INTRODUCTION TO MYANMAR (BURMA) - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 31

1 Yangon The country's largest city, home to the stupendous Shwedagon Pagoda, with its
huge clusters of gleaming golden spires, as well as one of Asia's most perfectly preserved
colonial centres.
2 Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) Join local pilgrims on a night-time walk up Mount Kyaiktiyo,
at the summit of which sits a golden, apparently gravity-defying boulder.
3 Kalaw The most enjoyable way to reach Inle Lake is on a two- or three-day hike from this
relaxed - and occasionally chilly - mountain town.
4 InleLake Take a boat trip around spectacular Inle Lake, which features “floating” villages
and farms, and a truly photogenic cast of locals.
5 Mandalay Markedly more relaxed than Yangon, Myanmar's second city also has its fair
share of sights and restaurants, and is the best place in the land for local-style entertainment.
6 Bagan Quite simply, one of Southeast Asia's must-sees - catch sunrise or sunset from one
of its thousands of temples.
ETHNIC MINORITIES
The chance to see colourfully attired minority folk is one of Southeast Asia's major tourist
draws, and Myanmar is no exception to this regional rule. The national government does, of
course, have something of an axe to grind with certain groups, but the danger zones are all
off-limits to travellers.
1 Hpa-An The startling limestone karst scenery around Hpa-An is home to the Kayin,
resplendent in their distinctive striped longyi.
2 Mrauk U Much of Chin State remains off-limits to travellers, though you can get an easy
sampler of Chin culture on a boat trip from Mrauk U - the tattoo-faced old ladies hereabouts
are particularly photogenic.
3 Myitkyina Catch the colourful Kachin National Day celebrations way up north in multi-
cultural Myitkyina.
4 Kyaukme and Hsipaw Head for the tea-swathed hills north of these two towns, where
Shan-dominated valleys give way to tea-growing hills tended by the Palaung, crisscrossed
with great trekking routes and peppered with homestay opportunities. Hsipaw itself is a laid-
back town offering a taste of Shan culture.
5 Inle Lake Myanmar's most easily accessible minority folk live around Inle Lake - most
notable are the long-necked “giraffe” women of the Padaung group, though those trekking
here from Kalaw, or visiting the umpteen local markets, will also see pockets of Pa-O and
Danu.