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Have you ever imagine how beautiful Old Bagan? far from the bustle of the capital? But this city is once a center of civilization dating back to the early AD. It housed a highly religious and sacred kingdom.
Bagan is located very far from downtown Yangon city in Myanmar. The only way to reach it is by bus. There are four cities safe for international tourists: Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle. Bagan is a city you shouldn't miss.
We took the overnight bus and arrived at 4:00 AM Bagan time. Access was easy, but we needed a taxi to get to our hotel. We got a taxi, which was quite expensive because the sky was so dark. We hurried to drop off our bags and equipment, even though we couldn't check in early. They allowed us to leave our bags without valuables.
We rented an electric scooter at 5:00 AM. The hotel was very kind and rushed to get it for us because I really wanted to see the sunrise and see the balloons fly. Something truly precious and only available in Bagan.
Don't ask how happy I was. I was able to get some interesting photos, like pre-wedding photography with my wife. In fact, we never even had pre-wedding photos. But with patience, we were able to get post-wedding photos at one of the places on my "must-visit-before-I-die" list.
Since 2020, travel warnings for European tourists have become a frightening prospect, even though Asians (especially those from ASEAN) are still allowed to visit Myanmar. For me, this is a challenge due to the decline in tourist interest. It's difficult to get access to hotels and experiences, as you know, Myanmar people also have difficulty accessing META.
A view as beautiful as this is truly hard to come by, and it all paid off in a very moving way. How could my wife and I have been so brave enough to overcome such difficult obstacles to get here safely?
There were so many touching stories along the way. From the multi-layered border crossings to our passports being confiscated for rigorous inspection. But the view from the top of this hill is the most beautiful place we have ever seen in the world. Its one of the most endure historical legacies, and one I'll always cherish. Old Bagan, the city of a thousand pagodas.