On Christmas eve we flew to Myanmar for a four day visit. This was our first trip to Myanmar and we were not sure what to expect.
Myanmar also known as Burma, has a long history of civil war, unrest and insurgency. It was under dictatorship and military rule until 2011, but since then things have been changing. The current president, Thein Sein, has been steering the country towards democracy and Myanmar is slowing opening up to the west and more tourism.
Our first stop was Yangon, the former capital of Burma (Myanmar) and the capital of the Yangon region. We spent a day in Yangon, flew to Bagan for two days and then returned for another day in Yangon. We enjoyed our first trip to Myanmar and it was both interesting and informative.
Maha Bandula Park
This park is named after General Maha Bandula, who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese war in 1824. It is located in the heart of Yangon and it is home to the Independence Monument, an obelisk that commemorates Burmese independence from the British in 1948. This peaceful park is surrounded by important landmarks like the Sule Pagoda, Yangon's City Hall and the High Court.
Indian District
After our visit to Maha Bandoola Park we visited the Indian district of Yangon and had an interesting time walking in the streets. There was one street where we encountered many vendors selling a whole range of electronics from used TV remote controls to used cells phones and electronic devices. For a country that has been cut off from the west up until recently, it was interesting to see just how up-to-date people in Yangon are with technology.
Sule Shangri-La Hotel
We spent two nights in Yangon and stayed at the Sule Shangri-La Hotel. Located in the heart of Yangon near the Sule Pagoda, it was a relaxing haven away from the busy streets of Yangon. The Sule Shangri-la is centrally situated and is within a short walking distance from the Sule Pagoda and the Maha Bandula Park.
On our last afternoon in Yangon we enjoyed afternoon tea in the Peacock Lounge, but it was not quite what we were expecting. In addition to some of the usual items like sandwiches and cake that one will find on any afternoon tea menu, we also got some fruit, sushi, spring rolls and gyoza; a good mix of west and east!
Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda
One of the major sights that we visited in Yangon was this massive reclining Buddha. It is reported to be one of the biggest reclining Buddhas in the world and stands at 53 feet high (16 meters) and 214 feet long (65 meters). It was a very impressive Buddha.
Bogyoke (Scott) Market
This indoor market is housed in a huge building and is popular with tourists. There were many vendors selling a variety of goods including souvenirs, clothing and jewellery.
Buddhist Nuns
During our time in Yangon we came across many Buddhist nuns, some as young as 5 years old. They all had shaved heads and wore beautiful pink robes with orange scarves. We came across this group at Bogyoke (Scott) Market and they were busy singing while collecting alms. These alms go towards supporting them with their basic needs and schooling. Many of these girls join the convent to escape poverty, trafficking, neglect and exploitation. Whereas the temples support the monks, it is a different story for the nuns who have to fend for themselves. It is scary to think where some of these girls might end up if not for the convents, but it is wonderful to know that they have a refuge to go to.
Karaweik Palace
We had dinner at Karaweik Palace, one of the famous landmarks of Yangon and Myanmar. Karaweik Palace was built in 1972 and it was built in the form of a royal barge (really beautiful!). It is a thriving restaurant and we enjoyed an nice buffet and some cultural dancing.
Yangon Domestic Airport
We flew from Yangon's domestic airport to Bagan, Myanmar's cultural centre. The airport was busy that morning and we were among the hundreds of other tourist making their way to Bagan. We flew Asian Wings Air, one of Myanmar's local airlines.
