Sule Paya Pagoda
Meet up with the local
After the long journey and a very tiring night, I head for shower. That was the best hot shower I have ever had! The toilet and shower room at the guesthouse is clean. As soon as I wanted to get some rest, I had a message from the reception that a friend of mine is waiting for me downstairs. I was wondering who could that be? It turns out that Row kept his promises. A 18 years old college student who is eager to learn English name Row.He came along with his shy friend. I told Row that I'm with a friend and if he doesn't mind, he will be tagging along. Thank god that he is okay with that and flattered that he could practise on his English language.
Row took me and Mr.W walking along the road and have some local milk tea and the local street food that looks so yummy! I was a bit starving as I didn't have food for breakfast. We walked from Sule Paya Rd till the junction of Shwe Bonta St. Along Shwe Bonta St towards Bogyoke Market, there were lots of Optical shops and as well as pharmacies. It feels like we were in one section in a supermarket! Along the road as well, there were mosque and fruit sellers that sell strawberries, a really big avocado, oranges and other fruits that looks so fresh. Just imagine that I saw 'buah salak' which I thought only planted in Indonesia.
It was noon and the sun shone really bright. We were opposite of the famous Bogyoke market (It sounds like Boh-joke market). It reminds me more like Central Market in Kuala Lumpur where you have a market that sells a lot of local products, local art works and also souvenir or gifts for tourist. What amaze me in Bogyoke is the 'old fashion' fire estinguisher that is so big that they put it in the middle of the walkway in between small shops. In Bogyoke, they promote the local jade that is said to be the best. I have no idea how to grade the jade that I couldn't even bother to buy one. The only shop that captured my eyes are shops that sells local product from various ethnic in Myanmar like Shan and Kachin tribe. I really love the design and colors of the bags; small or big. In the end, I do buy some souvenir on my first day in Yangon! Mr W as well bought some for himself.
Row later on have to excuse himself and left us at the market wandering. Both of us are starving. We managed to find some local dish and were surprised to see their hospitality.
Normal, sometimes when we ask for things that we want in the end, the food turns into some other food. We had a little bit of noodles and rice. That is where we met Mr.R, who is having his lunch on the table next to us! The three off us then walk out from Bogyoke and walking back to our guesthouse. Mr R is looking for a new place to stay as the one that he had was a bit creepy. We showed him out guesthouse and he really likes it and decided to come here again the next day.
Day 2: Discover Yangon (28 December 2012)
New Friendship
Mr R finally came to our place the next day. Believe it or not, he is staying next to our room; at the dorm. I had another meet up with another local guy. Since Mr R and Mr W is with me, they agreed to meet up with the local guy name Koko. We had some breakfast at the small chinese restaurant next to our guesthouse for Kyat 2200 (MYR7.80) per person ( A really huge portion of local fried egg noodle with a glass of Sunkist - the orange drink).
A walk towards the Traders hotel is not that far after you had a hefty meal in the morning. We met Koko and we were fashionably late. I felt guilty to turn up late and we offered to buy him some drinks at a local tea house near Bogyoke Aung San Rd. opposite the cinema and shopping centre. We had some chats and make plans with Koko on how do we spend our quality time in the city. After discussion, we went of to the Tower as recommended by Lonely Planet. Turns out that we are not allowed to take any pictures unless if we are the patron. At last, we went down to the lobby. By the time, Mr R already went to some other places and left the three of us. We later decided to go to:
National Museum of Yangon
(Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Government gazetted Holiday).
Opening hour: 10.00 am till 4.00 pm; tickets available until 3.30pm
The taxi from the tower to National Museum is Kyat 3000 (MYR11.00) and the entrance fee for the National Museum for foreigner is either USD5 or EUR5. They don't allowed any camera or phones in the museum. You can leave your belonging at the locker place outside the museum that is being guarded. Just make sure you bring along valuable items such as money.
There's not much to see in the museum unless if you really like the history of Burma. I personally like the exhibit on the 3rd Floor where they show the different ethnic in Myanmar in their local dressing. There's also the exhibition of painting and the art works by the past masters of art and as well as the ornaments of ancestors from Pyu Period to Yadanabon Period. The first floor of the museum feature the Royal Regalia Showroom, Myanmar Historic Period and the Natural History.
I found out that there is so much similarity in Malay culture back in Malaysia. After spending nearly 2 hours in the museum, we decided we need to head back to Mahabandoola St. to have our late lunch. The taxi from National Museum to Mahabandoola Rd cost us Kyat 2000 (MYR7.00).
We had our lunch at one of the Nilar Briyani & Cold Drinks. I love the chicken briyani and Koko was actuall shocked to see me eating with my fingers! Late lunch and a Sunkist is my perfect lunch that cost me less than Kyat 4000. The next destination is the Shwedagon Paya.
Shwedagon Paya
Entrance fee for foreigner: USD5 per person
Dress Code:
For woman - Cover the shoulder and wear long pants
For man - Wear long pants or you can wear 'Longyi'
* No shoes are allowed. They have a shoe rack before entering the lift.
Taxi fare from Mahabandoola to Shwedagon : Kyat 2000 (MYR7)
Taxi fare from Shwedagon to Mahabandoola: Kyat 2000 (MYR7)
Shwedagon Paya is the most recognisable icon for Myanmar of you come to Yangon. The golden dome was one of the main attraction. There are a lot of tourist flocking to this place especially during the sunset as the reflection on the golden dome is spectacular. We were there for almost 2 hours and left before the sunset and head back to Mahabandoola St.
Local dish
We were exhausted as we had the whole day touring the city and decided to stop at a local street food. We tried to eat the local dish call 'Lat Phat'. The pickled tea leaves, eaten in a salad with roasted or deep-fried nuts and beans and sesame etc. The prepared tea-leaf pulp tastes like pesto and we can add lime or chillies as to add different taste to it.
The night is still young, we head to our guesthouse to change our clothes while KoKo waiting for us to freshng up. There were some miscommunication between Koko and the reception guy that we decided that we need to get a massage based on Lonely Planet recommendation. We went to Sari Health and Beauty Centre that is located opposite of Savoy hotel. At first, Koko brought us at the dodgy nightclub that we went the night before.
Such an awkward moment. Then we took the taxi and went to a better and establish well known spa center for foot massage. It's kind off hard to get to the spa center as we couldn't find it through Lonely Planet. In the end, we got off the cab and start walking and looking for the place. Luckily, we found it. It seems that the map given in Lonely Planet is incorrect.
Spa : Seri Beauty & Health (Opposite Savoy hotel at the traffic light junction)
Add: No 118,Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Township, Yangon
Website: www.seribeautynhelath.com
We had a warm welcome from the spa's staff at the entrance. The services that they provide are:
- Hair treatment (Cut,wave,colour,shampoo)
- Facial treatment (Mask, Gold Treatment,Ultrasound treatment)
- Body treatment
- Muscles and Nerves treatment (Sport treatment)
- Foot Reflexology
In the end we decided to do the foot reflexology for 60min. The price is Kyat 9000 per person. The three of us get the big room where we have our aching feet some salt scrub and reflexology massage. It is so refreshing!
We left the spa center and headed to our guesthouse. That night is the last night for Mr W in Yangon as he needs to leave for Taungyi in the morning at 5am.
Day 3: Meet up with Koko (29 December 2012)
I had a promise with Koko to go to the monastery in the morning to teach English. He reached early and we left for his home which is near to the monastery. The journey took me at least 40mins from the town center and it is also the way to the airport. We were heading to the Shwe Pauk Kan Myoint Thit, Northokkalapa Township. It cost me Kyat 6000(MYR7.00) for that journey. When we reached his home, his mom came up from the kitchen. After a while in the house, we left for the monastery by motorbike.
Note: The government doesn't allowed motorbikes from entering the city. They will get fined if they goes in the city with motorbikes.
As soon as we reached at the monastery, Koko introduced me to the local English teacher and the rest of the English class. I was thinking that the English class is mend for little children instead the English class is for adult between the age of 18-40 yrs old. The lesson given are free and there were no fees required. I have the opportunity to meet the head of the monastery who gave the lesson for free, Rev Ashin Wa Ra Sa Mi.
The add for the monastery:
Dham Ma Rek Khi Ta Monastery
Zabuaye Compound
Phone: 01 9 690 576, 09 5044 226
Note: If anyone interested to come to this monastery, please give a call in advance to Rev Ashin.
I had new friends from the monastery, I can say that they are 'my student'. We left after the English class session ended adn went to the local restaurant to have some drinks.
The whole day with them was the best memory I've ever had in Yangon. I had local lunch with local family, got my cheek painted with 'Thanarka' and got into local bus with the girls and Koko. The bus conductor thought that I was a local Burmese girl until I say a word in English. He was surprised but happy to see me saying ' Jay szuh bay' (Means thank you in Burmese ~ simplified). Then again, I 'disguise' as local Burmese girl, not paying any single Kyat to the entrance fee at one of the temple we went. I have save my USD5! Thanks to them. I like my new 'Burmese' look!..I left the place in the evening and went back to the guesthouse, freshing up and went to Tokyo Cafe that is just across the guesthouse for free Wi-Fi.
Finally, I met Lone Lone from Couchsurfing Yangon with two others, a girl from Thai and a girl from Japan. We then decided to have a dinner at one of the Shan Restaurant just a walking distance from the guesthouse. I was so hungry that I ate all of it in a few minutes. The food was good and cheap too. Thanks Nuchie for the dinner! It was awesome meeting the three of you. You make my last night in Yangon memorable. I headed back to the guesthouse as the time past midnight and start packing for my flight the next day.
Day 4: Last day in Yangon (30 December 2012)
Today is Alex's and his twin brother Aurelien's birthday.
I woke up today a little bit late. My flight is at 1635hrs and I have 4 hours to wonder around the city before I left. The night before, I met Mr Y from Japan. Mr Y and I went to the local Indian restaurant for breakfast. We went for New Delhi Restaurant as recommended by the Lonely Planet. I had my paratha set and Mr Y had his Dosai set which looks so yummy. Right after a good breakfast, Mr Y left for the National Museum and I make my way to Bogyoke Aung San Market to look for souvenir. Things are not pretty cheap at the market. The best way was to bargain if you intend to buy a lot!
I left the guesthouse around 2pm. The journey took me half an hour to reach the airport. The taxi driver charge me Kyat 6000(MYR7). I was a bit hungry by the time I reached the airport while waiting for Koko. He promised to send me off before I go back to Kuala Lumpur. Eventually he came just on time for me to go and check-in. Before that, I managed to change most of my Kyat to USD at the departure hall. They really give a good rate over here. I know someday I'll be coming again to Myanmar.
Now it's time for me to boarding the plane. Kuala Lumpur awaits me for it's New Year's Eve Party!..
See you again Myanmar!
**More picture to be downloaded soon!
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