The bus of JJ Express took me to Bagan quite soon, therefore I decide should go to watch the sunrise instead come to the hotel. Fortuitous that this trip I acquainted an elder (actually seems in middle age only), talk and thought that should go together will be fun because both are solo travel! This man named Sharif, Malaysian, aged 50-55, he said his children's are maturity therefore now him only a rest and travel. We talked quite well about everything while traveling Myanmar, Sharif does not any special plan in Bagan so when I suggested going anywhere then him ready say yes!

Watching sunrise at BulethiIt's about 5h30 AM, the bus reached Bagan bus station (full name is Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal). There was still dark but we want to hunt the sunrise, so we must go immediately. So both of us catch taxi go to Bulethi temple, the temple is a familiar destination for those who like watching sunrise in Bagan. The price of taxi is 10,000 Kyat, also expensive due the distance from the bus station arrive here quite far. Only have one regret which I do not know, perhaps I can avoid the fees 25,000 Kyat for travelers while entering the area of Bagan ancient town. There is a toll booth at about 1km from the bus station, heard that I might not pay that amount if I know how to say privately with the taxi driver to avoid that place out, because, in fact in two days here, no one checked my ticket except at Shwesansaw pagoda. But even when they ask to check tickets, you just said that you already bought tickets, your friend is holding tickets, then they did not to make difficulties to you anymore.

When we arrive Bulethi temple, sun has bright gradually, people also already have seat on the temple. We took shoes off and climbing to temple. Those temples in Bagan have similarities that there is the shape of cylinder which the peak at the top, guest must climbs on small steps in middle. Bulethi temple quite small and only two low floors for guests stand and watching sunrise. The sun began to emerge on the horizon:

According to my opinion, watching sunrise in Bulethi temple not interesting, this temple quite small and the front voids quite more, density those temples in front of order watching are sparsely and far. A minus point that there quite a lot of electric wires stretching and some big trees front of foreground make those photographs taken here not perfectly. Anyway, the first impression about Bagan was not too bad, we've more relaxed when people have watched the

sunrise fully and coming back, leaving sporadic only few people sit and relax in the temple, no anyone disturbing. Weather is cool, the sunshine not too hot in the days between October, the month start the tourist season in this country.

Two days in BaganWe come back Royal Bagan Hotel located on top of Old Bagan area. This hotel is quite large and seems they serve tourists is mainly, they also directed to Backpacker but not much because I see the room which I rent does not have bunk beds, simply it's a normal hotel room which many kinds of people live together. One point I would enjoy that hotel has pool quite nice, after you watching sunrise in morning, come back and swim several laps then eat the morning buffet, great! Price of room also cheap, as I stay then $16 / night on Booking.com included free breakfast buffet. Hey, buffet here quite okay! It's not like those buffets have only sausages and bread as in many places!

Although Sharif does not stay this hotel, and in evening will take the bus to Inle, however hotel still allows him to use my room, to bathe after a long night of fatigue. Then, we rented the electric scooters near hotel at the price of 6000 Kyat/scooter, we rent 2 scooters so get discounts only 5500 Kyat/scooter. Normally, go for all day that no need charges the battery. In the case a group of people, they can hire separately a horse-drawn carriage for all day for sightseeing, price per capita is cheaper and can experience the horse-drawn carriage here. But for me, drives an electric scooter running on streets under the shade of trees is more interesting and feel the "smell of Bagan" true as the way of its.

Bagan is divided into 3 main areas: Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyang-U. All the best beautiful sights are concentrated in Old Bagan, so you can rent hotel in Old Bagan in order to convenient for moving, and the rest area you could arrive or not, also no problems because I found there's nothing particularly.

Some temples that I visited in 2 days in Bagan:

Bulethi - temple where tourists often visit to watching the sunrise

Shwesandaw - This temple almost the busiest temple, you could arrive in order watching both sunset and sunrise.

Shwezigon Pagoda - quite wide, but attracts tourists because there is a corridor with oblique sunlight very beautiful.

Dahmmayan Gyi Phaya: Temple largest in Bagan, you will easily watch the sunrise when stood at Shwesandaw pagoda.

Ananda: The temple is quite beautiful and it looks like the construction is still in progress.

Above is these main temples you should visit while traveling Myanmar, in addition, there are lots of other temples scattered in Old Bagan which you can experience freely, I'm sure that there are a lot of exciting things for you explore. There is nothing better than when you discover new things in your way.

Shwesandaw

The temple so majestic with many terraces to watching both sunrise and the sunset, seems watching sunrise is more beautiful than sunset because in the early morning you can admire hundreds of the Hot Air Balloon create a spectacular show in the sky of the land of temples. It's a pity that the time I traveling Myanmar merely just within some first days of Myanmar tourism season, the number of Air Balloon not much, and concentration place was too far so I not shots many images.

Shooting sunset from Shwesandaw:

Shooting sunrise from Shwesandaw:

Hot Air Balloon

Shwesandaw temple

Ananda Temple

Shwezigon Temple

Legend corridor in Shwezigon Temple:

People and sunny in BaganThose are two things impressed me in Bagan. The fact that I communicate with indigenous people not much, mainly those sellers around the area of temples. I like the looks glint of kids so naive and always confident looking at the lens every time I want to shoot any image from them. It seems those childrens here are taught how to posing, as well as seem they familiar with the tourists want to photograph them. Even adults too, they did not hesitate or frustrating when the camera lens direct towards them, sometimes they actively get acquainted and talking with tourists.

This is image of a family living beside Ananda Temple, when we arrived, they still eating lunch. Of course, their meal interrupted, but they still smiled and allow we take the photo.

Girl in Annada temple

If anyone feels tired in noon should come Shwegu Gyi Phaya pagoda, located near Ananda temple, inside the pagoda rather quiet, the area of the second floor very flat and cool, very suitable to resting if you do not want back to hotel. If you intend wandering and explore should start at the beginning of the morning and late afternoon, at the time, the sun is not too hot, light is more beautiful.

Shwegu Gyi Phaya pagoda

The specialty Bagan is the ray, ray appeared everywhere, from the bushes, on the roads, or the sun looming behind hundreds of temples in Bagan:

Last day in the sunset in Bagan, I wandered the roads, explore new things here. I like those small quiet temple, put the camera and some accessories aside, take the time to quietly by myself. I love going on those trails, those small dirt roads toward the temple, where I often see many tourists like me, some people came by power motorcyclists, or ride a bike also only single purpose is "wandering in Bagan - aimless", go anywhere.

I met two girls Bagan on the road when I stop and taking the camera and find subjects for my photo, not like other people, two girls speak English very well. That's girls who sold souvenirs around temples. Wow! These girls very proactive in communicating, probably they're professional sales people:

- You should turn off the front lights if not your scooter will run out of energy in halfway.Well, turns out I'm switched on the light of scooter, I say thanks and resumed my photo shooting

work.- Bought this one, please!_ then, a girl showed me a souvenir, I not too interested so had refused.

- Where you from?

- Vietnam

- Oh Vietnam ah, ah ah, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City.

Wow,  surprise! Two girls know all, other people are riding electric motorbike but two girls riding motorcycles very proficient. There would be nothing worth mentioning if it has coincidence. At the late in the afternoon, when I discovered a place watching sunset quite good, away from the center area. How a coincidence! I met two girls again!

- Ah Hanoi, we've met again! This times you bought me?

I was surprised with wide eyes, this lovely little girl still touting me like as another Western guests traveling Myanmar. I just smiled and shook head to thank, and then focused on work shooting the sunset. She still not leave me alone, every 5 minutes she comes again and invite me to buy souvenirs with extremely cute voice, not make others feel frustrating at all. I said, "you, you really very cute, but sincere, I'm not like souvenirs!". I only suggest shooting a picture of her, a nice smile!

Dining in BaganAt Bagan, dining also is pretty easy. Near Royal Bagan Hotel I stay there a road with a lot of good restaurants. Prices are very affordable, all kinds of food in Asia, Europe, India, Italy, ... I and Sharif have a meal at an Indian restaurant nearby, but I did not like Indian foods, taste almost similar the food which I eaten in Malaysia and the Maldives. One other restaurant I had eaten is Golden, is highly appreciated on TripAdvisor. This is a popular restaurant with traditional foods of Myanmar.

In the image below, in your opinion, it's reserved for how many people eat? Revealed that all these dishes are served only for me, this is a buffet with the main dish include 3 kinds of meats (pork, lamb & chicken) and fish. It comes with a huge rice bowl and around 10 kinds of vegetables, spices come. I had to request restaurant owner explain every dish and read the name for me rewrite. Prices for this meal only 4,000 Kyat, finished the meal, there also have a free dessert with sweet porridge, watermelon. Of course, I could not eat all these foods.

Hearty meal with 4,000 Kyat

Some travel tip when visit Bagan:

You should hire hotel in Old Bagan area to convenient in moving, watching the sunset or sunrise in Shwesandaw are all okey.

Ticket price for Bagan area is 25,000 Kyat for 5 days. This fee can be avoided because I have ride motorcycle go out Bagan and come back which no one asked anything. The toll booth also no barrier, seems they just charge the fee for the taxi from the airport or touring car in the early morning.

When you visiting those temples of Bagan you'll have to taken off shoes, sock to climb, but do not necessarily have to wear long pants.

Myanmar tourism season begins in October each year, but you traveling Myanmar should come here from November because October is not the main time, Hot Air Balloon also not much to shooting photo.

Price each time traveled by Air Balloon around $300 for those who want to experience the feeling of flying in Bagan sky.

Wish you a nice journey!

Kikotravel.com