I'm planning on heading out to Bagan in a few months. Has anyone been there recently? Looking for photo tips... Which lenses for a ff dslr, best temples or pagodas to climb up for beautiful sunrise and sunset shots, which lens for a balloon ride, best means of transportation within Bagan, places to eat and sleep, etc...

I have been there in August, but as I am only carrying a 5000-Baht camera with me, I am not of much help when it comes to photography ^^

as for accom, try to check the Lonely-Planet-Forum, which is very active in the Burma/Myanmar - sector.

If you plan to spend a few days in Mandalay (which is not such a wonderful city but a great base to explore the many interesting places in a radius of 40 miles), I can recommend you an absolutely lovely, well-educated guide and his 35 year-old Mazda. He speaks English very well (the Guide, not the Mazda, that is ^^ ) and his rates are reasonable in a way it is already embarrassing

I was reluctant to travel to Myanmar for such a long time, but what a mistake ! the people WELCOME you and are happy to see you. and they are so incredibly friendly, with a GENUINE smile. Myanmar is MAGIC and I will be back early next year already....

please feel free to click on my pictures (all taken in the Mandalay area) and comment ^^

BTW, if you put your topic into the TRAVEL-section, you would probably get more replies regarding accom in Bagan.

maybe you should start another topic there

OOOOOPS...... why are my pics so BIG when clicking on them ?

I thought they will fit the screen

not good :-/

Resizing for posting on the net is advisable.

Set the resolution to 72dpi and the size 1024 x 720 pixels (or there abouts)

12 x 8 inches

Thanks Siam2007,

I posted here because my question was mainly photography related. Only plan to do Yangon and Bagan for my first Burma trip. BTW, wonderful photos!

I think it is much better to be in Burma/Bagan in August than in Jan - June because of the haze. It is much worse in Burma than in Thailand and we know how bad it can be here.

I think it is much better to be in Burma/Bagan in August than in Jan - June because of the haze. It is much worse in Burma than in Thailand and we know how bad it can be here.

Some examples from our trip there the first days in June.

Kalaw, on the road to Inle Lake. Around 4400 fosl.

Inle Lake. Around 3000 fosl.

Bagan. Less than 100 fosl.

You can see how the haze is hiding all the beautiful mountains.

It was a fantastic trip in a beautiful country with wonderful people.

But we all know what we don´t like about the country.

When/If I go back I will try to go there in August-Sept.