Kalaw is a popular hill station, it forms like a steep pan-shape. It is 1,320 meters above the sea level. It is surrounded by pine trees and misty blue mountain ranges. It is so peaceful and quiet.

There are still many interesting places. So let’s visit around the town. In Kalaw, there is an ancient and famous Pagoda known as Hnee Phaya or a Buddha Images woven with thin bamboo strips. It is so light that it can be lifted everybody, every visitors, local and foreign visitors come and pay homage to this Buddha Image.

Acoording to historians, that this Buddha Image was worshipped by ancient kings of first Inwa period five hundred years ago. While we are paying to the Hnee Phaya or bamboo Buddha Image, we have a chance to take a look at the visitor’s book. In this book, Susan from Australia dated 13-2-1998. She said the bamboo temple is a serene places from which to contemplate the generous spirit of the people of Kalaw. And another person from Pan Howell from Sanfrancisco dated 10-2-1998 said what a lovely place in this beautiful country with such generous people. To transact business, markets are open daily except on gazetted holidays.

But in some certain areas of Myanmar have peculiar ways. In Southern Shan for instance, there are market days such as Kalaw, Pindaya, Heho, Aung ban and Nam tein market days are scheduled in rotation.

And todays is Kalaw market day, and you will see around me there are many people crowded, buying and selling vegetables and other household items. Fishpaste or Ngapi is the most essential ingredient for Myanmar dish but for Shan nationals they prefer soybean.

Another place that you should take a visit while you are in Kalaw is Shweoumin Pagoda that means the Pagoda built in golden natural limestone cave. Inside the cave, there are many Buddha Images in different shapes and it was founded by king Narapataesithu about 1,300 years ago.