It’s been almost a year since I was in Myanmar, but it somehow feels like yesterday, yet so long ago. Being in the midst of a pandemic has forced us all to slow down. My adventurous spirit has had to take a rest and settle for reminiscing on past adventures.

I booked my flight to Myanmar just two days before I left, my most spontaneous trip yet. I had recently moved to Singapore for a new teaching position knowing I had a week in off that October. At first, I thought I would just relax while getting settled into my new city. As the time off drew closer something in my gut was guiding me to travel. After a little research, I discovered that Myanmar was an amazing opportunity at my fingertips that I just couldn't pass up. My intuition served me well, leading me on an adventure that I will be eternally grateful for. My last true feeling of freedom, a euphoric experience that envelopes my being when I am immersed in a vibrant foreign culture full of new sights, smells, and knowledge.

For now, I will look back and share with you my first-hand experience of things to do in Myanmar and how to travel as a solo female in Myanmar.

Yangon

This was not my first solo adventure but it was my first real unplanned solo adventure to somewhere that some may contrive to be ‘unsafe.’ I arrived in the city of Yangon with a positive anxiousness to explore a place I knew very little about. It took roughly an hour by cab to my hostel in the middle of the bustling city full of color. I was greeted with smiling faces of the university students that run HOOD Hostel that is located near Sule Pagoda. It was modern, clean comfortable, and connected me with two unexpected lifelong friends. Two other lovely, strong and kind women arrived around the same time as me. We were all getting settled into our female dorm at the same time, started chatting, and decided to head out to get food and explore the city together. I ended up spending the remainder of my unforgettable week alongside these women sharing stories, conversations about life, along with many laughs and incredible experiences.

Things to do in Yangon

Wander

Personally, this is my top favorite thing to do in any new city/country that I visit. Take my phone (or camera), pack a backpack with the essentials, and just wander around the streets to see what I stumble upon. Yangon is no exception. Walking through the streets you may spot young Buddhist children signing and asking for donations, lively and colorful markets, the chaos of telephone wires down every street lined with buildings that are clearly influenced by the reign of the British.

Eat

I can honestly say I had not a single clue about the food that I would encounter in Myanmar. To me is a delicious mix of neighboring countries India and Thailand, with the freshness of Vietnam while also being like nothing else I had before. Shan noodles are a must-try, one of my favorite meals was at 999 Shan Noodle nearby the hostel in downtown Yangon. Another must-try dish is tea leaf salad (Lahpat Thoke). I lost count of how many times I ate tea leaf salad and I still miss it so much. It is made of fermented tea leaves, shredded cabbage, roasted peanuts, spices that make it burst with flavor. These are just two dishes out of all the amazing food to try in Myanmar. If you are looking for a more modern but local place to check out, I highly recommend Rangoon Tea House.

Shwedagon Pagoda

The morning that I had at the Shwedagon is one I could never forget. One of the women I met and I set out early because we were told the best time to go is before sunrise. We were delighted we made the choice to listen to that advice. It is said that sunset is also a great time for visiting the temple. It is one of the most gorgeous pagodas in the world sitting on top of the city shining in its gold glory. We quietly made our way around the grounds while observing the monks peacefully circle the pagoda to complete their rituals. The sun rose painting the sky hues of purple, pink, and blue while the reflections of the sun somehow made the gold leaf shimmer even brighter.

As we were leaving we stopped to quietly witness a ceremony taken place where a meal was being prayed over that the volunteers had made. A few of the women volunteers kept trying to wave us over and after denying a few times (not wanting to intrude) we decide to give in and join them. We sat in the group around a low circular table. As soon as the two of us had a seat we were greeted by a group of volunteer women who were so excited to welcome us and get to know us. Most of them didn't speak English well, except for Rose, a sweet soul that shared with us her story along with knowledge about the temple, rituals, and just girl talk. We had a delicious homemade meal with a beautiful company, not once being questioned about our religion or feeling like we didn’t belong.

Sule Pagoda

The Sule Pagoda’s shines bright at night time in the middle of a busy intersection in a more modern part of the city. This one was located just down the road from our hostel giving us something beautiful to marvel at while wandering both day and night.

Kandawgyi Lake

A lovely place to take a relaxing stroll that makes you feel like you are not in a big city. The lake is surrounded by a walkable trail and boardwalk that makes way for nice views for sunrise and sunset.

Pagodas

I listed a few Pagoda’s above but there are many more throughout the city that is worth the visit. The architecture is different from other temples I have seen throughout Southeast Asia.

Yangon To Bagan

I did not book a flight or anything ahead but I had my heart set on visiting Bagan. When I thought of visiting Myanmar, it was the pictures that I had come across of Bagan that made me want to visit the country. I knew I had to get there and it turns out it’s not that hard. There are some flights that you can take, but if you are looking for a cheaper and convenient way, I highly recommend the VIP buses. The women I met also headed to Bagan and we all booked our tickets online a day or two before. I highly recommend the VIP bus through JJ Express. Not only is it safe and comfortable, but it’s overnight and saves you a night of hotel.

A few notes to keep in mind if you do decide to bus travel:

*When leaving from Yangon, give yourself plenty of time to get to the bus terminal. It takes upwards of an hour from the center of Yangon to get there and even longer with traffic. You don’t want your bus to leave you, so leave with extra time.

*The buses tend to arrive in the new city ahead of schedule and early in the morning, sometimes 5-6 am which may be too early to check into your hotel/hostel. Check with where you are staying first and also may be good to look into transportation two and from the terminal.

Bagan

Bagan is one of the most magical places I have ever seen. An ancient city consisting of over 200,000 temples. It may not be a bustling city, but there is plenty to do and see. I felt as if I had stepped back in time. It was tiresome touring all the temples yet relaxing taking in the stunning landscape.

Things to do

Visit Temples

The main thing to do in Bagan is to visit all the glorious temples. They offer a vast variety of architecture, structure, and marvelous views. There are a few different ways to tour the temples and we did all three. One day we went by bicycle, mind you, it was hot and tiring but also lovely. On another day we rented electronic bikes to tour around ourselves. I highly recommend renting your own e-bike but take some time to practice first if you haven’t ridden one before, let me just say it’s easy to mix up the gas and brake. The good thing is the town isn’t super busy, there is some wide-open space to practise. One day we also chose to hire a driver that took us around to the different temples, this was a nice alternative and allowed for greater distance to be covered that we would not have otherwise. No matter what mode of transportation you choose to use, or use a variety, the temples are a must-visit in Bagan Myanmar.

Watch the Sunrise

Whether you are a morning person or not, you won’t regret finding a spot to watch the once-in-a-lifetime sunrise that Myanmar has to offer. Finding a good spot can be tricky. I suggest talking to locals or at your accommodation. We had asked our driver from the previous day and set out early on our e-bikes to find the spot. We actually got lost, but another locally graciously helped us find the way to a small hill that allowed us to overlook most of the city. The outline of the temples against the backdrop of the colored sky is truly unreal. If you are lucky you may also spot hot air balloons flowing up into the sky. You can also choose to take a hot air balloon while you are there, though this is something I passed on.

Go into the city

There is a small city area that is lined with cute shops and restaurants that is worth exploring. For us, it was a short tuk-tuk ride away. Here you can eat local food, foreign food or buy local goods and souvenirs. Old Bagan is where most of the temples are located. New Bagan is where you will find more shops and restaurants.

Take a cooking class

I did not take a cooking class but if I would have had more time, it is something that would be great to try. As mentioned early I discovered a love for Burmese food. I also heard great things about cooking classes in Bagan from others I met while I was there.

Relax

Bagan is the perfect place to just relax and unwind. Take in the stunning views, mingle with the locals and enjoy a cheap Myanmar beer. On our bicycles, we meandered through the local houses to find a peaceful outdoor cafe that I, unfortunately, don’t remember the name of. It overlooked the Irrawaddy River and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the afternoon there.

These are just two wonderful cities in Myanmar to visit. I can’t wait to go back and see more. Places that others I had met along the way recommend Inle Lake, Mandalay, Kalaw, Ngapali Beach, Hsipaw, Hpa-An, and many more. When travel becomes easier again, I highly recommend traveling to magical Myanmar. I never felt unsafe as a female traveling through Myanmar.

Check out a short video of my travel on YouTube HERE

Health, Love & Happiness,

Courtney