Whenever thinking about travel, my heart beat fast every time. I always desire to explore new place, to meet stranger, to try new thing, to eat new food, to experience new culture, and to challenge myself physically and mentally through my journey. I know that every time I travel, I always learn something new and it make myself stronger.
I looked for cheap flights to travel, so that I could enjoy more. I would plan my trip ahead, mostly about 2 to 3 months. I used Air Asia to travel in Asian countries, I could save about 30% of the total trip cost.
Cambodia > Yangon > Mandalay > Pyin Oo Lwin > Mandalay > Old Bagan > Yangon > Cambodia
I took an airasia, it was only $169 round trips. I have traveled to 4 different cities. The main cost of the travel would be flight tickets, and the rest is not very expensive. Myanmar is an affordable place to travel, transportation, food are cheap. There is a range of hostel and guesthouse.
I have spent few days in Yangon, then I took a night train to Mandalay, it cost 14000 kyat, about $12 which you can get a sleeping bunk bed with 4 bed private cabin. So, I saved 1 night at the hostel. It took about 12 hours, I enjoyed it very much, I could see the land of Myanmar during the sunset and the sunrise the next day.
I have stayed at a hostel called 4rivers hostel. You can choose a dorm which is about $9 to $10 or private room with aircon for $28/night.
The best way to explore the city is renting either a motorbike or bikes, the average price of motorbike is 10,000 kyat about almost $10 per day. Eating is very cheap, I would pay for my breakfast at about $1 include Burmese tea. A type of noodle soup, or fry noodle. Lunch would cost from $1.5 to $5 or $7 of your choice.
A train from Mandalay to Bagan is pretty cheap, It took me a whole morning to ask myself question "how is it possible to take a train that cost for $1?", the journey took 10 hours and 30 minutes. You can get a VIP bus from Bagan back to Yangon for 14,000 Kyat about $12.
Explore Bagan, you must buy the entrance that cost 25,000 Kyat about $22 for the duration of 7 days. There are many hostels, the range from $8 up, I and my friend choose the $20/night hotel include breakfast, it is the best way to travel with total of 2 people, in a way you can save up the cost from almost anything.
If you plan to travel from Cambodia to Myanmar and want to spend about 8 days like I did, then about $200 to $250 exclude flights would be enough only if you choose to travel more like locals.
My real spend was just $210 It worth of a life experience, because I only live once. An Iphone would cost much more than this and soon the new model are coming out, the Iphone would not worth the same, but life’s experience is worth to invest and spend on. I would prefer to be rich of life’s experiences, culture immersion of different. The wonder who is wondering does not mean he/she is lost.