Yangon

This will be at the top of everyone’s list in Yangon. The pagoda can be seen from quite a long way away, since it is set on the top of a hill. The pagoda remains one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world, but is very much part of contemporary life in Yangon. It is open from dawn, and Buddhists will go to the pagoda from early morning to late evening. It is very high and has a crown of gold. On the crown you can find 5,448 diamonds, 2,317 rubies and the top of the crown boasts a 76 carat diamond. In total there are nearly 80,000 precious stones and 3,154 gold bells here.

This is a living, practicing site, so the visitor should know some of the basic rules of visiting a Buddhist temple in Myanmar:

You will be asked to take off your shoes and socks. Dress with respect: no shorts (although this is less of a problem in Myanmar than Thailand).

Walk around the Pagoda in a clockwise direction, which is starting from the left side and going round to the right. This applies to all Buddhist sites.

If you want to sit down, make sure your feet are not pointing towards any images or figures of The Buddha, and especially, keep the bottom of your feet tucked inside, towards yourself. Have a look at the way the local people sit, and copy them. Most sit cross legged.

Try not to pat children on the head.

Try to make your picture taking the least intrusive as possible. The Buddhist people who come here are worshipping, and may not want to be the centre of a photo.

Kan Daw Gyi Lake is close to the city centre and to Shewadagon Pagoda, so it is an ideal place to relax and get away from the traffic and crowds. At Set Yon Road, in the east end of the park, there are plenty of lakeside cafés and restaurants.

Also in the vicinity is Karaweik Palace, which is a very large gold coloured structure in the shape of a boat - or is it a pagoda? The ‘Palace’ has a restaurant, and around the corner is the Kandawyi Palace Hotel.

This pagoda was rebuilt after being destroyed in a World War II bombing. It was constructed at the same time as the Sule and Shewedagon Pagodas. What is unusual is that you can walk inside and look at relics in showcases.

This is the larger of the two lakes in Yangon, which lies further away from the centre. There are some very good hotels at the lake, or nearby, so it can be a more relaxing place to stay than the city hotels. As with Kandawgyi Lake, there are plenty of vantage points to take in the views and enjoy the gardens. There is an amusement park near Kabaraye Pagoda Road.

Myanmar is famous for its gems, so anyone interested in the history behind the gem industry will find this a good place to start. The main source of these gems was from the mines in the northeast, near Mandalay. Rubies, sapphires and jade were mined from these sites. Private companies as well as state run enterprises exhibit on three floors.

Meet up with the yoga community at the Yangon Yoga House. Here you can practice meditation, sports and exchange experiences with others. A must for any aspiring Yogi.

In the heart of Yangon and located on a busy street lies the Sule Pagoda. Supposedly built 2000 years ago, legend has it that the the golden tower holds a strand of Buddah's hair. Visitors have to take off their shoes and pay a small admission fee to enter.

In Yangon you can find the oldest and largest zoo of Burma. The great collection of local wild animals makes it a popular destination for weekend travelers and locals alike. Next to the animal park, the area hosts the Natural History Museum, an Aquarium and you can join animals shows throughout the day.

Built in 1952 the Yangon National Museum holds 14 halls filled with ancient treasures, art and memorabilia. While wandering the four story building you can learn about the countries history, the evolution of the language as well as cultural and religious developments.

Housed in a refurbished colonial building, Monsoon has a very relaxed atmosphere and excellent food. The food is a blend of Myanmar, Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese cuisines.

Some of the most genuine Myanmar food can be found at the street hawkers’ stalls across the city. This is where you can taste dishes like grilled fish, kebabs, omelettes and crabs, only to name a few.

50th Street Cafe Restaurant Bar is an American styled bar that has pool tables, darts and sports on widescreen TV’s. They offers a broad range of Western and Asian food and is frequented by expats and tourists.

This restaurant and shop offers you noodles in all variations. Whether you're a vegetarian, meat lover or salad fan, you can be sure to find your fit among the great offer.

This tea-house chain is much more than a place to rest your feet. Grab a chair and enjoy breakfast or lunch in the small eateries around the city. Local delights and spicy teas will make your visit a lasting experience.

Fine dining and French cuisine can be found at Shwe Sa Bwe. Delicious three-course menus with sweet desserts will make your evening a lasting memory.

This restaurant combines art and cuisine to a creative and delicious experience. Dine surrounded by works of local artists and discuss the paintings and sculptures over some coffee. You can easily spend hours in the cozy and beautiful place.

Located in a historical building, the House of Memories is the ideal place to spend and evening with traditional dinner in the city. Try the fish cake curry with coconut milk or choose from the Thai food menu. There's something for everyone!

If you are looking for a nutritious and quick lunch you can head to Yangon Bakehouse. Here you can find delicious everything from salads and sandwiches to tasty cupcakes.

Acacia Tea Salon is a great spot to wind down after a long day of city touring. Here you can enjoy a good cup of tea and an array of tasty desserts and finger food.

This place is claimed to be a "must go" when in Yangon. The Shwe Pu Zun Bakery and Cafeteria offers traditional desserts and ice cream.

The ABC Country Bar offers live country-western music so if you are a fan of this genre, this is the place to head for. This venue boasts resident bands, serves food and has TV screens in the bar.

This is certainly one of the most popular clubs in Yangon. It offers DJ’s, a disco and a bar and is open to the smaller hours which makes it one of the few places to go for a night out.

Claimed to be one of the best night-clubs and one of the main entertainment places in the city centre. With dazzling laser installation, great atmosphere and the reasonable prices, this club attracts fair-sized crowd almost any night of the week.

Karaweik Hall is a very impressive golden restaurant floating in the Kandawgyi lake and is the ideal place which will take you to a cultural journey. In the evening you can enjoy a large buffet offering international cuisine and watch the cultural dance performance and listen to a Myanmar orchestra.

The main shopping streets in the centre of town are Mahamdoola Road and Sule Pagoda Road. Scott/Bogyoke Aung San Market is open all day, and anything and everything can be bought here. You can usually get a better deal here than out on the streets when buying your souvenirs.

On and around the entrance steps to Shwedagon Pagoda are hundreds of souvenir shops with items of varying quality. In this religiously orientated market, articles having to do with Buddhism can be purchased.

There are fewer shopping malls to investigate in comparison to the other major Asian cities, which is something of a change. It does mean there is less of a ‘global market’ feel to shopping in Yangon. If your heart desires a more Western style shopping centre, there is one situated in the heart of Yangon, Dagon Center.

Established in the 1920s, this is the most popular markets among Yangon locals. Come here to experience authentic market live and take in all the scents and flavours of regional delicacies. Next to food and spices you can also buy traditional clothes, jewelry and art.

This is the ideal place for souvenirs, gifts and decorative purchases. The non-profit organisation works with disadvantaged people who produce beautiful home accessories, jewelry and toys. There is something for everyone so drop in and find your match!

Yangon International Airport is relatively small and located 17 kilometres from the city.

No lengthy waits at immigration or for baggage means that the visitor can be through in 10 to 15 minutes. In the tradition of older Asian airports, there is a throng of ‘helpful’ people waiting to take you to hotels, taxis and exchange money. Porters hover around hoping for some business.

Taxis are the best way to get into town. The price should be negotiated first.

This circular train takes you around the city clockwise or anti clockwise. It is a 45.9 kilometers long railway track with 39 stations. It takes nearly three hours to complete the journey. You can buy your ticket at the Central Railway Station.

To take the train is a great way to explore the local Myanmar life and see picturesque sceneries.

You can easily walk around the city, but you can also catch a so called trishaw, a rickshaw tricycle, or bus. Both are very cheap, though buses are safer, nonetheless very chaotic and crowded. One trip is about 100 Kyats.

Arrival into Myanmar is possible by land from Thailand and then from the border by road, or from Mandalay by rail. Caution should be taken on the northern route due to military activity. Borders are often closed, so advice should be taken before going this way.

This is hard to believe, but in Myanmar, they drive on the wrong side of the road – literally. Cars have the driver positioned on the right side of the car, but they drive on the right side, and thus go around roundabouts the wrong way. For any visitor this is confusing and care should be taken crossing the road. No matter which country you are coming from, this will seem odd, and it is. No one knows when the change happened, but the suspicion is that it came after independence, as a snub to the British who introduced the rules of the road.

Taxi is the easiest way to get around the city. There are plenty of City Taxis, which are mostly very old Toyotas running way beyond their expected lifespan. Cars vary in quality from bad to very bad, and common faults include bad steering, bad suspension and parts which fall off. Some cars have all three. Prices are negotiated in advance of the ride and it is worth a small amount of haggling.

Your hotel can help you if you want to send a post card. General opening hours are from 9.30-16.30 on weekdays and from 9.30 am-12.30 pm on Saturdays.

The Yangon General Post Office:

There are plenty of pharmacies around the city, denoted by a large green cross.

May:
69 Pansodan Street, Cnr of Merchant Street, Kyauktada, Yangon

Select:
45 Pyay Road, 7 ½ Mile, Mayangone, Yangon

Golden Bell:
Yuzana Tower, Shwe Gon Daing Road, Yangon

Country code: +95

Area code: 1

220 Volt with the British plug. Any visitor other than from the United Kingdom will need an adaptor.