";s:4:"text";s:5311:"Locals can be great whereas the government can be awful. Take the iconic railway ride from Hsipaw to Pyin Oo Lwin and cross the jaw-dropping Goteik Viaduct. This traditional craft was outlawed for many years under the military regime and it is a testament to Mr Aung that he has managed to continue.Set your alarm for an early start and rise before dawn to take a boat ride out onto Inle Lake. There is a small entrance fee here for foreigners but you might be able to avoid that if you’re lucky and dodge the collectors on the gate. Besides the lake, it is also great to bike in and around the nearby ‘backpack-ish’ town. Kids are getting educated about this problem but this is going to take a generation or two.Villages on the lake completely made of wood and/or bamboo. Balloon flight in Bagan not included. There may even be some Padaung women who wear metal coils around their necks weaving. Getting from Yangon to Hpa An takes about 8-hours (with Mi Ba Gone Express) but it is a 100% worth the trip.Bagan is one of those places that will make your travel heart pound faster. Myanmar is full of highlights like the temple filled called Bagan , floating villages at Inle Lake to one of Asia’s most beautiful beaches . Washing clothes, bodies, hair and dishes in the lake and tending their vegetables on their man-made floating veggie patches, it was fascinating to see this community go about its work.You should certainly do your best to catch the traditional puppet show one evening which is performed by a true enthusiast. If the weather is good on the afternoon that you arrive, take a taxi up to Mandalay Hill or to the U Bein teak bridge. All rights reserved. However, in case the situation changes, I am bookmarking your excellent guide.Hi Suzanne, I really struggled with going because of the Rohinga situation but I am glad that I did. It would be great to travel with an expert (like you!) Introduction.