HOUSE OF THE WEEK

An abundance of space at FMI City

CERTAINLY, space is not a problem in this house – once you get there. Over the Hlaing River, 45 minutes from downtown, there is a large one-storey house in a big compound waiting for someone ready to trade time for space. ...more

Yangon Weather Forecast, Burma

A bird’s-eye view of Myanmar

A GROUP of foreign tourists is planning to tour Myanmar by hot air balloon this month, with Inle Lake, Loikaw, Mandalay and Bagan included in the itinerary, said a spokesperson from Golden Express Tours and Hotels, which is making arrangements for the trip.

U Tint Naung, the managing director of Golden Express, said the 31 foreign tourists, led by Swiss businessman Mr Peter Blaser, will visit the country from January 10 to 25.

After arriving in Myanmar, the group will take to the sky in seven hot air balloons at Inle Lake in Shan State from January 11 to13, U Tint Naung said. They will move to Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, on January 14 and fly there from January 15 to 18.

The tour will continue with hot air balloon flights around Mandalay and Bagan between January 20 and 25.
U Tint Naung said this year’s visit will mark the 12th time the group has toured Myanmar by balloon. “They usually visit Myanmar in December or January because the weather is fine at that time. The wind usually blows in one direction at a speed of 10 to 15 miles an hour (16 to 24 kilometres an hour), which is the best conditions for flying balloons,” he said.

“They also flew to Loikaw last year and they want to go again this year. We have made arrangements so they can celebrate Kayah State Day during their visit.”

He said the group brings its own hot air balloons for the trip, and the balloons are moved from region to region in Myanmar using ground transport arranged by Golden Express.

U Tint Naung said two parachutists will also join the group this year. “Parachutists have participated since the group’s fourth visit. Last time they parachuted from a height of 3000 metres onto the field where the Kachin Manaw Festival was being held in Myitkyina.”

The group first toured Myanmar by balloon in March 1999 and has returned every year since then, visiting Bagan, Inle, Mandalay, Monywa, Bago, Myitkyina, Taunggyi, Pindaya, Bagan and Mrauk U in past years.