Blogs from Yangon Region, Burma, Asia - page 3

Monday 15th January 2018 Restless night as air con went off following a power cut and things got a bit uncomfortable so not much sleep had. Decided on a day just chilling rather than pounding the streets. A few minor admin tasks to be done, firstly we made use of the B&B laundry facility and put some clothes in for washing, they should be back tomorrow. Also we sorted out our taxi to the bus station for Wednesday morning we have an earlyish start as our bus to Bagan leaves at 8:30am and we have been told that in the rush hour traffic it may take an hour to get there. So it was suggested we leave at 6:30am just to be sure. Our driver will also take us to the correct bus company as apparently ... read more

The local life tour was billed as energetic but I can't say that I was. My guide was Si-tu, his nickname from when he worked in Dubai and he arrived in his car. We took a taxi past the University to near the Kyeemyindaing railway station to see craftsmen working on artefacts for pagodas. Mainly they were inscriptions in plastic, creating plaques with a machine similar to an electric die cut machine and metal, nailing and hammering the entrance signs over the gates for monasteries. Shops there also made umbrellas in metal for the stupas. On the walk to a station on the circular route I was able to photograph a roadside tyre change outfit. A car with a flat pulled right next to us. The driver had been a merchant seaman so spoke some English, ... read more

Entering the Pagoda can be through any of the gates, North, South, East or West. By each there is a lift but we began at the East removing our flip flops (and putting into plastic bags as they were soaked), kind of guards watch to ensure no footwear, not even socks. Signs are in English with clear pictures, like road signs, banning inappropriate dress. After paying the entrance fee for foreigners, K8000 Chris took a selfie of the 2 of us and we began our walk around the stupa clockwise as is the tradition. It was not as crowded as he had expected being a national holiday and at no point did it feel a crush. Due to the rain the marble surface was extremely slippery and mats had been laid but I found they hurt ... read more

Thursday eve 19th Oct As I had a couple of hours before I need to sleep I thought I would walk the 10 minutes up the road to the large seated Buddha and maybe on to the reclining one. In half hour I am back. According to the map I reached the steps up to it so took my flip flops off and rustled in my bag for the camera. Dogs came to see if something was for them but did not come too close. As I climbed the steps other dogs began barking and coming down towards me - a man shooed them away but as I reached the top more came and seemed quite aggressive. I could not see what was in the buildings but to the right may have been the Buddha. That ... read more

The Yangon drive from airport was more stop than go and took over an hour. Chris told me some history of the city, (didn't like to say I'd read it in preparation for traveling), explained how to agree a price for the ride before getting in a taxi and told me a bit about himself. He was in Singapore for 5 years after being a student in Yangon. He began guiding in 2010. Out of the window I saw little trucks with people lying on stuff in the back, expensive cars with closed windows for aircon, cheaper cars with open windows, small Hyundai buses full of commuters and all of them in crush to get along the streets and often switching lanes or turning left dodging the oncoming traffic. Many streets had small shack-like stalls reminding ... read more