Travellers thinking of visiting Myanmar right now have a moral dilemma to consider. With the country rarely out of the headlines recently regarding the government’s brutal treatment of the Rohingya Muslims, is it a good time to visit? Will your tourist dollar go towards helping the military commit more human rights violations? Does your presence as a visitor condone the atrocities? We look at the case FOR and AGAINST boycotting travel to Myanmar.
With Mount Rinjani a two-hour drive to the east, Kuta (Lombok) an hour and a half south, and the Gili Islands a quick boat trip west, Senggigi is a hub for travellers who are on their way somewhere else. Venture slightly south of town to experience local life, where tiny wooden huts line the black volcanic beaches and fishermen catch their dinner right off the shore…
Located down a quiet road not far from the tourist hub of Nyaung Shwe, A Little Eco Lodge is the
Xishuangbanna or ‘Banna’ as it is more commonly referred to, is not the easiest region to make sense of at first glance. Located in Southern Yunnan Province of China, on the borders of Laos and Myanmar, the region feels remarkably foreign to a seasoned backpacker of China and welcomingly familiar to the experienced traveller of Southeast Asia… Tongue-twisting name aside, this is a region well worth checking out!
Sweet Life Community Guesthouse is located in Lanta Old Town, a working fisherman’s village on the quieter east coast of the island. This beautifully designed building, with both dorm beds and private rooms, is less of a guesthouse and more of a ‘shared house’ where you’ll feel right at home as you settle into island life…
Backpackers may not spend a lot, but almost every one of their dollars stays in the local economy. With package tourists, often hardly a penny is spent in local, host economies, rather large tourist corporations, big hotel chains and restaurants, shopping malls selling Western brands. It begs the question “Why does backpacking not feature in tourism developments?” Why do backpackers get a bad rap, out of proportion to the tiny fraction who misbehave?
Despite the romantic connotations of the city’s name, thanks entirely to Kipling (who actually spent only three days in the country!), Mandalay comes with the traffic and pollution problems that you’d expect in any large Southeast Asian city. If you’re looking for a place to relax, a home from home amid the city buzz, look no further than the aptly named ‘Ma Ma Guesthouse’, run by lovely husband and wife team, Win and Su.
Built in 1903, the Kalaw Heritage Hotel in the old British Hill Station of Kalaw is a novelty throwback to
In June and July of 2016 the Chinese government demolished 50% of Larung Gar, a thriving settlement of 40,000 peaceful Tibetan Buddhists. They say that it has become overcrowded and that its population must be reduced to only 5,000 people by October 2017. These photos, taken by photographer, Jesse Rockwell, are the last that will ever be taken before the city is destroyed forever…
50km from Inle Lake, Kalaw, in Shan State, was founded as a hill station by the British. At 1,320 metres, the climate offers a cool escape from the sweltering heat of the tropics. Many travellers spend just one night here before setting off on a 3-day trek to Inle Lake. Big mistake! Kalaw is one of the loveliest towns in Myanmar and there are plenty of reasons to hang around…
