It's a flower festival in Pyin oo Lwin and the owner of my hotel tells me it is something I should not miss. He is right!

The gardens were originally landscaped and designed by experts from Kew and they really are experts. The town is an old British hill station to enable the administrators to move away from the searing heat of the plains to the cooler air here.

There are many Myanmar visitors and very few western tourists. It is a colorful and joyful atmosphere. The flower displays are sensational and there are amazing giant bamboo clumps in the wooded areas.

A climb up the tower provides a view of the gardens and lakes with the town in the distance.

The town contains the grand colonial buildings including the All Saints Anglican Church and Governors residence. The modern part of town contains a mosque, temple, church and pagoda to reflect the diverse nature of this place.