Hot Air Ballooning Over Inle Lake: Better than Bagan?

Hot air ballooning over Inle Lake isn't the first to come to mind when thinking of flying experience in Myanmar. When most think of hot air ballooning in Myanmar, pictures of colorful balloons rising up over the temples of Bagan come to mind. As it should... people (and pilots) come from all over the world to experience that glowing sunrise view from above the temples with nearly 1000 years of history to them. But there is a open secret that all of the hot air balloon pilots in Bagan talk about, and that's the hot air balloon flight over Inle Lake.

Guides, ArticlesDustin MainApril 16, 2018Myanmar Travel Tips, Hot Air Balloon, MyanmarComment

My Top 10 Instagrams of 2017

I had a busy year on Instagram this year, which has proven itself to be a great place for me to share what I'm working on quickly while I'm in the trenches (aka, on the scene). The ability to share shorted micro-stories has really become a joy, even if it has meant less has made it to the blog.

Dustin MainMarch 13, 2018Top 10, InstagramComment

Myanmar Through Another Lens - Photos from my Un-Tour Guests

When I have the opportunity to take my guests on a tour to Myanmar, I often get to see things through their eyes, seeing it from a fresh perspective. And while you get to see a lot of my photos from Myanmar on my Instagram and on my website, I thought it would be great to share some from my guests as well.

Un-Tour to Myanmar, Tour To MyanmarDustin MainDecember 11, 2017Myanmar, Burma, Photography Comments

A Guide to the Camera Gear I Travel With

Wherever I go, I typically have a camera with me... and I'm often asked how I take the images that I do.

So I decided to open my bag (so to speak) and let you have a peek inside. So come and check out my current camera gear setup, from camera bodies, to tripods, to all sorts of odds and ends.

ArticlesDustin MainDecember 1, 2017Gear, Camera, PhotoComment

Fire In the Sky: Tazaungdaing Fire Balloon Festival in Taunggyi

The Tazaungdaing Fire Balloon Festival (Festival of Lights) had such a reputation that I avoided going for years. Now, each year... I can't stay away from the awe-inspiring madness and beauty.

Read all about what the festival is about, and how to see it for yourself in 2019.

ArticlesDustin MainSeptember 8, 2017Myanmar Travel Tips, Burma, Taunggyi, Festivals, MyanmarComment

A Look Back at the Second "Un-Tour To Myanmar"

Five years in the making. One year of planning. 13 days of stories and adventures on one remarkable journey.

On those first trips I made to Myanmar more than 5 years ago, I remember thinking to myself, "Maybe if I don't write about the things here, I can have all of this for myself."

The feeling was fleeting, and since then I've always been interested in sharing the magic of the country, through my documentary work "This Myanmar Life," my photography, my writing, and my talks. After the first Un-Tour to Myanmar in October 2016, I knew I was on to something special.

Below is a small selection of what we experienced together, and a few snippets I published along the way (live to Instagram).

Un-Tour to Myanmar, Tour To MyanmarDustin MainAugust 30, 2017Myanmar, Burma, Un-Tour To MyanmarComment

A Guide to Social Enterprise for Travelers in Myanmar

I hear from so many travelers to Myanmar who want to make sure that their money goes to the people, and not to the government or croonies. In the past few years, there has been a big boom in creative social enterprises in Myanmar, and I wanted to shine a light on them. Find the best places to spend your money and make the biggest difference.

ArticlesDustin MainAugust 7, 2017Myanmar Travel Tips, Myanmar, Burma Comment

Kalaw Super Travel Guide

The old British hill station village of Kalaw is easily one of my favorite places in Myanmar. While seen as most as just the place to start the very popular Kalaw-to-Inle trek, it's so much more than that.

The cool mountain air, mixed with the beautiful pine forests and a relatively mellow vibe make for a great stop on your Myanmar adventure. The biggest mistake people make in coming here is that most only stay for a single night.

ArticlesDustin MainMarch 25, 2017Myanmar Travel Tips, Burma, Kalaw, Myanmar Comment

My Top 10 Instagrams of 2016

I spent even more time sharing on Instagram in 2016 than in years past, with images coming from Myanmar, Iran, Canada, USA, and Thailand. As we step into 2017, I thought it would be a good idea to look back and see the cream of the crop (at least decided by good, old-fashioned "likes") that rose to the top.

For the second year in a row, the top pics of the year all came from two unique destinations: Iran and Myanmar (Burma). My Myanmar project "This Myanmar Life" has been going on for ~5 years now and had its first exhibition earlier this year. The book is due out in Q3 of 2017.

Follow me on Instagram

Dustin MainFebruary 3, 2017Top 10 Comments

A Time For Reflection

Every year around this time, I spend some time reflecting on the year gone by.

What really happened in the past 12 months? What went really well, and what could have been better? What did I accomplish, and what did I learn? At first glance, it may seem simple, but I spend hours and hours going through it all to really develop the picture.

JourneyDustin MainDecember 28, 2016Chiang MaiComment

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