Burma: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
October 10-24 2008
15 Days

Burma, also known as Myanmar possesses a rich and vibrant cultural tradition. Great natural beauty combines with magnificent temple architecture. It is also a Buddhist country rich in pagodas and temples, and traditionally, tourism has been based on culture.

Myanmar with its long history,  culture, and religion has many pagodas, temples and monuments  country-wide.  In addition, Burma is also blessed by nature with natural attractions. There are snow-capped mountains, deep forests, cool and scenic planes, long rivers, beautiful lakes, and many unspoiled beaches and archipelagoes. The different national races and their way of life, traditional arts and crafts offer exotic vistas of the nation while the warm hospitality of Myanmar people is world-renowned. Burma is also one of the safest countries in the world.

We have organized this trip to take advantage of the relatively small time that the weather in these countries is mellow and less humid, and also the availability of a local guide whose fame has spread amongst many travelers. Guides are the window to their culture, and as professional guides ourselves we respect those who stand out, like “Joe,” whose plain, westernized nickname belies his talents.

Our visit to Burma begins in Yangon, formerly  Rangoon, the centerpice of which is the famous Schwedagon Pagoda, and awe-inspiring wonder or great beauty and spirituality.

Our trip  becomes increasingly more rural, as we encounter the magical Inle Lake, where entire villages exist in the water, on stilted houses of wood, thatch, or bamboo, much as did the founders of the Venice Lagoon, Fertile floating islands grow an abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages taro, beans and strawberries.  Floating gardens are anchored by bamboo poles that protrude above the surface of the placid lake, which is ringed by undulating mountains, sprinkled with spiraling pagodas.farm animals, and shops. Here we visit the large, bustling market, crumbling pagodas, numerous artists and craftsmen. Fishermen row the placid lake with their right leg, the better to survey the surrounding area for fish. Our visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival promises to be the highlight of our trip.

Mandalay is our next stop, the former center of the royal courts, and hence, the home of numerous artists and crafts people whose families used to serve the palaces. Artists subsidized by the former kings include marble carvers, woodcarvers, embroiderers and other hand-workers, gold-leaf making, leather work, silver smithing, and bronze casting. Visits to the studios of these artisans will feature into our visit to Mandaley.

We continue on to Bagan, which flourished in the 11-13 centuries, and boasts more temples than any other site in the world. The flat, vast, 24 square miles of Bagan is currently considered the largest archeological site in Asia, with 4,200 monuments. Excursions into the tranquil countryside reveal numerous pagodas, and fertile black-soil plantations of rice, chick-peas, sunflowers, maize, accacia and mango trees, fields of melons.

If you have more time, we offer an optional add-on visit to Burma’ss neighbor, Thailand, with an exciting trip to the North, experiencing the natural beauty ofthis, SE Asia's most popular destination. While here we focus on visits to the Hill Tribes who migrated long ago from China, and still affect their local customs and traditions. We stay in some wonderful accommodations that blend local architecture with western needs, and enjoy the attention of Thailand most eco-friendly guides and travel agency. We feel this is an excellent balance, as travel to the hilltribe areas in Burma is not permitted. We also offer a 5 day, 4 night package to Angkor Wat

Comments from previous trip participants:

“I rate this trip with it’s diversity, compelling interest, and good times among the very best of all my travel experiences. The time at Inle Lake was magical, and our guide was the best I have ever been with on my many travels”
Verle Waters Clark, Los Gatos, CA.

“Many thanks for making the trip a high adventure 2007 style.”
Robert Johnson, San Francisco CA.

“I liked the variety of activities we did--elephant riding, white water rafting, cooking lessons, massage, visiting schools & monasteries, visits with different ethnic tribes, seeing a wide variety of crafts being made, experiencing Buddhism through the help of our local guide.”
Jean Chandler, Cambridge MA.

Itinerary

Day 01 Oct. 10:  Departure Depart the USA via San Francisco or LAX for Tai Pei, making connections to Bankok, and Yangon. Your departure is a little past midnight on the 10th, so you must arrive at the airport the evening of the 9th.
 
Day 02 Oct 11th : Yangon (D) Evening arrival in Yangon, where we are welcomed by our top English speaking guide. Transfer to the hotel. Yangon is the commercial capital and is the biggest city in Myanmar with a population of 5 million. Its tree lined wide avenues, shady green parks, and the beautiful huge lakes give Yangon the reputation of most charming &  lively city in Asia. The meaning of Yangon is “the end of struggle.” Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Superior room
 
Day 03 Oct 12th : Full day sightseeing of Yangon (B) Breakfast at Hotel, then a full day sightseeing of the city of Yangon (Rangoon), is a green, charming tropical city with thousands of Victorian style buildings, beautiful lakes and unlike other Asian cities, is "city without motor bikes". The highlight of the tour include Yangon, colonial town, including Sule Pagoda, the City Hall & Colonial buildings. Chaukhtatkyi Temple houses the biggest reclining Buddha image in Southeast Asia. A few hundred monks live in this monastery. Photo stop at Karaweik Hall & Royal Barge on the Kandawgyi Royal Lake. In the afternoon, drive to Pyay Road to visit the National Museum, with its perfect collections of priceless artifacts and cultural heritage, to understand the history, culture, ethnicities, arts and crafts and life style of the country and its people. Also visit to Bogyoke Market, built by a British Major Scott in 1926. It’s the liveliest, fanciest and yet moderatly priced market in Yangon. Here you can practice your art of negotiation. Then proceed to visit the elegant Shwedagon Pagoda built in the 6th century B.C, which enshrines eight strands of Buddha's holy hair inside. Towering almost 100m above the green cityscape of Yangon, the land mark visible from miles around, and is one of the wonders of the world. The tour ends at its pagoda bazaar at sunset, which will be the highlight of the day. Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Superior room

Day 04 Oct 13th: Yangon / Heho- Inle (B, D) After breakfast at our Hotel, transfer to airport for flight to Heho. Upon stepping out of the plane, you feel the fresh, cool air as the elevation rise up to 3000 ft. An hours drive from Heho airport to the gateway town of Inle Lake, driving through the scenic countryside of the Shan Hills, where many colourfully dressed tribal people of Inle Lake travel to market day.
Arrive at  Nyaung Shwe, on board on traditional long tailed motored boat and transfer to your hotel. Inle Lake is one of the few natural inland lakes in the world and famous for its unique leg-rowers, floating gardens and the floating villages of Inthas. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages in superior room

Day 05 Oct 14th: Inle Phaung Daw Oo PAGODA FESTIVAL (B, D) Early breakfast at the hotel, today you will witness the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival. This afternoon we will proceed to visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most revered religious site in the area. We will also see several floating gardens and villages and  visit Nge Phe Chaung Monastery, famous for its’ peculiar performance of  cats jumping through hoops. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages in superior room.

Day 06 Oct 15th: Inle – Pindaya- Inle (B, D) Breakfast at the hotel. Board our boat to Nyaung Shwe for a drive to Pindaya (2h30) a small beautiful town in the Southern Shan State. About 50,000 Danu, Taungyo, Palaung and Shan people live in this small town. The lines of huge old banyan trees, the peaceful lake in the town centre, the lime stone caves and the simple friendly people make this small town a famous travel destination. The Pindaya Caves, located next to the town, are a site not to be missed. Three caves on the ridge run north-south, but only the southern cave can be entered and explored. This cave  extends for about 490 feet along a well-worn path. Its known for its interior which contains over 8,094 images of Buddha. Some of the older statues and images in the cave have inscriptions dating back to 1773. The collection as a whole forms an impressive display of Buddhist iconography and art from early Konbaung era to the modern period.
Return to Inle Lake, and transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages in superior room

Day 07 Oct 16th: Inle – Indein (B, D) After breakfast at Hotel, board our boats to see the Mine Thauth local market where fresh local produce is sold. There will be ample opportunities of seeing different hill tribe such as Pa-O, Intha, Shan and if lucky some Palaung people coming down from their villages up on the mountain tops. After the market, drive up the Indein river --one of the many tributaries feeding water to Inle Lake-- to a beautiful temple site called Indein. Then an excursion to Indein situated on the western shore to see the temple complex, similar to Khmer style in Angkor. We travel one & half hour drive by boat, then 15 minutes walk through the magnificent columns, to take a beautiful walk through a bamboo forest. On the way back, visit Impawkhone silk weaving village, a blacksmith, and witness Cheroot making. In the afternoon we continue to visit surrounding villages. Return to the hotel in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages in superior room
 
Day 08 Oct 17th: Inle – Heho/ Mandalay (B) Early breakfast at the hotel before catching the closing ceremony of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival. We enjoy the boat race at 10:00 in the morning at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and then transfer to Heho airport for evening flight to Mandalay.
Mandalay, the last capital of the last Myanmar Empire, is a Buddhist city of conservative culture and traditional art. Presently, the second largest city in Myanmar with a population of 927,000, it is a major communication and commercial hub of Northern Myanmar. The city is bounded by the Ayeyarwaddy River and is 716 km north of Yangon. Mandalay lies at the centre of Myanmar's dry zone. Founded on 23 May 1859 by King Mindon Min, Mandalay was the last capital (1860–1885) of the last independent Burmese Kingdom before annexation by the British after the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885. Transfer to the hotel and overnight at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel in superior room

Day 09 Oct 18th: Mandalay City Tour (B) Breakfast at the hotel. Our sightseeing tour in Mandalay includes: Mahamuni Temple, housing a huge bronze Buddha image covered in thick layers of gold, and is one of the three holiest places in Myanmar. It is crowded with pious devotees from all over the country. Our walk past bustling small shops selling local snacks and religious objects on approaching the Mahamuni Temple is also interesting.
Golden Palace Monastery is the most well known wooden monastery in the country and known for its intricate carvings. It is the only original building from the Mandalay Palace, which fortunately escaped from bombing in WWII. Kuthodaw Pagoda houses the biggest book in the world with hundreds of marble slabs inscribed with the entire Buddhist Canon.
Mandalay is the Burmese center of arts and crafts and techniques from the last century remain unchanged. Artists of Mandalay are proud to be able to maintain their the arts of their ancestors. Visit to several workshops in Mandalay include  gold leaf making workshop, where 24K gold is transformed into super thin gold leaves, unmatched even by hi-tech equipment. We also visit a place where puppets and Kalaga (tapestries) are made and visit other handicraft workshops: wood carving and bronze casting. Overnight at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel

Day 10 Oct 19th: Mandalay and its surrounding cities (B) Breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Amarapura (the capital of Konbaung Dynasty). Our visit includes Mahagandayon, a famous Buddhist monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study. Then we’ll head to U Bein Bridge, a half-mile long span known as the longest teak bridge in the world, and built in 1851 when Amarapura was the royal capital. Next explore Bagaya Monastery with its superb collection of Buddha statues. Witness the marble carving street, where thousands of Buddha images are made. Observe traditional cotton and silk weavers whose ancestors wove robes for the royalty. The weaving of colourful and intricate silk longyi proceeds at only an inch a day.
Afternoon tour continue with a short boat trip to Inwa (Ava)-- a small town south of Amarapura, and another former ancient capital. Here we visit the Nanmyint Watchtower, the remains of a palace building nicknamed the "leaning tower of Ava", the brick and stucco Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and Bagayar Ava Monastery famed for its impressive and ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Continue to Sagaing Hills, dotted with pagodas. There are over 500 monasteries-- retreats for Buddhist devotees, and enjoy a scenic sunset. Overnight at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel in superior room
 
Day 11 Oct 20th 2008: Mandalay – Bagan (Ferry Boat) (B) Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the jetty of the pubic express ferry for Bagan, the magical Buddhist kingdom and one of Asia’s holiest cities. Bagan was built by the 11th century king Anawrahta and continued for two and a half centuries, cementing the city as the nerve center of ancient Burmese culture. Bagan was eventually sacked in 1287 by Mongol armies under Kublai Khan, who destroyed hundreds of the monuments, but is still dotted with over 3000 temples. The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles in the semi-desert region of central Myanmar.
During its grand golden age in the 12th century, Bagan was known as “the city of four million pagodas”. Kublai Khan’s Army and several massive earthquakes have reduced that inflated number drastically, yet what remains is still quite incredible. Bagan is a heaven on earth-- not only for archaeologists, historians and photographers but also for all travellers. On arrival at Bagan transfer to your Hotel, overnight at Bagan Hotel in Deluxe room.

Day 12 Oct 21st : Bagan (B) Breakfast at the Hotel. Today we will travel to must-see temples with distinctive architectural styles, including Shwezigon pagoda, Ananda Temple, Gubyaukgi Htilominln and Sulamani temple. Some of the temples are lavishly decorated with mural paintings which have lasted for over 900 years.
Bagan is also famous as the center of Myanmar’s thriving lacquerware industry. In the afternoon, the tour includes a stop at a local lacquerware workshop to watch the skilled artisans at work at the various stages, over a period of six months. We then proceed to Old Bagan for a pony cart tour among the temples before sunset. Enjoy the magical moment from the top of the one of the tall temples, breathing the fresh air of the surrounding plain. Relax and let your imagination take you back 1000 years, while looking at the spectacular view in front of you and experience a peaceful and tranquil moment. Overnight at Bagan Hotel in Deluxe room.
 
Day 13 Oct 22nd: Bagan – Mt. Popa – Bagan (B) After breakfast, morning drive to Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano which lies 50 km southeast of Bagan. View the countryside of central Burma, passing few cars but many peasants working together with their oxen in their fields and toddy palm orchards. It is worthwhile to stop and watch a family industry that makes palm liquor, palm wine, and palm sugar from the local Toddy Palm.
Mt Popa, designed as a National Park, is a legendary home of the “Mahagiri nats” (Powerful  spirits) and important pilgrimage site for spirit worshippers. The lush vegetation on the mountain’s slopes; the Petrified Forest along the road; the complex of monasteries and shrines perched on the rocky crag and endless views of the plains below, the macaques monkeys--are a visual feast. The core of the volcano that was last active 250,000 years ago rises 737m from the flat surrounding Myingyan Plain and is topped with a grand pagoda.
After arrival at Mt Popa, you may climb 777 steps to the summit for amazing panorama view and visit “nats” Shrine and the Buddhist temple. In the afternoon proceed to Salay for a half day trip from Popa. The visit to Salay includes the Payathonzu complex, the Man Paya - the largest lacquer Buddha image in Myanmar from the 13-century, Thathana yaunggyi Monastery, and famous Yokesone Wooden Monastery preserved as the museum. Return to Bagan. Overnight Bagan Hotel in Deluxe room.
 
Day 14 Oct 23rd 2008: Bagan / Yangon (B) Today visit the Nyaung Oo Market where the fresh produce of the region is sold. There will be photo opportunities galore as you witness the morning market. Watch old weathered ladies selling and buying wares while vigorously puffing on their fat cheroots (local cigars). Proceed on to see the favourite temples of your expert tour leader/guide. This mid afternoon, you will visit a traditional village to see the local way of life and experience well-known Burmese hospitality. In the evening transfer to airport for a flight to Yangon and transfer to Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Yangon.Optional Supplement: Farewell Dinner at Le Planteur (see the supplement), an excellent French restaurant.
 
Day 15 Oct 24th 2008:  Yangon Departure Breakfast at the Hotel. Since this is your last day in Yangon, you might want to go shopping for famous Burmese handicraft or just enjoy the hotel’s facilities.

Price:
$4200.00 based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room in supirior and deluxe hotels. Ground only $2750.00 Single Supplement: $395.00. Minimum 10 participants. Maximum 16. Trip fee includes a donation to a school for impoverished children inYangon.

Deposits/ Penalties:
A $350.00 refundable deposit reserves trip space.  A penalty fee of $75.00 will be charged for all cancellations received  in writing. After tickets have been issued airline penalties will occur.  No refunds will be made after departure. Final payments are due 60 days prior  to departure.

Trip leaders:
Madé Surya BS. While a graduate student in Economics at Udayana University in Bali, founded the Mountain Climbing Club, now boasting about 200 members. He has been organizing and leading study tours for more than 20 years and has assisted scholars and film crews in Exploring  Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Greece and Italy. He has previously led many active tours, and remains a favorite guide and friend to former clients. Judy Slattum MFA  has been organizing and leading study tours to Bali, SE Asia,  Italy and Greece for 3 decades. She has written extensively on Balinese culture. Her book, Masks of Bali:Spirits of an Ancient Drama, is the definitive work on this topic, was featured in Time magazine, and has sold over 17,000 copies, has been reprinted by Periplus Editions, and is a best seller in SEAsia.


Airline Options:
Participants may depart and return at any time. Participants are urged to sign up early and make plans regarding dates, as we are traveling during High Season. You  may wish to opt. for an upgrade o Eva Evergreen Class. The cabin is small and quiet, situated in the nose of the plane. The seats have a long pitch and recline with footrest and private armrests. These seats are limited and should be reserved ASAP. Current price for upgrade (which may change) is $333.00. Contact our travel agent, Wendy Simon at Pacific Harbor Travel, Santa Cruz (local calls: 427-5002, or 1-800  435-9463) for further details.

Terms and Conditions:
In case of unexpected situations, the tour leader reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event. Festivals and special events will be incorporated into the itinerary as optional excursions. Any one who leaves the tour at any time FOR ANY REASON is on their own. There will be no refunds for missed tour activities and no substitutions.

Accommodations:
Based on double occupancy. We stay in  the best 3 and 4 star clean, comfortable locally-owned hotels with private baths, cable T-V, mini fridge, and large buffet breakfasts, some with swimming pools.

Additional Options:
We are also offering a four night visit to Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia, and tour to Northern Thailand Contact us for further information.

Call toll free 888-476-0543 or email for further information.
Contact Danu Enterprises today and escape the ordinary!