Destination TBD

Myanmar

Dates of travel :
December 8 - 25, 2005

Lessons learned:
There is no such thing as a 'bad mood' in Myanmar despite oppression, poverty, and toil.

Best food-related discovery :
Home made potato chips

Horror stories:
The Burmese bus (long rides, bumpy roads, tiny seats); ghosts and spooky dreams; fish paste

Blog Posts:
December 2005

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Where we stayed | Rates are for a double room with private bath and fan unless noted (free breakfast included)

Mandalay

Sabai Phyu | No. 58, 81st Street
TEL: +95-2-25377
The rooms at Sabai Phyu are a bit tatty, but the location isn't bad and the staff are friendly. Free breakfast is served in the rooftop restaurant. Listed in Lonely Planet
Rate: $10.00 *with AC

Bagan (Nyaung Oo)

New Park Hotel | Thiri Pyisaya Qtr., Nyaung Oo.
TEL: +95-62-70122
The New Park Hotel is much nicer than its 'sister hotel' in Mandalay, the Sabai Phyu. Rooms have porches and are cozy with wood floors and antique-style furniture (note: the cheaper rooms in the back are not as nice). Bicycles rent for $1.00 and horse carts to the temples can be arranged for 6,000 kyat ($6.00 +/-) per day. This is one of the best hotels (for value) we stayed at in Myanmar.
Rate: $13.00

Kalaw

Winner Hotel | Pyi Taung Su Road
TEL: +95-81-50025
The cheap rooms at the Winner Hotel are in the basement, but they're alright – the only disadvantage is the lack of a view. This hotel is run by a friendly Chinese family and is the place to arrange a trek with Ronald, the best guide in Kalaw (a 2-day trek is $14.00). I would stay here again just for the awesome shower (the most powerful shower and hottest water in the world). Listed in Lonely Planet
Rate: $12.00 *with TV

Inle

Gold Star Hotel | at corner of Phaungdawpyan & Kyauktain Roads
TEL: +95-81-29200
The 'bungalow style' rooms at the Gold Star hotel are nice and cozy, the staff are friendly, and the place is in a good location – near the boat jetty for excursions on the lake. They'll arrange a boat/driver for you (12,000 kyat) and can also take care of air and bus tickets, taxis, etc...
Rate: $15.00 *with TV

Yangon

Panorama Hotel | No. 294/300 Pansodan Street
TEL: +95-1-253077
We splurged on a 'mid range hotel' because the budget range options in Yangon all sounded awful: concrete and windowless. The Panorama, while expensive for our budget, was a nice place to lounge about, watching back to back movies on HBO (hey, sometimes you need a little comfort and lazy days and TVs and anyway, we wanted to get our 30 dollars worth). Listed in Lonely Planet
Rate: $30.00 *with TV, AC