We stayed very central in the old Colonial quarters of YANGON in a hotel near Sule Pagoda, behind the City Hall.
Surrounded by the Sule Pagoda, City Hall, High Court and other Colonial buildings is the Maha Bandula Park with the Independence Monument in its centre.
A few Streets away the Minister’s Office (or The Secretariat Office) where General Aung San was assassinated in 1947 together with 6 of his ministers. The extensive grounds and building are currently under restauration.
Sule Pagoda
Our stay just coincided with the ‘Tazaungmon’ festival, celebrate Buddha’s descent to earth after visiting his mother in heaven. There are many colourful light bathing streets and the Maha Bandula Park is illuminated with light installations.
The Yangon Train Station, a ‘must see’ on the tourist schedule.
Although you can see the former grandeur, the Train Station is so run down, you would not think this is the main station of Myanmar’s biggest city and former capital.
Many of the trains in use were originally from Japan. You can still see the JR sign on trains and Japanese writing on signs.
We went there for the 3 hour city Circular Line Train Ride we did read about. Mostly locals, but there were a few other western tourists travelling on the train too.
Tickes are bought in a booth on platform 7 (not the ticket office) with a price of about 20 cents. Although this line has become a bit of a tourist attraction, it is still a local train full of commuters during peak hours, farmers going to and from markets and locals get on to sell their good and leave the train a couple of stations later. Bring your own water and note; no toilets on the train.
Interesting loop out of the city centre with glimpses of the rural areas. People travel along the tracks, working in the fields (also a fair bit of rubbish along the tracks). Some interesting markets, people loading and unloading goods, mostly food for the market, onto the train. Trains are running about every half hour, so you could get of the train and explore a bit, then hop on the next train.
Shwedagon Pagoda.
Shwedagon Pagoda is believed to contain relics of four previous Buddhas and is the most sacred Buddhist Pagoda in Myanmar.
You should go late afternoon to see the pagoda during daylight, sunset and evening. We left too late to see it in daylight or the changeover in the dusk. Never mind, it is an amazing place with soo many details to discover at anytime when you wander around the grounds. The tiles floor can be very hot to walk around during the day, but in the evening it is fine.
Another ‘to do’ thing in Myanmar is to visit a Tea-House. Some are actual shops, but many are just set up on the footpath and, as where you get street-food, they use these tiny chairs…
Further east along the Yangon River we make our way passing the freight terminals towards the Botataung Pagoda. Hardly any tourists there at one of the top 3 religious sites.
The Pagoda is hollow and contains a hair of the Buddha in the centre and a maze like walk around. With some exhibits in the air conditioned Pagoda make the visit pleasurable. There are many other buildings and shrines with Buddha images.
This temple has also special meanings for Thais. There seems to be some instant wish granting scheme where money (what else to buy happiness, health, riches…) is given to one, half taken back… There is also a female version across the road (next to the souvenir shop to spend some more…).
“BBQ Street” in Chinatown where you select the food from the display. It then is BBQ’d and served to your table. The selections are fresh, quite extensive… including a variety of insects!
Markets where locals are selling their meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables.
~NEXT: Via a taxi-ride to remember to the bus terminal for the overnight VIP bus to Bagan~