I didn’t know what to expect at all and Myanmar was quite a shock, with its incredibly welcoming population despite the current political tensions (2015). Curious, smiling and open-hearted are 3 ways of qualifying the Burmese, always happy to communicate and help the tourists the best they can. It is rare enough to be mentioned, in a region saturated with more and more mass-tourism. On top of their human qualities, they hold a fantastic country, rich in historical culture, and incredible landscapes. For me, Myanmar is the forgotten gem of Asia.

I started from Yangon, culturally rich and vibrant but still a noisy city, to continue north towards Lake Inle, highly touristic spot with their famous one-leg paddling fishermen, then Bagan and its thousands of stupas and temples. A little time in highly polluted Mandalay (not my favourite spot), and then off the main touristic track towards Hsipaw. I’ve made some great friends along the way, rode my first scooter ever, and encountered only open-minded locals, village citizen or region soldiers, that were more than happy to chat with tourists. I continued my journey on the West coast of Yangon, at Ngwe Saung, only one hostel in the middle of beach resorts, then East towards the Thailand border. Hpa-an was really worth a stop, 2 days easily spent there, then Mawlamyine  and finally the Thailand border at the Three Pagodas Pass,