Burma 2016: Yangon and the Shwedagon Pagoda

February 2016

We flew from India to Yangon, which was previously known as Rangoon, in a country that was previously known as Burma but now, of course is known as Myanmar. Have to say I prefer the old names, as apparently do many of the locals. Perhaps because of my memories of Rudyard Kipling stories, Rangoon and Mandalay (which fortunately has retained its name – so far), have a romanticism that Yangon lacks.

Yangon is an interesting enough city – a mix of old British colonial buildings in varying states of decay, the ubiquitous characterless high-rises that can be seen anywhere and everywhere, and golden-domed Buddhist pagodas. The people look like a mixture of Chinese, Thai and other Asian groups. Certainly the Chinese have made a distinct and pervasive impression on everything. The Sinicization of Myanmar is progressing apace here, as almost everywhere in southeast Asia.

Our hotel was on this street.

For whatever reasons Yangon is an expensive city, especially as far as hotels go, perhaps because there are so few of them. We ended up taking a private room in a hostel, which was most useful in terms of the tips and advice we got from fellow travelers. Where to go and how to get there, places that are more difficult to get to, but worth the effort, and places best avoided. We added several places we hadn’t planned on seeing to our itinerary: Hpa-An, Mawlamyine, and Hsipaw, all quiet hidden gems.

We spent several days just wandering the streets and taking in the Burman, or Myanmaran, culture. Eating street food – the avocadoes were huge, with wonderful flavour. Chatting with Myanmarmites, as we decided to call them. Not a lot of people spoke English, but all were very friendly and helpful. Myanmar is just beginning to experience more tourism, and is so far unspoiled. We’re glad to be here now.