Tag Archives: travel

The delights of Yangon, Myanmar

01/08/2014 Len Rutledge Leave a comment

Words: Len Rutledge Pictures: Phensri Rutledge

Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, is green and cool with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes. As it rapidly develops it has also acquired traffic problems, poverty and signs of international commerce. On first sight it is a typical Asian city, but you quickly realise that it is less modern than its Asian peers and it has its own calm culture.

The city right now feels like a frontier town in transition. The locals still dress in traditional longyi and only a small percentage own a mobile phone, yet shiny new apartment blocks are springing up between the peeling colonial facades, traffic jams have become common in some areas, and pizza and donut shops are appearing.

Yangon can be enjoyed by just walking its streets. The sights, smells and sounds will be strange to most visitors. You will see women with a yellow-white paste on their faces, vendors selling betel nut, and ancient buses and taxis blowing exhaust fumes over everything. The city, however, does have its ‘not-to-be-missed’ attractions and here are some suggestions.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Few religious monuments in the world are as impressive as Shwedagon Pagoda, with its gigantic 99m golden stupa. The pagoda can be visited at any time during the day but early evening is best, when the sunset light has a transformative effect on the gold-encrusted stupa and the many subsidiary shrines. The pagoda is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with diamonds and rubies and other precious gems, and a 72 carat diamond at the very top. The whole compound is huge and glorious, with an astonishing array of carvings, statues, parks and gardens, ponds and devotional spaces.

Colonial buildings

Quite a number of old public buildings built in the time of the British occupation still remain although many are presently empty and are rotting away. For many visitors they are one of the major attractions of the city and it is hoped that most or all can be saved and recycled in the near future. The Yangon City Hall, next to Sule Pagoda, is one that is being used and it appears to be in reasonable condition. The old Supreme Court (1910) to the south-east is painted in red and yellow but it is looking rather sad. A short distance to the south is the famous Strand Hotel which was constructed in 1901 and was among the best hotels in Asia when it opened. Perhaps the most impressive building of all is the old Ministers’ office, which occupies a whole city block.

Kandawgyi Lake

This is a very attractive artificial lake, located east of the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is surrounded by the Kandawgyi Nature Park, and the Yangon Zoological Gardens. The lake and the surrounds provide a quiet, quite beautiful environment and great photographic opportunities. There are long wooden walkways built over the lake which provide nice views. There are several lakeside restaurants serving local food at reasonable prices which are very popular with locals.

Chinatown

This is probably the busiest area of Yangon. It is centred on Latha Road in the western part of downtown but it spreads across several blocks in each direction. The shops, with their bright neon lights and garish advertising, are a seething mass of people during both daytime and evening, and restaurants abound. It is an extremely important commercial centre especially for gold, jewellery, electronics, mobile phones, consumer goods and groceries.

19th Street is packed with restaurants and roadside barbeque vendors selling all manner of dishes. Aging buses run on the east-west streets while pedestrians and vendors cram the north-south streets seeking and selling fruit, vegetables, fried snacks and more.

Reclining Buddha

The 72 m reclining Buddha image in the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda is one of the biggest reclining Buddha images in Myanmar. Originally built in 1907, it was demolished and rebuilt in the 1960s. The Buddha image is wearing a golden robe and has a white face, red lips, blue eye shadow, and red finger nails. The soles of the feet contain 108 segments in red and gold. Buddhist people burn incense sticks and offer flowers to the Buddha then pray to the shrine belonging to the day of their birth.

Circular railway

There is a very slow circle train which travels around Yangon and takes about 2.5 hours to complete the trip. Trains go in both directions approximately every hour. Most have wooden seats and no air-conditioning and visitors are encouraged to use one particular carriage which is slightly more comfortable than the others. Locals are also allowed to use this car provided they have few parcels. The rest of the train becomes very crowded but this can provide an insight into local life.

Downtown streets

The city’s street life always makes an impression on me. I find the street-side stalls, where diners tuck into bowls of steaming noodles; the ancient, overloaded, buses jostling for space at junctions with trishaws, trucks and taxis; and the open-air markets, where traders squat beside piles of fresh produce, to be quite fascinating. You can stop for refreshments in a traditional Burmese teahouse before enjoying the priceless treasures at the impressive National Museum and it can be fun to join the crowds milling around Bogyoke Aung San market or the various ferry jetties.

Len Rutledge is the author of Experience Myanmar, available as an e-book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HPQHC5I

Travel Tech, Travel Tips

Top 5 travel apps for android

11/14/2013 Melissa Davis Leave a comment

Traveling used to include many different and useful things like backpacks, maps, etc. but today, most people would agree that the most important thing you should have while traveling is a smartphone.

Why is this so? It’s very simple; a modern phone includes very useful and practically necessary things for travelers, like an online map with most places you would need to visit. But there is another thing which is also very helpful in your “expeditions” – android apps.

Photo credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

This is why I piled up a smaller list of the most useful travelling apps out there.

1. Kayak

Kayak is an all inclusive app when it comes to travelling. It searches the internet to find the best deal. It can also find the flight you need and book it as well. Besides booking your flight, it can also book a room in a hotel you want. A lot of other useful information can also be found with this app. And of course, you can always download it for free on Google store.

2. WeatherPro

This app does what you already expect – it gives you a lot of useful information about the weather in the place you’re located in. It gives you a 5-day forecast and data such as humidity, pressure, visibility, etc. The good thing about it is that it has most cities in the world, even those in some smaller and less known countries. But the bad thing about it is that it cannot work on an SD card for some reason… If you want it, get it for free.

Photo credit: http://guestofaguest.com/

3. XE Currency

Many tourists often have the problem with the local currency. Most people get tricked by a lot of local exchange offices, mostly because they know nothing about their money. But with this very simple and useful app, you won’t have that problem. It’s updated regularly, so even if the local currency has some tendencies of changing a lot, you will know about it. As you can see, this app is a must-have for all travelers.

4. Google Goggles

When visiting a foreign place, most people want to see some important famous places and find out information about the place they are visiting. If you have the language barrier, this app will be of great help. All you need to do is point your camera to a thing you want to learn more about, and if Google has it in its database, you will instantly get information.

Photo credit: http://www.uniquemobiles.com.au/

5. TripAdvisor

In the end, another “all inclusive” app for you – TripAdvisor has millions of reviews about hotels, places, restaurants, etc. It can also help you discover places on your own. And, if you wish to be a part of this network, you can add your own reviews as well. If you want the app, download it at the usual place.

This would be the end of the list I made. Look up these apps, and see on your own if you could use them before your trip starts, and of course, have fun with them.

Tips for Using Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel

11/05/2013 Melissa Davis Leave a comment

Do you know what you’re missing in your Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel? We all know by now it may be a little difficult finding more than one award ticket on the same journey, if you’re watching to cash-in frequent flyer miles for your family travel.

Obviously, the well-mentioned ad will tell you that getting the rewards you need, when you need them, is one of the most important features of a frequent flyer program. From Family Pooling to a membership pause for Parental Leave, you can take advantage of the great Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel.

Well then, how about trying to make things a little less difficult, shall we?

Number one tip is endeavour to book as far ahead as possible; and yes, many carriers do not release their entire award inventory many months out, but ten or eleven months ahead is a predictable time. At times it works in well with a program that allows one-way bookings, which in turn, makes for each leg being booked the day it is available.

Knowing your family school’s holiday schedule, you would be in a position long in advance to influence the inflexibility for awards that work for you and yours!

Another tip is that because few travellers realise how airlines price multiple award tickets, carriers release seats with a limited number of seats in an award class. So initially, you could search for the minimum number of award seats that you must have, and then narrow that down by increasing the number of successive searches. You may then perhaps have to divide your reservations between paid and award seats.

Why not consider splitting itineraries? Putting it plainly, most times the vacation is about the destination, not the journey. If there are just not enough award seats truly available, have each parent travel with some of the children. In that instance, you have a good way of scoring lower-level award seats for some of your travel schedule.

Another point would be to consider using a change in itineraries to optimise flights. Some carriers will have low-mileage award seats available when a timetable change affects travellers, thereby making them rebook their award tickets on the new itineraries. Try booking you family on separate journeys or on a less-pleasant one, perhaps? And if the carrier changes their schedules (which does happen more than you think), you could then combine your reservations. Don’t forget, there are programs that allow pooling of points or miles between family members also.

Make sure you are taking advantage of all the bonuses. There is the most lucrative credit card sign-up bonus, where you and your spouse/partner apply, and the Spend Bonus category where you earn extra points on what you spend. If there is a retention bonus in your program for keeping a credit card, you can look for some snail-mail incentive offers you could receive.

The most important tip would be to endeavour to be a little flexible with dates and routes. And if you’re willing to fly during off-peak times, you have every chance of being in luck!

Travel Tips, Travelling with Kids

How To Be Prepared For Road Tripping With Kids

08/14/2013 Melissa Davis 4 Comments

Road tripping with kids is certainly fun and entertaining, but what do you do if you get a flat tyre and there is nobody around to give you a helping hand? The little ones will start crying, you will be stressed and this will surely take its toll on your trip. It is essential to be prepared when going on a road trip with children, given the fact that unpleasant situations occur when you least expect them. Here are several aspects you need to consider before going on a road trip with your kids:

1. Always Bring The Essentials With You

There are several items that must not miss from your car when you go on a road trip, no matter if you go alone or with your children. Don’t forget your cell phone and your car charger at home, as you may need it to call for help if emergencies occur. At the same time, have a phone card just in case: pay phones can turn out to be real life savers when you don’t have cell phone signal.

At the same time, get enough bottled water and non-perishable snacks for you and your children to eat, if you get stuck somewhere in the wilderness. Your car can break down in the most unfortunate areas, and you will need something to eat while waiting for help. Also, roadside emergency kits are essential as well: make sure you have a flashlight, flares, jumper cables and gloves, in case you get lost or you get stuck in the snow, as it often happens when you travel during winter.

2. Prepare Your Car Before You Leave

This is another important aspect that needs to be considered, especially if you plan to cover many miles. Take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic to check it, change its oil, check the fluids and to make sure that the tyres are inflated correctly. If you do the routine check up, you are unlikely to experience any car-related problems during the trip. Better be safe than sorry!

3. Learn How To Change A Flat Tyre

This is by far one of the most common problems related to cars these days, and everybody should know how to change a tyre. You can wait for hours on a highway until another driver decides to help you, and this is certainly not very pleasant when traveling with children.

In a nutshell, all you have to do at first is to pull over and secure the car with a rock in front of all the four tyres. After that, place the jack under the car frame and slowly raise it until it fully supports the car. Once the car is fully supported, loosen the nuts of the flat tyre, remove it, replace it with the spare tyre and tighten the nuts. Lower the car to the ground, remove the jack and you are good to go! Here is guide that might be helpful – how to change tyre step by step.

4. Bring An Empty Gas Can And Always Watch The Gas Gauge

Despite the fact that you should have no problems finding a gas station, there are several highways with very few gas stations, where you risk to run out of gas. Running out of gas when you are on a road trip with your children is certainly very unpleasant, especially if the area is unpopulated. This is why it is recommended to always keep an eye on the gas gauge and to have an empty gas can to fill at the closest station.

Australia, Destinations, Travel Tips

Things you Didn’t know about Adelaide

07/08/2013 Melissa Davis 4 Comments

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and it is also the 5th largest city in Australia. While most of the things about the city may be out there, there are a few things that you didn’t now about Adelaide and some of these include:

On O’Connell is the name of the city’s cricket bakery. This supports the team by the name of Rebacks. Here you can get freshly baked bread and also show your support for the Klinger & Co. The bakery also offers internet access. This is quite a unique bakery that is located only 5 minutes from the city. It is found right in the middle of the food hub on the busy O’Connell Street. It offers more than 200 delicacies which are made by a team of professionals. This is a great place to hang out with friends and family and it also allows tourists to sample some of the iconic food in Lamington and Pie Floater. It is open all days of the week 24 hours meaning you can walk in anytime you want. This is also a great place to stop over from a fun night out to savor hot pastry that is served straight from the pie warmer.

A magic cave

This is probably one of the things you didn’t know about Adelaide. This is also known as the Rundle Mall which some people also refer to as Malls Balls. Here you can pay Santa a visit and let him know all your wishes. The place also gives you an opportunity to admire the gorgeous Rundle Mall Pigs names Augusta, Oliver, and Truffles. This also gives you an opportunity to explore “German Town” with a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and delicatessen. You will also get to view the Christmas lights that are hang on the West End Brewery.

Adelaide oval

Some of the things that you do not know about the Adelaide oval is the fact that no spectators will be allowed to be more than 40m from the toilet, beverage or food outlet. Almost all seats here are undercover allowing people to enjoy the action regardless of the type of weather. In addition to the seating capacity there is a huge standing capacity allowing around 61, 000 people to attend an event at a time. There is enough space among the seat thus people will not have to stand to let other people pass meaning that you will be more comfortable while watching the action.

Getting around the oval will be quite easy because there are multi level atriums featuring escalators, lifts and concourses that are up to 10m wide. Although other sports will also be played here, cricket will take prevalence and will be played many times especially during summer. You will not even have to carry cash when you are at the oval as there are numerous point of sales stations that allow a person to tap and go. As you visit the city of Adelaide you will be surprised at how many things you will explore to make your visit more interesting.

By Melissa Davis who spend 2 week in Adelaide and explore accommodation in Adelaide, restaurants, history and all interesting facts related to this amazing city.

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