What It Was Like Backpacking Myanmar

Ayyyy welcome back to your fave travel podcast. Thanks for tuning in and getting yourself ready to make some MOVES with me. Let's get it!In Season 4 Episode 19, I am joined by Bailey from the Land Down Under- actually my first Aussie on the pod! Bailey, a full time traveller from Newcastle, Australia, has been travelling on and off for the last 10 years. After returning home from a 3 week trip to Europe in 2022, Bailey decided to leave my job, sell his belongings and head back over, this time just with a backpack and a one way ticket. He had anticipated 6-12 months, but now it's been a little over 3 years of full time travelling.About 6 months into his trip, Bailey decided to commit to my childhood dream of visiting every country in the world. Bailey had originally written it off as impossible, but found himself in the deep snow in Svalbard, Norway, realising that with a bit of effort, he can get myself anywhere. Bailey has since travelled across 67 countries (as of October 2025) throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. But don’t worry, the other continents will be getting some love soon!Bailey has racked up countless dadlore stories throughout the years now, including being stuck at high altitude in the Pamir mountains, detained and interrogated by Russian immigration, and traversing multiple active war zone  countries (it’s becoming a bad habit now), as well as working as a hobby winemaker in Bulgaria, snorkelling the pristine beaches of the Maldives and summiting a volcano in Iceland just days before it erupted. Bailey is a true believer that you can find adventure anywhere if you go looking for it!In today's episode, we dive into Bailey's recent trip to Myanmar-one of the world’s most misunderstood and complicated destinations.Often reduced to headlines about conflict and political turmoil, Myanmar is also a country of breathtaking beauty, deep spirituality, and resilient people — realities that rarely make international news. Traveling through Yangon, the ancient temples of Bagan, and the purpose-built capital Naypyidaw, this episode explores what it’s actually like to visit a country experiencing one of the longest ongoing civil wars in modern history. Tune in to hear Bailey's perspective and why this country shouldn't just solely be reduced to its negative global image.To follow Bailey's moves on social media: ⁠Instagram⁠⁠TikTok⁠Read Bailey's Blog:⁠Website⁠Follow the Makin Moves with Matt Podcast on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with your Host on Social MediaMatt:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Makin Moves with Matt:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Makin Moves with Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠