Text “Paradisepack” to 33444 to learn how to enter the drawing for an awesome Tortuga Backpack or enter the contest here!
Today Jason and I team up once again to bring you a list of ways to mentally prepare for, and sustain long term travel.
From some simple tasks like smiling to harder ones like refusing to compromise your dreams, we give you guys a HUGE number of mental hacks to help you turn your long term travel dreams into reality.
We’ll be back later this week with ways to take these mental hacks & combine them with practical hacks to make any travel dream possible (on any budget)!
Longtime listeners might know that Heather has a not so secret love.
Coffee
Turns out, Jason, our often co-host, also has the same love. Though his is more of an addiction.
Today Heather and Jason list out some of their best coffee experiences, including their favorite coffee shops, and the best countries for coffee lovers.
I hold down the fort for those of us who aren’t so into coffee, providing some notes on ambiance, delicious treats, and the best hot chocolate I’ve had to date. And of course, you won’t have to wait long for Jason to break all the rules.
Myanmar also referred to as Burma, is an incredible country that’s getting more and more tourists by the day.
Here are the top 10 things to do in Myanmar (Burma) in under 2 minutes!
Want more information on what to do in Myanmar?
Here are details on the top 10 things to do in Myanmar, broken up by the four main regions: Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, and Yangon.
Bagan
1. Temples, Temples, Temples
There are over 2,000 temples to explore in Bagan so grab an electric bicycle – or a regular one if you want more exercise – and find your own path!
2. Balloon Ride Over Bagan
Soaring high above the temples of Bagan is a magical experience and one that should be on every traveler’s list. We highly recommend using Balloons over Bagan, the oldest and most popular balloon company in Myanmar.
3. Sunrise at the Temples
Get up early and find your own abandoned temple – it’s not hard, there are thousands of them. Then, take in the magnificent sunrise.
Mandalay
4. Visit the Three Ancient Cities
The three ancient cities around Mandalay – Inwa, Amarapura, and Sagaing – are all close enough that you can hit them in a day.
If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a motorbike and drive to them yourself, which is an incredible experience. If not, you can hire a driver to take you, and make sure you don’t miss the U Bein bridge – the world’s longest teak bridge – at sunset.
With 729 marble slabs – one for each page of the book – all housed in their own white pagoda, it’s a site you won’t want to miss.
Inle Lake
6. Full-Day Boat Cruise on Inle Lake
If you’re going to Inle Lake, you’re going to take a boat cruise. Opt for the full day option so you have plenty of time to see the world-famous fisherman, head to the various floating villages, and make your way down to the town of Inden.
7. Bike Around Inle Lake
Renting a bike is a cheap and fun way to see the surrounding countryside. And while you’re out, don’t miss Red Mountain Winery. It may be a tough, steep climb up, but it’s a blast coming back down and the views are spectacular.
Yangon
8. Bogyoke Aung San Market
There’s no shortage of weird services, foods, and colors at this eclectic and huge market. Wander around, people watch, and if you are buying something, make sure to haggle.
9. Ride the Yangon Circle Train
It’s long, slow, bumpy, and completely awesome. You’ll have 3 1/2 hours of a completely authentic experience, and will most likely encounter one or all of the following:
Little children carrying baby chickens in a plastic bag.
Women carrying 30 pounds of food on their head, hands-free
Soccer games being played on dusty patches of land.
Friendly, curious stares from locals.
The best part: It costs less than 50 cents!
10. Eat at Feel Myanmar Food
Feel Myanmar Food is the best restaurant we ate at in the entire country, and the experience alone is worth the trek.
Sidle up to the buffet, start pointing at whatever looks tasty (hint: it’s all tasty) and then eat way more than you think is possible.
Bonus: Lucky 7 Teahouse
No trip to Yangon would be complete without visiting a teahouse and eating some mohinga, and the Lucky 7 is one of the best around.
Not only are the drinks and food delicious and super cheap, but they also have a really nice outdoor seating area and get bonus points for the staff members wearing fake soccer jerseys as their uniforms.
Final Word(s)
Now that you know the top 10 things to do in Myanmar, it’s time to get there. The country is changing very rapidly, and if you’re looking for a destination that is a little difficult but also authentic and unique, Myanmar is the place to go.
Have you been to Myanmar before? What are some of your top things to do there? Share in the comments below!
From phones and cameras to backpacks and shoes, Eytan has a minimalist solution for everything.
He’ll share with us why he doesn’t bring any camera other than his phone, some of his favorite brands of clothing, and best of all his packing list for a 25-liter bag. That’s tiny, even by my standards!
This is Part 2 of a 2 part Podcast. To listen to the first part, click here! You’ll learn how Eytan got into the travel lifestyle, how he balances travel & work, and the best way to use your phone while traveling.
Eytan from Snarky Nomad joins me today to discuss some of my favorite topics.
Travel & travel gear.
On today’s episode, we preface our main discussion of travel gear (found in Part 2 of this interview) with Eytan’s telling us how he fell in love with travel, and why he became so obsessed with travel gear in the first place.
We discuss how explaining a red solo cup to an Australian is what brings Eytan back to travel again and again, and end this part of the interview with Eytan’s opinions on T-mobile’s international plan (a much-asked question here at EPoP).
Make sure to check back on Thursday for Part 2, where we discuss the best travel gear, the perfect travel shoe, and why your phone is really all the camera you need.
