Incredible guides
Reviewed December 30, 2024
Visiting Myanmar was nothing short of life-changing. From the moment I stepped foot in Yangon, I felt enveloped by a world that seemed to breathe history, spirituality, and resilience.
My Guide was able to take away all the usual worries that come with landing in a new country especially a country with so much going on. Everything was thought of so all I had to worry about was being in the moment. Even in the busy City centre my guide Mr. Htun ensured I was comfortable at all times. I often worry about solo tours due to awkwardness or miscommunications but after meeting Htun I was instantly at ease. Funny, witty and a fantastic story teller it was a pleasure to be in his company and to witness the love and passion he has for his country and its people.
He took me to the best food spots in town (I still think about the Shan noodles) and made sure that I saw everything there was to see at my own pace. He also brought me outside the city to see some local areas that I could not have navigated by myself. Giving me a special insight into the lives of the locals there.
It was Bagan however that I truly felt time stand still ,exploring this ancient city was the highlight of my Wonderful Myanmar tour. Standing amidst an endless sea of ancient temples, each one with its own unique history, these are not just architectural wonders, they are monuments to devotion, hopes and prayers frozen in stone. Each one tells a story, of kings who sought to honor their faith, or compete against each other, of artists who poured their souls into every intricate detail of every square inch of these temples.
My guide Arkar knew of every fart that had taken place here, there was not a question he couldn’t answer or a profound story he couldn’t tell, relaying it all to me in a clear and pleasant manner (along with a fantastic sense of humour) . I learned all about farming here , and how they use every part of whatever they’ve produced whether it be to eat it, sell it , to feed livestock or even making furniture and houses (which I also got to witness ) . I learned about the local customs and beliefs, and even the emotions conveyed through the centuries old architecture left behind by heartbroken kings. My guide was more than just a storyteller, he was a bridge to understanding Myanmar’s beautiful, complex and profound culture.
Often I find guided tours can sometimes be more of a performance for tourists rather than an authentic experience which is something I kept in mind when I arrived but through observing their interactions with the local people even when they weren’t aware I was observing, they exuded a level of genuine kindness, consideration, love and compassion that would cure the world if everyone behaved as such. Knowing how to handle any scenario whilst treating everyone with the utmost respect, reciprocated of course by the kindest people of a country I’ve ever met, finding strangers who went out of their way to help me at every turn with no expectations, the warmth and the quiet strength of the people of Myanmar has left an imprint on my heart. I found myself in tears on both occasions when it was time to say goodbye to Htun and Arkar. I’m unsure wether it was the place itself or getting to know these two men beyond a surface level that has left me with such a heavy heart but I can say now after a year of full-time travel this was the most spectacular time Ive had and the country that’s effected me the most.
All my love Myanmar ❤️
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