The idea of a surprise honeymoon is enough to freak out any bride-to-be… but not me!
When my husband Tim and I decided that the honeymoon would stay a secret from me, a weight lifted off my shoulders (one less thing to plan!) and I felt an excitement building like nothing else.
My friends thought I was crazy and immediately asked “but how do you know what to pack!?” My sister swooped in (knowing the destination) and packed my bag for me.
Thank goodness she packed my Lia Kimono from ethical fashion brand Tamga designs- I wouldn’t have survived in Myanmar without it.
"I put on my Lia Kimono, and a smile crosses my face."
Waking up in a country I hardly knew existed a day ago, with my new husband of less than 48 hours, is a feeling I will NEVER forget. THE BEST.
We spent our first day touring around, finding fair trade stores I had searched up whilst waiting at the airport, generally staring at each other with cheeky faces, and looking down at our left ring fingers.
The very first day of adventuring was when I realised my Lia Kimono was going to become my #1 piece during our time in Myanmar. It was super-duper hot, but as a woman, I wasn’t allowed to show my shoulders (or my knees) when we entered temples or sacred ground. I didn’t want to wear tight t-shirts or cardigans in the overwhelming heat, so the Lia Kimono was literally a lifesaver!
Myanmar is a place like no other. Untouched, innocent, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and totally intrepid.
After diving deeper into its history, we learnt that Myanmar only re-opened as a country three years ago. Before then, its borders were locked down, and very few tourists entered during this time. This explained the innocence and pureness of the people.
It also meant that locals lined up to take pictures with us wherever we went (the closest I’ll ever come to feeling like a celeb), because unlike other hustling and bustling Asian cities, tourists were few and far between.
In our favourite city, Bagan, we found ourselves rocking up to a HUGE golden temple and realising we were the only people around – apart from a small group of workers who were fixing the grounds.
Imagine that!
No long queues, no loud and boisterous crowds, not a single tourist ruining our photos by taking selfies in the background… bliss! This untapped and intrepid Myanmar experience made our honeymoon a time to rely on each other, learn about and from each other, and face challenges together that we would never have dreamt of facing.
Where else in the world can you get up at 5am, take a horse and cart ride to a deserted monastery, climb to the top of a far-too-steep crumbling staircase, and watch the sunrise over hundreds of shining golden temples?
On days where I long to go back to this idyllic time of our lives, I put on my Lia Kimono, and a smile crosses my face.
I love how clothes can bring a whole new element to our memories, and the Lia kimono certainly does this for me. I remember feeling free and happy, and I love that I had a piece of clothing to match my emotions and bring them to life even now that time has passed.
Myanmar will always be a special place for us, and the Lia Kimono will forever take me back.
