Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 International Arrival Yangon, met on arrival by your guide and transfer to the Chatrium Hotel. Visit Yangon if you arrive in day time.

Day 2 Full day in Yangon

Day 3 Afternoon flight to Heho, transfer to Inle Lake

Day 4 & 5 Two full days visit on the lake

Day 6 Afternoon flight to Mandalay.

Day 7 Full day visit Mandalay and surroundings

Day 8 Morning continue visit of Mandalay. Late afternoon embark on the charter Amara River Cruise.

Day 9&10 Irrawaddy River Cruise, visit the remote villages, assist the novice initiation ceremony.Day 11&12 Bagan Archaeological Zone, and its surroundings. Day 13 Flight back to Yangon

Day 14 International Departure

Itinerary in Detail

Day 1 Arrival Yangon

On arrival Yangon, met and transfer to The Chatrium Hotel.. Dinner and overnight at The Chatrium Hotel (superior room).

Day 2 Yangon

Breakfast at hotel. Full day visit of Yangon city – we will have a walk in city’s bustling down town, see the old colonial buildings, visit Scott Market where local people do their shopping, see Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha Image, Yangon River, bustling China Town and soak up in the peaceful air of Shwedagon Pagoda until sunset. Lunch at Royal Garden Restaurant and dinner at Padonmar Restaurent. Overnight at The Chatrium Hotel (superior room)

Day 3 Yangon / Heho / Inle Lake

Breakfast at hotel. Morning free at leisure. Lunch at Green Elephant Restaurant, and transfer to the airport for an hour flight to Heho in Southern Shan State. Then proceed by road to Inle Lake. On arrival at Nyaung Shwe, continue your journey by long tail boat to your hotel located on the lake. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages (Superior room).

Day 4 Inle Lake

Breakfast at hotel. Full day visit of Inle Lake: early morning start to visit one of the Five Days Market, enjoy walking among the tribes in the colourful local market, continue to seldom visited exquisite Kyaimkham Village old teak monastery to see the Shan style Buddha Images, then proceed by boat to Helon Village to have traditional Intha lunch at a floating residential house. Be paddled in a sampan (or paddle one yourself!) through this remote lake bound village. Enter houses to see cotton weaving, and other local industries. Also in the sampan explore rice mills and small farms far out on the lake. On the way back to hotel, there is a shopping possibility for ones who love fine silk and lotus fabric. Spend the last hour of the day walking in the village behind the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages (superior).

Day 5 Inle Lake

Breakfast at hotel. Continue visit of Inle Lake on the long tail boat to see the ways of the Intha people life, beautiful landscapes, villages with monasteries on stilts, floating gardens, and the fishing technique of the Intha people. Also we will be visiting Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Thalay Village, silver smith in Ywama Village, local people’s rice cake industry in Myaynigone Village. Return to hotel just before sunset after visiting the Ngaphe Chaung Monastery and floating garden. Lunch at Ann’s Restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottages (superior).

Day 6 Inle Lake / Heho / Mandalay

Breakfast at hotel. Morning free at leisure. Lunch at Green Chili Restaurant in Nyaung Shwe. Afternoon transfer to the Heho airport for a half an hour flight to Mandalay. In arrival Mandalay, transfer by road to Emerald Land Inn for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Mandalay – Amarapura – Mandalay

Breakfast at hotel. Full day visit of this last Royal city of Myanmar: Shwenandaw monastery – masterpiece of 19^th century woodcarving and the last survivor of original Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw pagoda – enshrined 729 marble slabs of Buddhist scriptures, Mahamuni Buddha Image – the most revered Image in Myanmar covered by 2cm thick of gold leaf, and gold leaf making workshop. Drive to U Bein Bridge, have a walk on the 200 years old U Bein Bridge built across the Taung Thaman lake with the support of hundreds of teak wood posts. Enjoy the local people picnic spot where tea shops are laid down under the shady big trees on the shore of the lake. Or take a canoe trip on the lake during sunset. Lunch at Mya Nanda Restaurant. Dinner at A Little Bit of Mandalay Restaurant. Overnight at Emerald Land Inn (superior room).

Day 8 Mandalay / River Cruise

After breakfast at hotel, morning drive to Myitnge River bank, cross the river to visit Inwa. Take a local pony cart to stroll around this ancient capital of Myanmar kings since 15^th century. Climb up the 19^th century Nan Myint Tower to see the view of old city wall and mote, walk through the compound of Menu Okkyaung – a 19^th century fine masonry monastery, see the huge teak posts of Bagaya Monastery – another 19^th century wooden building but still serves as an active monastery with learning kids and teaching chef monk. Afternoon proceed to Sagaing, visit Sagain Hill covered by pagodas, temples, monasteries and nunneries. Drive up to the Sunoo Ponya Shin Pagoda on the highest point of the hill to see the peaceful panoramic view of Sagaing Hill and Ayeyarwaddy River. Visit a nunnery to observe the nuns’ daily life. Proceed to visit Kaung Mu Daw Pagoda – the 17^th century gigantic dome shape stupa. Then visit the pottery making and silver smith workshops. Embark on board Amara River Cruise just after sunset. Lunch at Small River Restaurant in Inwa. Dinner and overnight on board Amara.

Day 9 River Cruise

Breakfast on board. Full day cruising to enjoy the river’s peaceful life, visit one of the seldom visited Bamar people villages on the river bank, visit old teak wood monasteries, and the villagers’ houses to see their traditional way of living, their cottage industries and farms. Lunch and dinner on board. Overnight on board Amara.

Day 10 River Cruise

Breakfast on board. Continue cruising in the early morning. Arrive Pakkoku and visit this upper Burma market town by trishaw. Visit Shwe Pwintlin Pagoda and see its fresco before return to boat and continue cruising. In the afternoon, we will arrive at the old teak monastery of West Selan, a small village on the opposite side of the river to Bagan for the “Money Tree” and “Novice Initiation Ceremony”. You will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony that is one of the most important days of a young child’s life – the initiation to become a novice monk, and the start of his learning about the Dhamma (Buddha’s teaching). After the ceremony, take a small motor boat to west bank of Irrawaddy River, board on a Second World War Willy Jeep to drive up the winding road to Tantkyitaung Mountaing Pagoda. Visit the pagoda platform with its view across the whole of Bagan and the western hinterland. Return to the boat just after sunset. Born fire Dinner on the sand bank and overnight on board Amara.

Day 11 River Cruise / Bagan

Breakfast on board. Disembark Amara River Cruise at Ayeyar Jetty, transfer to Thiripyitsaya Hotel. Full day visit of Bagan Archaeological Zone: Shwezigon – proto type of Myanmar stupa, Gubyauk Gyi – 13^th century finest mural paintings, and Htilominlo – the finest stucco carving, the Saraba gate – 9^th century masonry city gate, Ananda – most beautiful temple in Bagan, Ananda Okkyaung – 17^th century mural painting, Mingaba Gubyaukgyi – early 12^th century mural paintings, Manuha and Nan Phayar – one of the two sand stone temples in Bagan. Lunch at Bagan Beach Restaurant. Dinner at Nanda Restaurant with puppet show. Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (superior bungalow)

Day 12 Bagan

Sunrise balloon ride over Bagan. Return to hotel for breakfast and a short rest. Continue visit of Bagan Archaeological Zone. Dhammayangyi – the most massive temple of Bagan, Minanthu Village and its temples – Phaya Thonesu, Nandamanya, and Tayokepyay temple. In the afternoon take a pony cart cruising among the temple just before sunset. Lunch at Sunset Garden Restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sancturary Resort (supeiror bungalow)

Day 13 Bagan / Yangon

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for a flight back to Yangon. On arrival, transfer by road to your hotel. Lunch free. Rest of the day free at leisure or give a social visit to a local school to meet children and talk to them and their teacher. Farewell dinner at Le Planteur Restaurant. Overnight at Chatrium Hotel (superior room).

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Day 14 Yangon / Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Free until transfer to The Yangon International airport for your international departure flight.

PRICE (all prices are in US$) Validity: 1^st October 2011 to 31^st March 2012

The tour prices are inclusive of the following service:

• Private transfers and transportation in spacious air-conditioning vehicle wherever it is available
• Services as mentioned in the itinerary (Sightseeing – Excursions – Entrance fees – Boats fare)
• Special incentive arrangement as mentioned in the program
• Best English speaking Guide throughout the tour
• Domestic Air tickets (if applicable) in economy class
• Amara River Boat Charter (7 cabins with bathroom attached)
• Balloon Ride Over Bagan
• Accommodation including breakfast in twin-beds sharing in the hotels as mentioned above
• Meals as mentioned in the program
• Bottle water and refreshing towel in Zarmani Vehicles
• Baggage handling in airports and hotels

The tour prices do not include for the following service:

• Visa fees
• International flights
• International Airport Tax ( 10 US$ per person in Yangon )
• Services not mentioned in the itinerary
• Drinks, and personal expenses
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Compulsory Christmas Eve and New Year Eve dinner at hotel

Important Notes

• The price is based on the current exchanged rate of USD against Burmese Kyat. The price is subject to change according to the market exchanged rate.

In the beginning of our charity work our attention was totally focused on orphanages. From 1995 to 2002 we helped more than a dozen orphanages. We gave them not only financial support but also we spent time with the orphans. We went there, played with the children, talked to them and organized short excursions to significant places in Yangon. We discussed their issues with their teachers, or the monk or nun who runs the orphanage. At the same time, while travelling and guiding all over the country, we noticed helpless street kids, poor families, and unaided school in remote villages. As the time passed, our experience in charity work has grown. We realized that the orphans in the orphanages were getting enough food, a warm bed and clothes while the children from poor families were starving and shivering. When orphans in the orphanages were in the class room getting a basic education, the children from poor families worked hard to earn a little money to help the family. Many people feel more sympathy for orphans than they do for poor children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school.

There we saw a role for us to fill. We started to get involved in schools in poor communities. We have started to help children who have until now shared the tough life with their other family members. We keep them in our class room and equip them with a basic education and we stop them becoming street kids. If they are clever and there is a chance, we send them to High School or Vocational Training Courses, such as, nurse-aid training, dress making, welding, etc. If they are very clever and eligible to attend a Higher Institute of Learning or University we help them to make their dream come true.

Please kindly see (below) our updated list of charitable works supporting the underprivileged in Burma.

• We are approaching to the summer holiday in Burma. Primary schools children have already been sat their final exam. The High School children are about to sit their final exam too. We are expecting 50% of our 8^th grade children from Tharyargone School and Kyargayet School will pass their exam and will be eligible to attend the High School in coming academic year.
• Both youths attending in Magwe Medical Institute with our support passed their exam in December 2010. Aye Thuzar Moe (girl) is now in third year, and Wai Lin Aung (boy) is now in second year. The girl attending in Meikhtila Economic Institution also passed her exam in last December. Phyo Thet Khaing is now attending her final year.
• We employ fifteen teachers, one nurse, one cook and one general worker.
• We run a charity clinic in one of our schools, Tharyargone, to look after the health of children in our care and the community from which they come.
• We have already successfully helped out one boy from a remote village of upper Burma to become a medical doctor (Tayzar San), one boy from a poor family living in outskirt town of Rangoon to become a mechanical engineer (Win Naing Tun), and one girl from a poor family living in satellite town of Rangoon to become a computer software programmer (Chitsu Hlaing).
• We are supporting nine teenagers attending High School.
• We have helped operating eyes of 120 people in a village near Bagan in last December. The main diseases are Cataract, Glaucoma and Trachoma.
• We have just opened an adult education center where we teach subjects like social work, environmental awareness, weather changes, self efficiency, library, personal hygiene, transmitting disease awareness, children abuse, and common sense, etc. The first batch will be starting from mid April to early May. Twelve of our teachers will be attending in this first batch.
• We are helping a remote village in dry region of upper Burma to dig a tube water well. The villagers were thirst for 10 days last year because the rain came 10 days after the ponds were dried up. We have to dig more than 800 feet to get water. The ponds they usually rely on produce water but not clean enough to drink.
• “Zarmani Trust” will be named “PARAMI Foundation”. “Parami” is a pali word and it means “do thing with determination and dedication”.
• With the help of friends in Tucson, Parami foundation for Zarmani Trust is now registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission and submission has been made to the IRS. The recognition could be occurred in three months from now. When that recognition occurs, it will be backdated effective the date of incorporation.
• We do sincerely hope that this 501c3 status will help us to get more donations to run our projects.
• We are now supporting four schools that can give primary education to 900 to 1000 children in four remote and poor villages in Burma, and one school that helps about 50 of final year high school students.

Without your support we would never be able to achieve all this good work. We are very grateful for it.

Please kindly continue support us.

Our account detail is:

Zarmani Trust Account
Southern Arizona Community Bank
Routing No. 122105676
Account No. 147010393

Or please write check to Zarmani Trust and post the check to the following address:

Mr. Howard M Frederick
P.O. Box 1890
Cortaro, AZ 85652

We thank you again for your continuous kind support.

Zarmani Team for PARAMI Foundation