Because I've always wanted to...
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and travel-filled
2013.
I am regularly asked what is my favourite country. Impossible to
answer but if SE Asia is the region, it would undoubtedly be Burma.
It has everything you could ever want in a country including the
phenomenal Ngapali Beach. In fact, if you have temple phobia, you
could spend a very happy week or so just here! Our new Chairman
Richard Price and his wife Nicky, had a fabulous adventure and his
words below might provide you with some useful thoughts. Next month
I plan to review the Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique where I was
lucky enough to spend a few weeks in November researching a number
of divine Islands!
Yours laterally,
Nick Matthews, Laterallife London, UK.
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When I spoke to Nick and Steve about going to the Far East
for a holiday for my wife and I in my new role as Chairman of
laterallife - I was thinking of a trip on what is now the fairly
well trodden path of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. However
laterallife are nothing if not lateral! Nick pointed out that, as
undoubtedly beautiful and interesting as those countries are, if we
wanted to experience something different, unexplored and untouched
by western influences, now was the time to visit Myanmar (or Burma
as most of us still think of it).
Now I must admit my knowledge of Burma was confined to it
being an ex-British colony, the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and
the military government and not much else - I suppose I thought of
it being a bit like North Korea, I had no idea what actually lay
behind my rather superficial impressions, how the people would be,
what the country would be like and indeed whether there was any
tourism industry.
This is a snapshot of some of the delights that await you in
one of the most undiscovered and unspoilt parts of South East Asia
- but the word is out and the world is catching on fast and tourism
demand is beginning to outstrip supply - if you want to go to Burma
- to get the hotels that you want you will need to book about 9
months in advance. October to April is the best time to visit just
speak to Nick or Steve and let them do the leg work - but above all
else (in the words of the Moody Blues) - Go Now!
Yours laterally,
Richard Price
The Strand, Yangon
Dating back to 1901, the Strand stands as an iconic landmark
building on Strand Road and close to the waterfront. The hotel's
Victorian influence is visible from the grand entranceway to the
marble floors inlaid with teak and elegant chandeliers. There are
31 spacious suites located on the two upper floors which are
attended by a team of butlers. The Strand Grill is one of the
city's finest dining venues for Asian and Western cuisine while the
Strand Cafe with its large windows looking out onto Strand Road
creates an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of the hotel's historic
past
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Popa Mountain Resort, Mount Popa
An extinct volcano rising vertically 5,000 feet up on the plain
with the stunning Taungkalatt Monastery perched bang on top - up
770 steps to walk up it so best just to admire the view from afar!
The only place to stay is the Popa Mountain Resort - an
eco-friendly teak-built series of cabanas high up in the jungle
canopy with fantastic uninterrupted views over the Monastery and
surrounding countryside. The peaceful location and beautiful cabins
benefit from huge verandas to sit and admire the views - the like
of which you won't have seen before. laterallife can advise you
which rooms have the best views.
Bluebird Hotel, Bagan
One of the most wonderful sights you will see in South-East Asia
are 3,000 brick built temples and pagodas in Bagan - up to 1,200
years old but many very well preserved. If you can, book a balloon
ride at sunrise over the vast plain where they stretch as far as
the eye can see. As a major tourist destination in Bagan there are
many hotels ranging from the backpacker variety to large
international hotels. However we had a real "find" and stayed at
the boutique 24 room Blue Bird Hotel - the rooms are very spacious
and very well appointed - waterfall showers were a particular
feature with a small pool and pretty gardens - quite an oasis of
tranquillity. A spa is due to open later this year - and the
service was second to none.
Ngapali Bay Villas, Ngapali Beach
The beach at Ngapali is up there with the best you will find in
the Seychelles or the Caribbean - fine white sand and palm fringed
with warm shallow turquoise waters and a typical unhurried Burmese
atmosphere. Ngapali is famous for its seafood and at the beachside
restaurants you can indulge yourself with a whole lobster for about
£7. There are 4 or 5 low-rise teak built thatched hotels along the
2 mile long beach. We were very impressed with a new boutique hotel
Ngapali Bay Villas - built right on the beach - which has 32 cabins
of a whopping 1000 sq. ft. each in size - possibly the best rooms
we encountered in Burma. This is a quiet boutique Hotel with a
splendid pool -
Inle Princess, Lake Inle
A 45 square mile freshwater lake in the middle of Burma
and home of the famous one legged fishermen. Many of the lakeside
hotels are built on stilts or floating pontoons but the pick of the
bunch is the Inle Princess Hotel. The hotel has beautifully
landscaped grounds and lake view rooms where the hotel thoughtfully
provides a pair of binoculars for you to watch the passing
fishermen and the wildlife - not to mention the lovely sunsets - as
you sit on your veranda with your favourite tipple. Also for those
who want to pamper themselves the Princess has one of the most
luxurious spas in Burma.