travel needs.

Downtown Nara

The 1 km stretch between JR Nara station and Kintetsu-Nara station is considered the downtown area of Nara. While not full of historical sites to see, this is the best place for dining and shopping options. Sanjo-dori starts near JR Nara and is the quickest path for getting to Nara Park. Lined with traditional shops, popular restaurants, and bars, downtown is a great place to base your travels if you prefer to stay in livelier areas. This would also be a great base to explore the rest of Nara prefecture due to the proximity of the train and bus stations.

Nara Park

It would be any history lovers’ dream to stay in the Nara Park area. One of the oldest parks in Japan, it also contains Nara’s most popular areas. With places like Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara Park is one of the most historically significant spots in the country. It’s impossible to understand Japanese history without understanding its roots in ancient Nara. While not far from the station, this area doesn’t have a lot to offer after nightfall, so it’s best to stay close and soak in the perspective that only a thousand years of history can provide.

Naramachi

Naramachi is an older merchant area of Nara that has managed to retain most of its traditional charm. Older homes line the road as well as a public bathing house, trendy shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels. This is a wonderful way to spend a quiet few hours absorbing Japanese culture while seeing how people here used to live. Culture lovers will enjoy walking through these streets to see the older-style architecture and the attention to detail the restaurants and shops observe to preserve this area. Naramachi would also be perfect for anyone wanting a quiet getaway while still having access to restaurants and bars.

Nishinokyo

Nishinokyo is considered to be the area west of JR Nara station and is mostly ignored by tourists heading to the more popular Nara Park. Home of two different world heritage sites, Yakushi-ji Temple and Toshodai-ji Temple, this place is great for finding that opportunity to explore something off the beaten path. As the site of the former Imperial Palace, Nishinokyo has history stretching back over 1,300 years and is the start of Nara’s time as Japan’s first capital city. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Nishinokyo is where Japan as a country began.

Totsukawa

While not part of Nara city, Totsukawa is one of the most beautiful parts of Nara prefecture and an area any nature lover needs to see. Hike one of the many trails scattered throughout the village, like the famous Kumano Kodo, or cross the Tanize Suspension Bridge, one of the longest in Japan, to get your heart pounding. In the summertime, Totsukawa is considered one of the best areas for firefly spotting in Japan. After all that outdoor activity, it would be crime to pass up on one of the areas’ hot springs. The Hotel Subaru is well-known for their restorative outdoors baths and offer late night hours to star gaze while soaking in the warm mineral rich waters.

See more: Commune with nature in Hakone, Japan

Source: Internet

What to do in Ba Na Hills aside from the Golden Bridge

In the mountains above Da Nang, there hides a mystical world of castles, amusement park rides and pagodas. Aside from the famous Golden Bridge, the Ba Na Hills mountain resort is a wonderful mix of surreal fun and classic beauty - the perfect place for you and your family to escape the heat.

The longest cable car gap in the world

The cable car ride up to the Ba Na Hills is an amazing experience. The gap stretches 5,801 meters (19,042 feet) and elevates 1,368 meters (4,488 feet), both of which are world records. But don’t worry, the system was built to European standards, with equipment imported from Germany, Switzerland and Sweden.

Le Jardin D’Amour

These French style gardens feature a colorful variety of tropical flowers. The gardens aren’t very big, but they are an interesting scene to take in — reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland (1865). To complete the French experience, head to the Ancient Wine Cellar nearby.

Giant Buddha Statue

At 27 meters (89 feet), this concrete statue of the founder of Buddhism makes for some beautiful photographs. You can also visit the Linh Ung Pagoda to ask for blessings before you head into the fantasy park and subject yourself to some hair-raising rides.

Mercure Bana Hills French Village

Here’s your chance to stay in a 4-star castle resort at the top of a Vietnamese mountain. The resort complex has 494 rooms styled like old French villas, complete with antiques and artwork, and the restaurants also serve French cuisine, with imported wines and cheeses. After you’ve finished strolling around the cobblestone streets, gazing at the lights of Danang far below, enjoy a few nightcaps at one of the medieval bars.

Fantasy Park

The Fantasy Park is 21,000 square meters of indoor fun and games for the whole family. The theme is based on two novels by Jules Verne: Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864) and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870). There are familiar carnival rides, like a carousal and a big spinner, but also some oddities, such as a Jurassic Park area and even a wax museum.

Gamers will feel right at home in the giant arcade area, while thrill seekers can get their adrenaline rush on the 29-meter (95 feet) tower drop. And if the tower drop in the Fantasy Park isn’t enough of a rush for you, then give the alpine coaster a try.

See more: Dishes you must try when visiting Da Nang

Source: Internet