Blogs from Yangon, Yangon Region, Burma, Asia

Myanmar (Burma): A few weeks before I left on my trip, the United States reestablished diplomatic relations with Myanmar. Before then all I knew about Myanmar was that it used to be called Burma. I had seen "Beyone Rangoon" about 13 years ago, but I never kept up with the politics. I recognized the face of Aung San Suu Kyi, but didn't know her story. After talking to a few people who had been there I decided to get the visa and see what all the hype was about. Myanmar hasn’t quite been commercialized like the rest of SE Asia. The generals who control the country are starting to implement reforms. Getting to Myanmar involves a bit of planning. You need a visa, which I was able to pick up in Bangkok. Most importa... read more

Mingala Ba, so or more than a less is the next way to say hallo in Burmese!! After an uncomplicated flight from Bangkok to MyanmarYangon with airasia we started our (Anne and me) journey to Burma. The weather was pretty similar to the waether in Bangkok, hot and dusty, but I expected it to be hotter!! In the airport we were picked up by a hotel for free, nice because we didn't book anything in advance. The first impressions were really nice on the one hand - friendly atmoshere in a pretty new airport, men waering longis - similar like a sarong for the women, smiles everywhere and a lot of powdered faces with something like a sunprotection for the skin, made of a special kind of wood. First hotel - Ocean Pearl Inn - nice ... read more

Yangon (Formerly Rangoon) - Cultural Show & Shwedagon Pagoda Thursday 8 March 2012 pm. We eventually managed to disembark the ship at around 6.00 pm. We had docked at 3.30 and it took ages for immigration to clear the ship and check the passports. We were worried as we were (hopefully) being met at the dock gates by a representative from Nobel Treasure Tours. This was a company who M had found on TripAdvisor before we left the UK - and with whom we had arranged our whole Myanmar experience. We began to wonder if they would have waited that long. Once we got our passports we walked the half hour to the port gate. Luckily our representative Su Su was there looking a bit hot and bothered, but obviously as relieved to see us as ... read more

An old colonial city. You feel safe even at dark. Everybody tries to help you. The most impressive action is the visit to Shwedagon Pagoda. It is a praying complex. It gives a feeling like Kabe for Muslims, Varanasi for Hindus, Vatican for Christians . As if there exist a vast religious energy at the atmosphere. We visited top restaurants, Monsoon, 50th Street , Bilar Briyani and had our last dinner at 19th Street , Chinese area, with BBQ and drinks. In Myanmar because of the toursim exploited, especially hotel prices are increased more than twice than the books write. The other interesting is the traffic is on the right and the steering wheels are also on the right. We are going to KL by Air Asia at 17.00 today. Tomorrow we will fly to Makasar ... read more

Gold stupas wreathed in smog reflect light like diamonds in the dirt, meanwhile heavy foot traffic shifts about the city in swarms as thick as the haze surrounding them. Faces smeared with a tree bark mixture are tribally decorative whilst serving a purpose; protection from the oppressive Burmese-sun. Those faces survey us, white-skinned strangers and at first it feels a little intimidating. A leap of faith and an offered smile reveals the gorgeousness of this city; the smile is returned, exuberant and nodding in approval, the shyness dissolved into genuine curiosity and delight in the encounter. These faces illustrate the meeting of two subcontinents; the crux of Indochina, a spectrum of Asia displaying a multihued variety of skin and diversity of aesthetics unlike any other country we have visited. We are unfamiliar with the voluptuous script ... read more