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More than just the sights

July 7, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 26 Comments

THINGS TO DO

Things to see in Bago, Myanmar

As tourism increases in Myanmar, the local people are proudly showing off their country to the outside world. After decades of repression, they seem to take great joy in the fascination foreigners have with the Golden Land.

In the small town of Bago, a couple of hours east of Yangon, I met Kyee Maung (pronounced Chee Mwah). He used to be the headmaster at a school in one of the city’s outlying villages but now he takes tourists on motorbike tours of his region.

But he does more than just a trip around the sights and he wants to leave his international guests with more than just a cursory impression of Bago.

Kyee Maung uses his connections in the community to dig down to the daily life of many of the local residents.

How much can you fit into one day on the back of a motorbike? Well, if you’re Kyee Maung, a lot!

I thought I would share some of the highlights of the tour he gave me through Bago and the surrounding region. Although it’s the conversations we had and his views on the recent history of Myanmar that were particularly special, this photo essay will hopefully give you a good sense of some of the fascinating things he showed me.

(If you’re ever in Bago I would highly recommend spending the day with Kyee Maung – ask for him at the San Francisco Guesthouse.)

Stop 1: The Shwemawdaw Pagoda

We start the day at the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the main sight in Bago. It’s a large and impressive pagoda that can be seen from much of the city.

Kyee Maung, of course, knew a little trick and took me in through the entrance where I didn’t have to pay for a foreigner’s entry ticket.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 2: The Nunnery

Just next to the Shwemawdaw Pagoda is a nunnery which we just casually strolled in to. In their small teaching area, I was invited to sit down for tea and snacks.

I chatted with an elderly woman who comes everyday to do volunteer work with the nuns. (She seemed more interested in talking about her unmarried daughters to me than anything else.)

It was almost lunchtime for the nuns so she showed me the kitchen and the dining room where the women were about to eat.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 3: Kha Khat Wain Kyaung Monastery

Across town we visited Bago’s largest monastery – home to about 400 monks. Kyee Maung showed me their dormitory accommodation where they sleep on the floor, with no barriers between them.

Then it was time for lunch. Each of the monks walks in one by one and is given food by donors (the more senior ones get more). It takes a big pot to cook enough fish stew for everyone!

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 4: Leaf market

One of the main industries in Bago is cigarette and cigar manufacturing. We visited a large market which is dedicated solely to the sale of the leaves used to wrap the cigarettes. There were more than a hundred little stores.

The workers spend a lot of their day sorting through the leaves which have come in wholesale, putting them into different piles based on quality, for sale at different prices.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 5: Cigar and cigarette factory

Then it was on to a ‘factory’ where the cigarettes and cigars are made. Although in reality, it was just a house with a group of women sitting on the floor rolling and sticking together the cylinders.

They worked at such a past pace, where there still seemed time for some gossiping (and some giggling when one said I looked like Leonardo DiCaprio).

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 6: A smaller monastery

There are a lot of monasteries in Bago, as there are in most cities of Myanmar. Many children attend them as schools, even if they don’t become monks for their entire lives.

It seems young monks and just like most children – sometimes they misbehave. These youngsters were on detention and had to sit in silence and watch their teacher eat his lunch.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 7: The snake temple

An enormous snake was the next stop. But not just any old snake, a sacred reincarnated one!

Local people would come and stare at the snake, say a prayer or two, and then throw some money at it. Kyee Maung told me the snake hadn’t eaten in six months and was probably getting hungry.

We didn’t stay too long here.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 8: The Four Buddhas

One of the famous sights of Bago is the Four Buddhas (called Kyaik Pun Paya), with one facing towards each compass point.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

There’s not too much other than the sight of the Buddhas itself, which can be seen in a matter of minutes.

Stop 9: The woodcarving factory

Just near the Four Buddhas, we stopped at a woodcarving ‘factory’. Once again, it was basically just a house but in this case the whole garden had been converted into what looked like a sweatshop.

Dozens of young workers were bent over making all sorts of ornate carvings.

Some of the workers are part of the family which owns the business but others come along and are paid for each piece they make. Most of the woodcarvings are exported to China, I was told.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 10: The local pub

Along the way to our next stop, we made a slight detour to see a traditional local pub. The people come here to drink something called ‘Dodi juice’ which is made from the fruit in the trees all around us. It tastes a bit like sour cider.

The creepiest things, though, were the snacks they eat along with it. Kyee Maung took great pleasure in showing me the fried rat and the fried cat which are considered to be the perfect complement to the juice.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 11: Another pagoda

Every tour of a city in Myanmar must include several pagodas, I’ve been discovering, and so it was time for another one in Bago. This one was interesting because you could walk inside it, where there were statues of sitting Buddhas.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 12: The secret pagoda

Then it was time for the ‘secret pagoda’, a nickname given to it by Kyee Maung for no reason other than it is not in any guidebooks.

There is nothing overly secretive about it otherwise. But it was a very pretty example and had stairs you could use to climb up to the top.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 13: The lake temple

A quick stop, as the sun was getting lower in the sky, at a very pretty temple in the middle of a lake.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 14: The old reclining Buddha

This is one of the most sacred places in Bago and is steeped in legend. The old reclining Buddha (technically called the Shwethalyaung Buddha) was apparently built more than a thousand years ago as a dedication to a queen who brought Buddhism to the heathens in the region who worshipped evil gods.

It is 55 metres long and has had a special building constructing around it to protect it from the elements.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Stop 15: The new reclining Buddha

And not far away from the old reclining Buddha is the new reclining Buddha. It’s actually the larger of the two but was built with concrete in the last ten years or so, so isn’t the most spiritual of places.

Still, as the sun began to go down on Bago and on a very busy day, it was a beautiful and peaceful place to finish a wonderful tour with Kyee Maung.

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Things to see in Bago, Tour of Bago, Myanmar

Myanmar Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MYANMAR?

See my Myanmar Travel Guide

To help you plan your trip to Myanmar:

  • Five ways to experience local Myanmar
  • Why the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is so important
  • What to expect on the Circle Line in Yangon
  • How to spend a day in Bagan
  • Visiting Mount Popa Monastery from Bagan
  • The best things to see in Bago
  • The story behind the Royal Palace of Mandalay
  • Don’t miss the U Bein Teak Bridge near Mandalay
  • Here’s why I didn’t like visiting Inle Lake
  • Hiking with locals in Shan State

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a Myanmar tour, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours in Myanmar.

You could consider:

  • Myanmar on a Shoestring (14 days)
  • Classic Myanmar Adventure (14 days)
  • The Heart of Myanmar- National Geographic (12 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) |

    February 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Reply

    This looks absolutely amazing! My husband and I love exploring by motorbike as it helps us feel more in touch with our surroundings and I find it is so much easier to interact with locals. Of course, having a local guide would only enhance the experience, and it seems like you were really able to see a bit of Myanmar that the many swarms of tourists will likely skip or not have available to them. When we make it to Myanmar (not for several more months, I’m sure), we’ll definitely have to look Kyee Maung up!

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 9, 2013 at 3:44 pm

      Reply

      Make sure you do look him up – you won’t regret it!
      I’ve been doing quite a few ‘tours’ with the motorbike guys. It’s a great way to zip around and see everything… plus they know all the best local places for food and culture.

  2. Rease |

    February 8, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Reply

    Awesome photos, as usual. Your guide seems so sweet and informative. That’s the kind of tour I’m interested in.

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 9, 2013 at 3:47 pm

      Reply

      He was a really nice guy and showed me so much. I hope more people can use him as a guide when they pass through Bago.

  3. Vera |

    February 13, 2013 at 2:20 am

    Reply

    Wow, that’s a lot for one day! AND you were compared to Leonardo DiCaprio:) – awesome! Being offered fried rat and cat – maybe less awesome. That’s something which was eaten here in Europe probably only during the wars. Cats were also refered to as “roof rabbits” back then. Then again, who decides what is a pet and what gets eaten – it’s really just random. On a brighter note, I’d love to have Mr. Maung as a guide, especially after he didn’t feed you to the snake, which, for a moment, I thought had been his plan all along… And maybe I have no taste and no respect, but I gotta say, I like the new reclining Buddha much more. BAM.

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 16, 2013 at 5:58 pm

      Reply

      ‘Roof rabbits,’ you say? I kind of like that as a name. “Would you let the roof rabbit out please, Vera?” – sounds kind of fun.
      Makes them seem lees tasty, though.

  4. Cam @ Traveling Canucks |

    February 13, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    Reply

    Wow – that’s a lot of sightseeing for one day! Quite the experience, you’ve captured it well

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 16, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      Reply

      I was exhausted by the end of it – but it was all so fascinating!

  5. Freya |

    February 23, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    Reply

    WoW looks like an awesome tour ! very impressive.
    Stunning photos. The new reclining Buddha is beautiful.

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 26, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Reply

      Yeah, the new reclining Buddha is pretty cool. But there were no visitors at it when I went. There were much more at the old reclining Buddha because it actually has a lot more religious significance.

  6. The GypsyNesters |

    April 15, 2013 at 1:44 am

    Reply

    Beautiful post Michael! Love how you captured the human side of Bago while showing the sights. Must see the Hidden Temple – SOON!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 11:46 pm

      Reply

      Not many tourists make it to Bago so you will find it really pleasant if you get there. It’s the perfect mix of local culture with lots of things to see and do.

  7. Arun |

    August 11, 2013 at 2:15 am

    Reply

    Just booked my tickets to Myanmar and came here researching for my trip. Clearly, this is an off-track plan and a very exciting one at it. I shall be following your footsteps. Thank you.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      Reply

      Let me know how you go! Hopefully you’ll be able to find Kyee Maung and he can take you around himself.

  8. Sharon |

    October 22, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Reply

    Hi Michael,

    I am Sharon from Singapore. Will be going to Yangon this friday 25 to 29 Oct.

    After seeing your photos and recommendation on this Bago tour, we are interested to go but we have 5 of us, can Kyee Maung drive us a van instead? Thanks so much 😀

    Cheers!
    Sharon

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 29, 2013 at 12:55 am

      Reply

      Hi Sharon. I’m not sure if Kyee Maung has access to a van but you could certainly ask. If you stop by or ring the guesthouse, they should be able to let you know. Good luck!

  9. Arun |

    June 2, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Reply

    This blogpost (which I stumbled upon for the second time in last 7-8 months), made me decide to visit Bago when I was in Myanmar last year. What I enjoyed is reading about less touristy experiences. Thank you.

  10. Lwin Moe Thu |

    July 17, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Reply

    It is amazing! I have been there more than five time as I am a Myanmar, it is amazing place for picnic for people from Yangon. The last when I went there, there is Thangyan festival (water festival) and I got a lot of unforgettable memories. And I also saw this big SNAKE, and she is sick without eating anything. Anyway, some local said that it one worship THE FOUR BUDDHA, he or she will be a single for the whole life. One of my cousin did it and she didn’t get married until now.LOL 🙂

  11. Ruth C |

    October 12, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Reply

    We asked at San Francisco guest house for a tour with Kyee Maung today (October 2016), and unfortunately he’s no longer in business. The guest house kindly hooked us up with Win Naung instead, who was also a fantastic guide – super friendly and knowledgeable. We recommend him!

  12. Fede |

    July 31, 2017 at 11:40 pm

    Reply

    I am going to Bago tomorrow. Very interested about the secret pagoda but where is it in the map? Can’t figure it out. It’d be great if u could tell me.
    Cheers
    Fede

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 3, 2017 at 8:17 am

      Reply

      Hi Fede. The GPS coordinates for that temple are: 17°19’54” N 96°26’41” E.
      You’ve also made me realise that I should really add a map to this post. I’ll get this done soon so travellers like you will be able to plan everything a bit better. Sorry about that.

  13. Neal Hanowitz |

    February 25, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    Reply

    Are you available for guiding 3 people this Monday , February 26 for the whole day in Bago by motorbike?

  14. hand Bouquet |

    March 26, 2019 at 9:52 pm

    Reply

    Hurrah, that’s what I was looking for, what a information! existing here at this blog,
    thanks admin of this web page.

  15. Jake Brooker |

    August 8, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    Reply

    Hi im in bago and have been given very high quotes for bike tours!! How much should they cost l, I’ve been offered over 30 dollars for 1 person
    Thanks

  16. Filippo |

    September 16, 2019 at 1:27 am

    Reply

    Hi, looking for a motorbike rental at Yangon or nearby for 10 days. Found and contacted Burma of Yangon but they only provide at Mandalay! If you have any info please contact, many thanks!
    Filippo

  17. Penny |

    October 23, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    Reply

    Just finished a tour of Bago based on your great blog info. Met Kyee Maung who is no longer guiding but was working at the reception of my hotel. He hooked me up with another local guide who didn’t know your secret temple but took me to another fascinating place which celebrates the Buddha’s reincarnation as various animals. It is very close to the Cave Temple – the one with the lines of sitting Buddhas.

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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