Weather Spoon's Bagan: A Must-Try Restaurant in Bagan, Myanmar

I've only been to Bagan for two full days so I haven't really explored it that much. Since I do not have much time to explore the thousands of pagodas in the city I've tried my best to at least spend time scouting for the best restaurants to eat. I do not want to Google so together with my college friend, Evan we wander around Nyaung-U to the Old Bagan to try what's in store for our hungry tummies. While walking in the food strip, Weather Spoon's Bagan caught our attention since it was a full house. We waited for a couple of minutes but it looked like the customers were enjoying their local beer, burgers and pizzas so we decided to look for another restaurant to try.

We went back for dinner but again, Weather Spoon's Bagan was full so we tried another restaurant, again! We thought we'd never had a chance to try their food but luckily the next morning we're able to finally dine at the resto. There were not too many people when we arrived since it was still too early. Most of the visitors were still enjoying the sunrise view of Bagan. It was phenomenal by the way (I'll discuss this is my next post, hahaha)

Good morning from the land of thousand pagodas! #bagan #myanmar #travel #escapemanilatoSEA

A photo posted by Glen Santillan (@escapemanila) on Feb 16, 2016 at 5:13pm PST

We tried their Myanmar-style Fish Curry and Myanmar-style beef curry, both were served with plain rice and equally delicious Myanmar-style salad. I paired my beef curry with their Papaya Salad and Evan ordered Tomato Salad. The food were really good. It's too different from the usual curry that I've tried. And the salad? It was delightful!

So, if you are planning to visit Bagan, I highly recommend you eat at Weather Spoon's Bagan. The restaurant is small and cozy and is a good place to meet fellow travelers.

Here's the menu of Weather Spoon's Bagan. 1USD is approximately 1,200 Myanmar Kyat.

10 Travel Tips for A Cheap Getaway in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the emerging tourist destinations in the world. It has become a part of most travelers' itinerary in their journey around the world.. From pristine beaches, pagodas, mountains, UNESCO Heritage sites and delicious cuisines, the region has got it all for you.

Traveling across Southeast Asia does not need to be expensive. With careful planning, you can travel around the region cheaply and conveniently. Here are some tips and guidelines for a Cheap Getaway in Southeast Asia.

Plan ahead of time

It is important to plan your vacation at least three to six months before your actual travel. Airline ticket prices are lower when it's far from the travel dates. The closer the date when you book a flight, the more expensive the fare is. The same situation for some accommodations. Some hotels and hostels offer promo rates when you book in advance like GoHotels in the Philippines and Tune Hotels and Red Planet Hotels across Southeast Asia.

Set A Budget

You must set a budget like an estimated amount you can spend for the duration of your trip. I suggest you travel within your means. Meaning, don't go beyond what you can afford. Make sure you include at least 20% buffer in your budget to cover unforeseen expenses.

Draft an itinerary

You have to make a rough itinerary and polish it later on. You have to know when and where you want to go and how many days you will be staying in one place. It's good if you start your travel in a regional hub so you have lots of options to fly across the region. Start your journey in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. I suggest you use an excel sheet or a google sheet so you can update it anytime. 

Check for Flights at third party websites

If you are not certain where to go next or if you are looking for cheap fares, you can try Skypicker or Adioso. These booking sites let you search for flights for a specific destination or search by radius. This way, you can see which destination has a cheaper fare from where you'll be flying out. I once book my Yangon-Bangkok flight with Skypicker and saved around $10 compared to the airline website's booking system. So, before you book always try the next tip. It's also worth trying Skyscanner, Wego and Expedia. 

Compare prices of flights from third party sites and airline websites

Once you checked the fares at third party websites, go to the airline's website and check their rates. Most of the times, booking directly through the airline's website is much cheaper. Of course, as I mentioned above, sometimes you get lucky too, booking at third party websites. 

Consider flying with the Region's low-cost Carriers (LCC)

There are a number of Low Cost Carriers operating in Southeast Asia and beyond. You have AirAsia in Malaysia; Thai AirAsia and Nok Air in Thailand; Jetstar Asia, Scoot and Tiger Air in Singapore; Indonesia AirAsia and Lion Air in Indonesia; JetStar Asia and VietJetAir in Vietnam; and Philippines Air Asia and Cebu Pacific in the Philippines. These budget airlines often have promo fares so watch out for it regularly. Subscribe to their newsletter or follow their Facebook pages for updates.

Consider traveling by train or bus

If flights are expensive, consider traveling by bus or train. Actually it could save your accommodation cost of you travel an overnight bus or train to your next destination. It can also be fun traveling overland. I once tried traveling by train from Penang to Bangkok for almost 24 hours and I had so much fun. Also tried an overnight bus from Yangon to Bagan in Myanmar and the experience was delightful. Tourist buses are very comfortable.

Checkout Regional Passes

Airasia has ASEAN Pass and Bangkok Airways and Lao Airlines offer Discovery Airpass to explore the region. Check them out and study if you can save on flight costs. These passes do not cover taxes and other fees so you have to be careful. I know some folks who were able to save a lot by using these passes. 

Check for Accommodation

Once you booked your flights or you polished your itinerary, consider booking your accommodation. Booking sites such as Expedia, Wego, Agoda and HostelBookers are great websites to begin your search. Do not book right away, compare prices. Most of the time, Agoda has cheaper rates but from time to time Expedia offers promotions exclusive to its members. I once saved around $20 after booking from Expedia. As mentioned above, try GoHotels, Red Planet Hotels and Tune Hotels as they offer really cheap rates when you book in advance.

Get A Travel Insurance

There are a lot of companies offering travel insurance. You don't know what's going to happen so make sure you spend a portion of your budget to purchase a travel insurance. I suggest you get an insurance from World Nomads. It's easy and it's affordable.

Amazing Bagan Resort: A Classy and Traditional Burmese Accommodation

Myanmar is an exquisite destination in South East Asia. The well preserved temples are a must see in this country known as the "land of thousand pagodas". The culture is also equally fascinating, as it tells the tale of a colorful and bold history.  It will never be enough to stay here for a short period of time as there are simply too many things for you to check out. But, of course for people who have limited time like myself, a squeezed itinerary is also doable. 

Most, if not all visitors of Myanmar go to Bagan - an ancient city located in the Mandalay region. There are lots of accommodations both in the old and new Bagan. I recommend you stay at the Amazing Bagan Resort for a comfortable and relaxing holiday.

The Amazing Bagan Resort remains as Myanmar’s most recognized name. It is a nice place that you can stay in while exploring the city. It is located in Old Bagan where you can have a great view of the main temples, and the lush golf course of the resort. Contrary to the other hotels, the Amazing Bagan Resort is safely tucked away from the busy streets of the city center.

Upon arrival you will notice the classic Burmese architecture all over the place, from the intricately crafted arches, to the finely sculpted furniture. Their decors which are primarily composed of traditional Burmese art works and craft go well with the timeless feel of the resort. 

If you're worry about going to the city center or to the pagodas, you can rent out their e-bikes for only 8,000 Kyat ($7.00). You may also use their bicycles for free. You can travel to the city to grab an interesting meal, or to visit different places as you wish. You also have the option to rent one of the cars that they are renting out for their guests.

If you want a hassle-free tour of the city, you may avail of the resort's packages for leisure activities. The tour usually lasts for an hour up to five hours depending on the kind of activity. The price ranges from Ks10,00 ($8) to Ks50,000 ($40). 

Apart from these savvy traveling options, they are also popular for their simply delicious servings of breakfasts and dinners. Get to enjoy well prepared Burmese dishes that are meticulously prepared by their kitchen staff. I personally enjoyed their buffet breakfast with a lot of options to choose from. From continental dishes, to Asian and local cuisine, you'll surely have a satisfying gastronomic experience.

You can also get to enjoy other facilities like their swimming pool and spa center. If you don’t feel like going out and you just want to enjoy a relaxing day in the resort, then you can ask for their spa services or dip in the pool. Nothing beats lying down on a bed, smelling essences and being pampered by trained therapists after a long day.

You can stay connected with your social media network and your email with the Free WiFi provided by the hotel available in all rooms. This is Myanmar so do not expect ultra fast internet speed but I guarantee you, their internet speed is more than enough to open websites and send emails. In case you do not have a laptop and you need to browse the web or send an email, you can go to their business center and use their computers.

The resort is equipped with three kinds of accommodations namely the Suite Bungalow, the Suite and the Deluxe rooms. Among the three, the Suite Bungalow is the most preferred kind of accommodation.

The Suite Bungalow features a very spacious room, colored with an earthy palette and accentuate by touches of gold and green. Their bed in the Suite Bungalow is large and it has just the right feel, it’s not too soft and not too hard.

Right now, they have 20 Suite Bungalows. Each are equipped with the basic room amenities such as TV, Coffee Maker, Air Conditioner, Mini Bar, Shower and Bath Tub. The luxurious look of the suite is coupled with its affordable and reasonable rate.

Amazing Bagan Resort

Bagan, Myanmar, Mandalay Division

Tel :95 9 402630885, 2042094

Email: amazingrm.abr@amazing-hotel.com

Website : www.amazing-hotel.com