Taunggyi
The capital at Shan State. About 454 miles from Yangon. A hill station, over
1,430 meter above sea-level. By car all the way in 16 hours. By train up to
Nyaung Shwe and thence to Taunggyi by car. Air service up to Heho, then by car.
From Taunggyi it is about an hour's drive to Inle Lake.
Taunggyi is cool and pleasant all the year round. The market on every fifth day
is crowded with ethnic tribes in their traditional dresses, Taunggyi Museum is
worth visiting too.
There are two kinds of fire-ballon competitions the day festival and the night
festival. Balloons in the shape of elephant, horse, ox, water-buffalo, bird,
pig, fish, hintha, owl and parrot are released in the day festival. the ballons
released at night have fireworks, multi-coloured lights and so-called" dia-mond
ear-rings" with small lanterns attached to the main balloon.
