Photo of the Week: Balloons

IMG_1093Bagan, Myanmar

Sunrise in Bagan is one of the most magical moments. Each morning we would set the alarm and roll out of bed when it was still dark out.  We would put on our clothes while half asleep while questioning ourselves why we were up at that ungodly hour.  Then we hopped on our bikes and headed out into the unknown.  Our mission was to find a small temple with a terrace where we could go up and watch the sunrise.

It was still dark out when we finally made it to the top.  We sat there patiently waiting for the sun to rise and the hot air balloons to make their way over the horizon. At the crack of dawn, a sliver of light shined through and you could finally see glimpses of this magical landscape.  In the morning a thick layer of fog also blankets the area creating this dreamy effect. Even with the 4 am wake up call, it was worth the effort every time.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

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Photo of the Week: Sunrise

IMG_1930Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan captured my heart like no other place I’ve ever visited, and has cemented its spot at the top of my all-time favorites.  This place stirred up my sense of adventure as I hopped on my bike with map in hand to explore the forgotten temples peaking out from above the trees. As popular as it is, you can always find a peaceful corner, away from the crowds. Lying back against the broken ledge, staring up at the open sky, I felt a deep connection to this magnificent place. To read more about our visit to Bagan, check out this link.  

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Bagan in Pictures

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Have you ever fallen in love with a place before you even got there?   Ever since the first time I saw a picture of Bagan at sunrise, I obsessively scoured Instagram  looking through other people’s photos, dreaming of a time when I would be there myself.  My dream came true last year when I finally got to explore the Burmese plains and took  over 3,000 photos during the 3 days that I was there.  Even the great explorer, Marco Polo was in awe of this place, calling it “one of the finest sights in the world”. Continue reading

Getting to Know Bagan

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The ancient city of Bagan,  located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River,  is home to over 4,000  Buddhist temples, pagodas, and stupas. It is one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites, rivaling that of Angkor Wat, with ruins dating back to as far as the 11th and 12th centuries. Over half of the original temples have managed to survive the years.  The stunning images of temples peaking through the canopy of trees is THE reason why I wanted to come to Myanmar.   The reality was every part as amazing as I imagined. Continue reading

Day 9: On the Road in Bagan

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This morning we woke up early and rode our bikes out to one of the temples to watch the sunrise, and were rewarded with the sight above. The hot air balloons rising over the temples of Bagan in the early morning makes for a magnificent sight.  In addition, with the thick fog rolling in from the river, it also creates a sense of mystique to the whole shot. 

Planning Myanmar

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[photo credit: Wikipedia]

“Why are you going to Myanmar?…  Wait, where is Myanmar?”  I think those might be the two most common questions I’ve gotten each time I’ve told someone we’re going to Myanmar.  Our response is always some combination of: “It’s near Thailand, and well, why not?”  If you’ve ever searched for pictures of Bagan on Google, you’d know right away why we were drawn to Myanmar.  The country looks beautiful, it is in Southeast Asia, there is a rich cultural history to explore, and until a few years ago, it wasn’t even possible to enter the country. All the reasons that would make for a great trip. We’ve been pretty excited for this trip, so much so that I’ve even managed to pull myself away from work for a whole two weeks! Continue reading