Our Myanmar Travel adventure was most memorable!!
We visited Myanmar with 3 other friends – 5 in all! We first assembled in Singapore and took an early morning flight to Yangon, the main city of Myanmar, arriving there at around noontime. What a great time we all had!!!
Let us tell you all about our Myanmar Travel experience!
Facts That Makes Myanmar Travel Interesting
- Myanmar was known as Burma until 1989 when the military junta renamed the country Myanmar. The capital, Rangoon, became Yangon.
- Today 89 percent of the population of Myanmar is Buddhist.
- Myanmar depends on agriculture for more than half of its GDP. Rice is the major product.
- In 2006, the capital city was moved, rebuilt and named Naypyidaw.
- The previous capital city, Yangon (formerly Rangoon), is home to the gilded Shwedagon Paya. It is believed to enshrine eight hairs of Gautama Buddha and is one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites.
- Myanmar was considered a pariah state while under the rule of an oppressive military junta from 1962 to 2011.
- Aung San Suu Kyi, the politically charged daughter of national hero Aung San, spent a total of 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2011. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her “non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights”.
- In November 2015, the NLD opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won enough seats in parliamentary elections to form a government.
- Many women (and to a lesser extent, men) wear a yellowish paste made from ground tree bark that they apply to their cheeks, nose and neck. Known as thanaka, the paste cools skin, prevents sun damage, clears up acne and can even reduce fevers and headaches when ingested.
Facts About Myanmar Continues
- In Myanmar, both men and women wear sarongs known as longyi. The patterns are distinctly different for men and women. Women’s designs are referred to as acheik and are tied differently.
- Burma was part of the British Empire from the mid-19th century. It was also occupied by Japan during the Second World War before gaining independence in 1948.
- The writer George Orwell lived in Burma from 1922 to 1927. He served in the Indian Imperial Police.
- For decades, most cars in Myanmar have been imported from Japan where vehicles are right-hand drive. However, traffic in Myanmar also drives on the right-hand side, so vehicles should really be left-hand drive. Finally, in January 2017, right-hand drive imports were banned.
- Myanmar is home to Bagan, the world’s largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins.
- Myanmar is one of only three countries not to adopt the metric system of measurement. Liberia and the US are the other two.
- The Burmese chew a lot of betel leaf, considered an equivalent to tea, coffee or tobacco. Betel stains the teeth and gums and causes oral cancer!
The Magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda
We visited the unbelievably awesome Shwedagon Pagoda on our first full day in Yangon. This Pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in the world. As a result, it is the main attraction of Yangon, Myanmar’s capital city. It sits atop of a hill and is 99 meters high. It can be seen from most places of Yangon day and night as the golden roof illuminates the city. According to some, the pagoda is 2,600 years old, making Shwedagon the oldest pagoda in the world. Everyone should include a visit to this pagoda in their Myanmar Travels
The Pagoda is the most impressive structure at this location. In addition, there were many other gold plated structures around it which were magnificent to behold. We spent almost a half day walking around and taking in the marvelous sights. It was great to see devotees, praying and meditating all around us.
Kandawgyi Lake - A Must Visit Destination In Myanmar Travel
We then went to the Kandawgyi Lake area and had a leisurely lunch in a super restaurant which afforded a great view of the beautiful surrounding areas which consisted of well-manicured lawns and an abundance of flower beds. Consequently, this is a great place to unwind for the tired Myanmar Traveler! The lake is one of two major lakes in Yangon, located east of the Shwedagon Pagoda. It is artificial and was created to provide a clean water supply to the city during the British colonial administration.
A walk around in the surrounding area after lunch took us to a small art gallery where the talents of local artists were on display. Art and the arts are a cornerstone of Myanmar culture. Many fine examples of local paintings, lacquer ware, pottery and more can be found at markets all around the country, and Yangon has a burgeoning art scene!!
Our Myanmar Travel Adventure in Yangon
Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda
The next day we spent the entire day time sightseeing. What an enjoyable day it was.
We first went to the Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda close to the airport. It has the largest marble Buddha image in all of Myanmar measuring 37 feet tall!! The statue which is incredibly impressive is housed in a climate-controlled glass case preventing damage from the hot and moist environment of Yangon. This Buddhist pagoda is located at the top of Mindhama Hill. It exemplifies a type of architecture, which though borrowed from the Indian designs at Pagan, was constructed entirely by Burmese architects.⠀
Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda
We then visited the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda where there is a 72 meters long statue of a reclining Buddha. This site is probably the second most popular tourist site in Yangon after the Shwedagon Pagoda. Chauk Htat Gyi means “great six layers” in Burmese – so the pagoda in name and size surpasses the nearby Ngar Htat Gyi Pagoda which is the five layers pagoda! This simple and harmonious pagoda is surrounded by several Buddhist monasteries. However, most tourists don’t go around the compound. Certainly, there is much more to see than the one huge reclining Buddha!!
Aung San Sui Kyi
We then drove past Aung San Sui Kyi’s house, where we made a brief stop to take photographs of the gate to her residence. This gate was very famous during the many years she spent under house arrest. This spot is a very historic location that should be part of the itinerary for anyone embarking on Myanmar Travel!! She is a politician, diplomat, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Most importantly, she is presently Myanmar’s head of state, holding the position of State Counselor, a position akin to a prime minister.
Driving Around Yangon
Driving around downtown Yangon was very interesting. A number of buildings in Yangon Myanmar were in a slightly dilapidated state, which added to its unique charm. . Together with ramshackle cars, buildings that look like they have not been renovated since the 80s and the traditional culture, we felt like we were in an alternative universe, one much different than the urbanized world that we have grown accustomed to. This is another unique feature that makes Myanmar Travel so worth it!! Further, Yangon is a city of street vendors, fortune-tellers, tea shops, colonial buildings, bookstalls, mosques, temples, modern shops, street markets and a thousand eating-places.
We especially enjoyed making a brief photo stop at a complex of buildings that housed government offices previously. This complex was being renovated when we visited. A mix of British colonial architecture, modern high-rises and gilded Buddhist pagodas define its skyline of this beautiful city.
The Historic Strand Hotel
With sightseeing for the day concluded, we made our way to the historic Strand Hotel, a national landmark in Yangon’s center. This charming three-story Victorian hotel offers a taste of the past with marble floors and rattan furnishings. Set in a British Colonial building, this luxury all-suite hotel dates back to the early 1900s. Certainly, the Strand Hotel is one of the most iconic 5 star hotels in Asia. It remains as awe inspiring as it was in the early 20th century!! It was really great enjoying tea and coffee at their ultra-luxurious salon, before taking a much needed rest in the grand lobby area!!
Bogyoke Market
We then went shopping to the famous Bogyoke Market, a major bazaar located in Pabedan Township in central Yangon, before we called it a day. This market is a major tourist destination, dominated by antiques, Burmese handicraft and jewelry shops, art galleries, and clothing stores. Half a day could easily be spent wandering around this sprawling covered market, sometimes called by its old British name, Scott Market. It has more than 2000 shops and the largest selection of Myanmar handicrafts and souvenirs. Additionally, it is also supposed to be a good place to find tailors. Consequently, we managed to do quite a bit of shopping mainly souvenirs, gifts to take back home and some jade jewellery!!
Myanmar Travel Takes Us To Bago
The next day we set out to Bago, about two hours driving time from Yangon for another day of sightseeing. If it weren’t for Bago’s abundance of religious sites and the remains of its palace, it would be hard to tell that this scrappy town, 50 miles northeast of Yangon on the old highway to Mandalay, was once the capital of southern Myanmar.
Our first stop was the Shwe Tha Lyang we saw another reclining Buddha. It was really great to see the white image of the Buddha with a serene smile wearing a gilded robe, the head resting on a “pillow” of caskets inlaid with mosaics. Further, the soles of the feet are decorated with images representing the 108 auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.
Mahazedi Paya
We then went to Mahazedi Paya, a great Stupa which is said to have contained the sacred tooth relic of Buddha which is now at the Dalada Maaligawa in Kandy Sri Lanka. The design of the Mahazedi Paya (Great Stupa), with its whitewashed stairways leading almost to the stupa’s summit, is one of the more attractive religious buildings in Bago. Our third stop in Bago was at the Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda which is supposed to contain 2 hairs from Buddha enshrined within its confines. As a result, it is often referred to as the Golden God Temple. At 114 meters in height, the Shwemadaw is one of the tallest pagodas in Myanmar.
Kanbawzathadi Palace - Our Myanmar Travel Adventure Continues
Our last stop was at the Kanbawzathadi Palace which had been excavated recently. The original palace, built for King Bayinnaung in 1556, consisted of 76 apartments and halls. However, the palace we visited is a replica of the original but still have some of the original teak posts. It is the reflection of one of the most glorious dynasties in the history of Myanmar. This is a must-see place if you are a fan of majestic palaces and royal constructions. The very ornate golden palace gives a good impression of the splendor and wealth of the second Burmese empire.
Before heading back, we enjoyed sumptuous local and Thai meal in a restaurant in the area. On the way back we made a brief photo stop at the Allied War Memorial Cemetery situated about 32kms north of Yangon, on the road to Bago.
St. Mary's Cathedral
Before calling it a day we paid a visit to Myanmar’s largest Catholic cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral, which is an impressive red-brick building dating to 1909. The floridly decorated interior with its red, white and green brick patterns and painted statues is quite an eye-opener. Myanmar is a multi-religious country. There is no official state religion, but the government shows preference for Theravada Buddhism, the majority religion. It was so relaxing to spend some time in silent prayer and reflection in the quiet confines of the church.
Dining Out In Myanmar
We always look forward to eating and enjoying food. We strongly believe that eating with mindfulness and joy eliminates the stress and guilt we have come to associate with food!! With that said, Myanmar affords many options when it comes to eating out.
Burmese cuisine has been influenced by Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisines. Additionally, it includes dishes from various regions of Myanmar. The diversity of Myanmar’s cuisine has also been contributed to by the myriad local ethnic minorities.
Mohinga is Burma’s unofficial national dish, and is traditionally served as a breakfast dish. The dish consists of fine, round rice noodles served in a hearty, herbal fish-and-shallot-based broth. We had our fill of this fabulous dish almost every day of our stay at breakfast.
Rice sits at the center of Burmese cuisine, with a variety of meat, fish and vegetable dishes served alongside. Noodle soups are enjoyed throughout the day. We found the Burmese dishes to be much less spicier than typical Indian and Thai dishes and containing a distinctly unique taste that one could easily get used to!!
Some Restaurants We Visited In Our Myanmar Travels
Although Western cuisine is available all over Yangon, we decided to focus mainly on the local food. One thing that struck us was that the prices in restaurants were very reasonable. Here’s a sampling of where we ate.
House of Memories – Set in an attractive wooden colonial home, it is a one of a kind in Yangon. They dish out mostly Myanmar specialties but also have Thai, Chinese and Indian dishes. We had a fantastic local meal at this this famous restaurant on our last night in Myanmar. Just imagine, Myanmar cuisine in a 100+ year old house. This was the family home of the Chairman of the Indian Independence Army for Burma. He allowed General Aung San, father of the present head of state of Myanmar, to use a room upstairs as the headquarters of the Burmese Independence Army and that room still contains some of his original artifacts. It was great to walk around the house after a most enjoyable meal to view all of the memorabilia from the past!!
Feel Myanmar Food – A great street food place which serves both local and Thai food. We enjoyed a great Thai meal at this restaurant. There were a great selection of dishes available! We ended up ordering probably many more dishes than we could handle. However, we ended up eating everything!!!
Padonmar Restaurant – A popular place for tourists. It has a very nice garden setting for large groups and a few smaller dining areas indoors. We enjoyed a great local meal in one of their inhouse rooms. Their grilled aubergine dish is to die for!!!
Bawarchi Restaurant – A small Indian restaurant with a great ambience and delicious food. We were so impressed by the quality of service which included preparing a dish as a special order for us!!
We also sampled some food sold at wayside street outlets close to our hotel in Yangon! A number of dishes we had were new to us and tasted ever so yummy!!!
There were numerous other restaurants we visited in the midst of our sightseeing, which we enjoyed very much!!
Last Word About Myanmar Travel
I took advantage of some of the free time we had to go for walks and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon. Some parts are very quiet although most areas were are very crowded and very noisy!! I found that it was a brilliant way to see Yangon and observe its rich history, culture and heritage. I can honestly say that walking around helped me to appreciate Yangon and its people more!
We managed to have a great deal of quality time with our fellow travelers and good friends whilst on this trip. Almost every day we got together in one of our hotel rooms before setting out for dinner, to chat, enjoy music and have a drink or two or three!!!
We all had such a lovely time in Myanmar. It is a beautiful country well worth visiting.
I don’t often see bloggers writing about Myanmar, I’m happy you did. I’ve wanted to visit here for so long. There’s just something about its history and culture that makes me want to know more. I loved your post and hope to use it one day when I get to visit.
It is a great place!! We hope you get to visit Myanmar soon!!!
Hi,
I read your post and it is intersting and informative. Thanks!!
I like the charm of the destination with lots of unique things to experience like the richness of the history, getting closer to the community for cultural immersion and discovering and tasting the street food.
Would love to be there one day.
Best wishes,
Nandih
Thanks Nandih!! Glad you liked the post. Wish you all the very best!!