20 Feb
Mahasi Meditation Centre
This meditation centre was opened in 1950, with the Most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw as its Principle Preceptor. The most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw started the teaching of the Mahasi method of insight in 1947 and taught for 33 years until his death in August, 1982. The centre has prospered with up to 500 meditators (yogis) practicing intensive meditation daily at the centre. It is located on approximately twenty acres of quiet pleasant garden land in Hermitage. There are over one hundred buildings on the ground for housing the meditation teachers and meditators both monks, nuns and laity, men as well as women and providing complete retreat facilities.
20 Feb
Chaukhtatgyi Paya
Fifty years ago there was a giant standing buddha poking his head above the temples and monasteries here, but one day he got tired and collapsed into a heap on the floor, whereupon he was replaced with the monster-sized lazy reclining buddha you see today. One of Myanmar’s more beautiful reclining buddhas, the placid face of the Chaukhtatgyi Buddha is topped by a crown encrusted in diamonds and other precious stones.
20 Feb
Allied War Cemetery
Located in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Division, about 32 km from Yangon, on the road to Bago, the Allied War Cemetery is a memorial to Allied soldiers who died in battle in Burma during World War II. It is one of 3 Allied War Memorial Cemeteries in Myanmar, along with the Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery and the Thanbyuzayat war cemetery.
20 Feb
Maha Bandula Park
The Maha Bandula Park (also called Mahabandula, Mahaandoola or Maha Bandula Garden) is a public national park which located in downtown Yangon, Burma. The park is surrounded by some famous tourist attractions in the area such as the Sule Pagoda, the Yangon City Hall and the High Court and near 4 main streets of Yangon. The name Maha Bandula of this park is set in order to remind the general who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826). The park also has an Independence Monument, an obelisk to commemorate the Burmese independence from the British since 1948. Nowadays, Maha Bandula Park is an ideal location for people to relax and play sports, especially for t’ai chi practitioners.
20 Feb
Wat Leu
Spectacular views of almost the entire city – and gorgeous sunset panoramas – await at Wat Leu (Wat Chhnothean), situated on a peaceful, forested hilltop 1.5km northwest of the city centre (next to three red-and-white radio telecom towers). The small museum opens for groups.
20 Feb
A weekend in Vientiane
Vientiane is a long way from the buzz of cities like Bangkok or Hanoi, and is quite likely to be one of the smallest capital cities you’ll ever visit. Two days is usually enough for most travellers passing through to see the highlights — here’s how we’d suggest spending them....
20 Feb
National Museum Yangon
Located in Dagon, Yangon, the National Museum of Myanmar was founded in 1952 in order to conserve the values of art, history and culture in Myanmar. The museum has an abundant collection of ancient artworks, artifacts, ornaments, inscriptions and historic memorabilia, which related to the history, culture and civilization of Burmese people.
20 Feb
What to buy at Vientiane’s Talaat Sao (Morning Market)
Every Southeast Asian city has a market that’s a treasure trove of exotic bits and pieces; while Laos cannot rival the markets of Chiang Mai and Bangkok, in Vientiane Talaat Sao, or the morning market, offers a great selection of local offerings, mostly of the fabric-based kind.
20 Feb
Taukkyan War Cemetery
Taukkyan War Cemetery is in Taukkyan town in the township of Mingaladon, Yangon greater area, on the main highway No 1 Pyay Road. From the centre of the city of Yangon, it is 21 miles north and 11 miles from the international airport, 45 minutes drive from the centre of Rangoon and 24 minutes from the International airport. Exact location of the cemetery is North (17º02’08.24″) and East (96º07’55.28″).
20 Feb
Independence Beach
Northwest of Sokha Beach, Independence Beach (7-Chann Beach) has mostly been taken over by a gargantuan new property development. The only open section is beneath the classic hotel for which the beach is named.
