08Jan2015

Where to Stay in Myanmar

Julio Moreno Myanmar hotels, Myanmar, UNESCO 4 Comments

I normally don’t review hotels but reliable info on decent places to stay within Myanmar is surprisingly inconsistent and unreliable (read: Lonely Planet blows). Here are the places I stayed along with all the information I remember. Hopefully it will be useful to you.

Take note of the numbers and address as booking online within Myanmar will be a pain given the very limited internet speeds.

Mandalay

Fortune Hotel

Price: ~$24 USD a night

Location: No. 182, 31st St Between 82nd and 83rd Street

Phone: 02-35821, 66548

My Experience: This was a pretty long walk (with luggage) from where the Air Asia bus drops you off, but still manageable. The staff were super awesome and the young guys even taught me where to buy and how to wear a longyi. The breakfast was pretty good too (breakfast is always included in Myanmar) with a choice of eggs in an omelet, scrambled, or over easy. The showers and room were clean, the water was warm, and they had reasonably reliable internet (by Myanmar standards).

Normally, it isn’t easy to rent a scooter as laws in certain places (like Bagan) forbid foreigners from riding them. However, one of the workers let me rent his as long as I brought it back in time for him to go home, which worked out fine for us. We were able to see parts of Mandalay outside of the typical tours, which was awesome. Revisiting certain places off peak hours (such as the large monastery near Ubein Bridge) was worth it. The only con I can think of is that cheaper accommodation is available, but I’d stay here again.

Bagan

14Dec201429Jun2015

Everglades National Park

Julio Moreno UNESCO World Heritage Site, United States alligators, nature, UNESCO, world heritage site 2 Comments

Location: [Near] Miami, Florida, USA

Visited: June 22, 2013

Site Type: Natural

Inscribed: 1979

Background and Opinion:

The Everglades National Park was on my to do list for as long as I could remember. When I got an 18 hour layover in Miami on my way to Peru last year, I didn’t even hesitate in making plans to explore this ecological wonder. While I did not get to see manatees, it definitely did not disappoint. If there is one thing the region is known for besides sandy beaches and hot bods, it is the swamps filled with a fantastical amount of alligators. Seriously, if you can go through this area without seeing a gator, you did something wrong.

03Dec201414Jan2016

Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple

Julio Moreno South Korea, UNESCO World Heritage Site Buddhism, korea, temples, UNESCO, world heritage site 2 Comments

Location: Gyeongju, South Korea

Visited: Sept, 2010 / March, 2011 / Oct, 2013

Site Type: Cultural

Inscribed: 1995

Background and Opinion:

This, Korea’s oldest UNESCO site, is actually a dual submission of ‘two temples’ which are adjacent to each other, the large Bulguksa Temple, and the smaller cave temple of Seokguram. Bulguksa was first built in the 8th century during the Silla period and serves as one of the few remaining examples of their architecture.

One particularly impressive part of the temple is the set of two stone pagodas known as Seokgatap and Dabotap. While nothing has ever been found (officially) inside of Dabotap, the former had a number of relics dating back from the construction of these structures in 750 CE. One of these relics was a piece of the oldest known remaining woodblock print of the Mugujeonggwang Great Dharani Sutra. The two pagodas, the relics and five other structures account for a total of 8 national treasures in Bulguksa alone, 7 of which still remain on site today. Read more →

23Nov201429Jun2015

Temple of Preah Vihear

Julio Moreno Cambodia, UNESCO World Heritage Site Buddhism, temples, UNESCO, world heritage site 0 Comment

Location: Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia

Visited: August, 2014

Site Type: Cultural

Inscribed: 2008

Opinion and Background:

It is not every day that UNESCO causes a war, but that is exactly what happened in 2008 with the inclusion of Preah Vihear to the World Heritage List. The history is long and complicated, but in short, reports coming from the UNESCO meeting in Quebec, Canada exacerbated a century long dispute between Thailand and Cambodia about where exactly their border lies. This led to a number of cross border clashes between 2008-2011, making Preah Vihear only recently accessible for tourists to see.

08Nov201429Jun2015

Namhansanseong

Julio Moreno South Korea, UNESCO World Heritage Site fortress, UNESCO, world heritage site 6 Comments

Location: Near Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

Visited: April 18, 2013, May 10, 2014

Site Type: Cultural

Inscribed: 2014

Background and Opinion:

Namhansanseong is a fortress located in Gyeonggi Province just a few kilometers south east of Seoul. Ancient tradition states that it was the birthplace of Onjo, the founder of the Baekje. It is very similar in structure to Hwaseong as what remains today is traced back to that same era (Joseon Dynasty). It is most famous for its siege and defense against the invading Manchu army in the 1600s. Although Joseon eventually did surrender this fort, it was never destroyed as its walls could not be breached. It remains a local favorite for weekend hikes.