With its enormous style and dilapidated grandeur this is one of the most charming cities in Asia. Or visit the National Museum with the Lion Throne, S cott Market, the Royal Lakes and the Sule and Botataung pagodas. And stroll through the lobby of the Strand any time of d ay. A two-hour drive from Rangoon this ancient Mon capital is a pleasant, bustling place to explore on foot or by sidecar. The Golden Rock Pagoda, perched on a huge, precarious boulder on the edge of a cliff is a magical place that's quite difficult to get to and certainly worth the effort.
Accommodations are very basic here.
Renowned for its seafood and beautiful pagodas, this old teak port has a fine beach nearby and a World War II cemetery. In this sublimely beautiful area are the famed Intha leg-rowers, the floating gardens, some colorful weaving villages and the Pagoda of the Jumping Cats. A most rewarding excursion is to one of the regional markets, where tribal p eople come to sell their wares. The Taunggyi Museum has a collection of tribal costumes, weapons, artifacts and musical instruments. The short hike to the source of the Zawgyi River takes you through some lovely scenery.