YANGON, MYANMAR

Earlier this month we traveled to Myanmar (formally known as Burma) with my sister and her husband. We knew we were in for our most adventurous trip of our lives to-date.

We relied solely on our friends who had visited Myanmar, a couple of online articles and a Lonely Planet guide to set the itinerary for our trip. We wanted the most flexibility in our schedule - so we did not book through a tour group or travel agent.

We booked the plane tickets and hotels in advance, but had no set plan for each day. We would travel to Yangon, Inle Lake, Bagan and back to Yangon in 6 days. The trip was filled with airplane rides, taxi rides and boat rides (and almost 2 horse carts!). 

It's also important to note that we visited Myanmar at a very historic time. Aung San Suu Kyi had won the first successful democratic elections just days before our trip. And while we were there, Hillary Clinton announced a easing of US sanctions and UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced an immediate trip to Myanmar to review UK sanctions. The country is truly on the brink of change.

The trip was beyond incredible. We saw so much, met some wonderful Burmese people and took over 3000 photos. Since there is so much to reflect on, I am going to break this post up by city.

Let's start with Yangon, Myanmar (formally known as Rangoon)...

Most of the flights to Yangon originate in Bangkok. So we flew Thai Airways to Yangon (via Bangkok). While the total flight time was under 4 hours, we allowed 1 travel day to get there due to the layover in Bangkok.

We arrived in Yangon on a Wednesday evening, just before sunset. We were immediately struck by the lack of modern conveniences throughout the city. Most of the cars were manufactured before 1980, only a small percent of the population has cell phones and the city relies on paper to do most transactions (airplane tickets are handwritten, credit cards are generally not accepted). It was like time has stood still since 1955.

Our taxi ride to dinner

We stayed at the Traders Hotel, which is centrally located within the city and is associated with the Shangri La hotel chain. With 22 floors, it's the tallest building in Myanmar. It's hard to imagine what the city will look like in 30 years. The government is projecting it to be a top destination in SE Asia.

Side note, if you plan to stay at the Traders Hotel, make sure breakfast is included in your room rate. The breakfast buffet spread at the hotel was amazing.

The reason to visit Yangon is to see the Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist temple in Myanmar. According to tradition, the pagoda has been in existence for over 2,500 years. Below are some pictures.

A Buddhist ordination ceremony

Whitney paying her respects to the Dragon spirit

At the very top of the Pagoda is a 76 carat diamond flanked by over 5000 other diamonds and precious stones.

The Paya is filled with many Buddhas

While in Yangon, we also completed part of the walking tour in the Lonely Planet guide book, which took us to the sights and streets below.

Sule Paya

Yangon's open air library on Pansodan Street

We stopped by the famous Strand hotel for a cool drink on a very hot day.

A building construction site in Yangon.

Walking down a typical street in the city center.

Chapati street vendor:)

We also made a special trip to see Ann San Suu Kyi's house, where she was on house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years.

We ate really well in Yangon. The Burmese cuisine has been greatly influenced by India, Thailand and China. I can't say that we had 1 bad meal. We stuck to the recommendations in the Lonely Planet guide when choosing our restaurants. Below is a list of where we ate.

1. Monsoon Restaurant - Extensive menu of local dishes and southeast Asian dishes.

2. Le Planteur - French/Southeast Asian Fusion.

Le Planteur was the best restaurant we ate at while in Myanmar. The overall experience was incredible. To begin, you are picked up at your hotel in an old, classic car. The restaurant is located at the former Australian embassy, which is a gorgeous colonial house. We sat outside on a beautiful lawn filled with lanterns and sculptures. The food and service were wonderful - an experience you should not pass up if traveling to Yangon. Be prepared to bring lots of cash. The restaurant does not accept credit cards.

3. Ingyin New South India Food Centre - Wonderful, "local" Indian food.

Our entire lunch for 4 people, including 2 large bottles of water, was $5 USD. Try the potato poori and butter dosai. Be warned, the menu includes oily snake head. Don't get scared away by the exotic foods!