As a child of the Facebook generation who only let Twitter into her life reluctantly, I resisted Instagram for a long time…and immediately got hooked as soon as I gave in to the photo-sharing app! The travel pictures I see on it every day are like porn to my wanderlust and a constant source of inspiration, so I’ve decided to share the best of them with you!
With each installment, the Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards will showcase the best of a different country through my choice of photos submitted to Instagram #inwonderlands.
This week, I am taking you to MYANMAR, a country I spent one month touring this February. Myanmar (ex-Burma) was only reopened to tourism a couple years ago. As a result, it offers the audacious traveler a different experience from its South-East Asian neighbours: travel in this mysterious land is rawer, more challenging, but also perhaps more authentic.
If you don’t mind long bus rides, wifi black holes, and basic curries, you will be rewarded with largely untouched scenery, majestic pagodas, colonial architecture, a lot of boat trips, and the smiles of some of the world’s friendliest people.
But a picture speaks a thousand words, so here’s the visual evidence!
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Yangon city life
1. The streets of Yangon: a happy mess of cables, signs, cars, and people!
2. Quieter by night…
3. The majestic colonial architecture vies with colourful dilapidated buildings
4. Bang in the centre: Sule Pagoda
Some landmarks
5. The star of Myanmar: all-round golden Shwedagon Pagoda
6. The magically-balanced, sacred Golden Rock
7. U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak wood bridge, in Amarapura (near Mandalay)
Temples of Bagan
8. Sunrise over the plain of temples, overseen by hot-air balloons
9. Just one of over 2,200 temples and pagodas
10. Close-up in the morning light
Rural life
11. Trekking encounters, part 1: locals enjoying the sunset
12. Trekking encounters, part 2: follow the tracks!
13. Trekking encounters, part 3: returning from work in the fields of Kalaw
14. Ox carts are still in use in Bagan
15. Kayan tribe ‘long-neck’ woman weaving Burmese cloth
Monk life
16. Monk graduation ceremony in Nyaungshwe
17. At 10am, the monks of Amarapura line up for their only meal of the day
18. Cool man!
19. Not so proud: punished in the corner!
Market scenes
20. Greens or greens?
21. Nice colour coordination! The ladies wear thanaka on their faces, a natural cosmetic serving both as make-up and sunscreen
22. Chatting away at one of the five floating markets around Inle Lake
23. Bagfuls of dried fish: just imagine the smell!
Lake life on Inle Lake
24. Fisherman at sunrise…
25. …and running child at sunset
26. Fishing scene 1
27. Fishing scene 2
28. Fishing scene 3
29. Children boating home
30. A parking jam!
Bonus photo: favourite shot of mine!
Someone’s home on Inle Lake
Thank you to @keenantravels, @juneangel, @globetrotteramz, @little_nikki43, @breathingtravel of Breathing Travel, @stokistokhorst, @naqvisaify of Saify Naqvi, @actoftraveling of Act of Traveling, @joe_cox, @seintheworld of Photos of S&E, @por_el_mundo_adelante of Por El Mundo Adelante, @maryaway, and @photoamz96 for sharing their pictures! If you like their work, check out their accounts on Instagram and follow their adventures on their websites.
The next Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards will mix things up a bit with a change of continent by taking us to Bolivia. Tag your best Instagram pictures #inwonderlands for a chance to be featured!
Do these pictures make you want to go to Myanmar? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
Are you on Instagram? Find me at @camwonderlands.
If you would like to follow the rest of my adventures, consider also subscribing to the blog to receive all updates by email, and connecting with Camille in Wonderlands on Facebook, where I regularly post snapshots and musings that haven’t made it onto the site.
What a wonderful idea. It’s like a window to the country.
Yes that’s the idea! Bolivia next time… 🙂
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Malaysia in 20 Amazing Pictures
Loved all these photos. We went to Myanmar for our honeymoon in 2013 and absolutely loved it. These photos brought back lovely memories. I really want to go back!
Joella // Paper Crane Stories recently posted…All The Delicious {Vegetarian} Food I Ate In Japan
Oh wow, that’s an interesting choice for a honeymoon, how cool! I’m glad the photos brought back good memories 🙂
Camille recently posted…What To Do in Yangon, Myanmar: 8 Things Not To Miss
Une légère préférence pour la traversée à vélo du pont de bois et pour la série des pêcheurs sur le lac Inle. Mais les 31 photos sont toutes plus belles les unes que les autres. Et la toute dernière, la maison de pêcheurs sur le lac, est magnifique aussi. Bravo à tous…
Oui, c’a ete difficile de choisir vu la qualite des images soumises – d’ou 31 photos, plus que prevu au depart !
Camille recently posted…World Thirst: 5 Exotic Teas and Coffees You Should Try
What a fab idea Camille. You (and all of the lovely featured Instagrammers) have succeeded in making me DESPERATE to visit the country. Like you, I practically grew up on Facebook… it’s taken a little time to come around to embracing what other social media platforms can offer, but the images and sense of community found on Instagram is seriously addictive. Followed you on there btw & look forward to following your adventures!
Gabby
Gabby recently posted…DOORSTEP ADVENTURES: HIKING THE 7 SISTERS ON ENGLAND’S SOUTH DOWNS
Thank you Gabby, it’s great to hear you found the photos enticing! Myanmar is one of those places that reinvigorate your love of travel if you’ve become a bit jaded. It sounds like we’re pretty similar in our command of social media (or lack thereof) – I’m still not really sure what to make of Twitter to be honest..!
Camille recently posted…Feeling Like Indie in Ayutthaya
This is such a great idea for a post. Myanmar is such an amazing country and we can’t wait to get back there soon (we’re planning on crossing over around the 20th as soon as our Thai visas are finished.) I’m SOO excited to cycle through it 🙂
Ah and your post reminded me that I need a new phone. Instagram just doesn’t work on my crappy phone I bought in China. 🙁
Laura @ Bottled Air recently posted…Visa Run! (part 1) Hitchhiking to Bangkok (+VIDEO)
Wow, cycling through Myanmar sounds like an amazing challenge! I’m looking forward to following your adventures there 🙂 Haha, you should definitely get a new phone and start using Instagram, I got really into it once I finally embraced it… but in the meantime, you can just check back on here – I’m going to make this a regular series with a different country every time!
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Malaysia in 20 Amazing Pictures
What a wonderful trip that must have been! Wow. Thank you for sharing all those beautiful photos, especially because I’m pretty sure I’ll never get to Asia.
Jolanta | Casual Traveler recently posted…Have you ever seen the village of Lacock? You might have
You’re very welcome Jolanta, there is so much inspiration on Instagram and I really wanted to showcase the raw beauty of Myanmar after visiting… Oh no, why do you think you won’t make it to Asia? Never say never! 😉
Camille recently posted…The Complete Guide to Having the Great Wall of China to Yourself
Awesome collection! I have fallen in love with the simplicity and great spirit of people in Myanmar 🙂 My favourite picture is number 25 running child at sunset 🙂
Thanks a bunch for sharing the beauty of this country!
ox
Annie Tong recently posted…Reflections On 7 Months In Southeast Asia
Ha, I love that one too, I think it might be my favourite as well!
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Myanmar in 30 Amazing Pictures
Hey Camille, this is a fantastic idea! I love the photos you selected here and for Malaysia too. They really give a sense of the places and people there. Looking forward to seeing Bolivia next! 🙂
So glad you like the concept and my selections! Bolivia coming soon(ish)!
Camille recently posted…Don’t ‘Date’ a Girl Who Travels
I love all of the images but my most favorite picture is the number 5! It talks about the religion and how the country values their old temples.
That’s true Kristy, religion is still a big part of people’s daily lives in Myanmar and other Buddhist countries. Thanks for stopping by!
Camille recently posted…The Serious Business of Norwegian Summer ‘Hyttelivet’ (‘Cottage Living’)
I love the rural and lake shots. I’ve never been to Myanmar but your photos vaguely remind me of Vietnam. On that trip we saw mostly city life though, only visiting a couple small villages. These shots inspire me to get out into the country the next time I visit this part of the world. You mentioned “basic curries” … Did you have the opportunity to sample anything truly different or exotic? I am an adventure eater and am always looking for the unique dining experience.
Cherri Megasko recently posted…Touring Turkey – The Sultanhani Caravanserai, Aksaray
Thanks Cherri! I agree, I think Myanmar is a little similar to Vietnam or Cambodia in some respects…although it has its own very distinct culture and atmosphere. Most of the main sights are outside the cities so you kind of have to get out into the countryside! Hahaha yes, I did see about your adventure eating habits. Ummm, the Burmese seem to be a bit less adventurous than their South-East Asian neighbours when it comes to the range of animals/insects etc they eat…but they do have one national dish, tea leaf salad – not particularly crazy but very unique and delicious! I got addicted!
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Bolivia in 30 Amazing Pictures
Your post brings back such wonderful memories of our recent visit to Myanmar! For us, clip-clopping around Bagan’s 3,000+ ancient pagodas in a horse-cart was a highlight. The red-robed monks always caught our attention – especially barefooted monks chatting away on their cell phones. So we’d have to say the pic of the monks in their sunglasses is our favorite of your posted photos…
Sand In My Suitcase recently posted…Ooh La La! Going French for the day with Ponant Cruises
Exactly! That’s why I included it: it reminded me of the monks I saw on their iPhones, or using their super-sophisticated cameras..!
Camille recently posted…Finding the Edge of Oslo on an Alternative Tour
These are so unbelievably beautiful! Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos love this idea of a photo roundup!
Katie @ Katie Wanders
Katie @ Katie Wanders recently posted…Pier 39 Sea Lions, San Francisco
I’m so glad people submitted such stunning photos! This is a regular series so there will be plenty more coming for different countries 🙂
Camille recently posted…Tasting the Good Life in Parnu, the Summer Capital of Estonia
Ok, now you’ve done it. I have to go photograph Myanmar sooner rather than later. Not too hard since we have relocated to Kuala Lumpur. The country looks so unspoiled and natural. Thanks for you post.