Yangon

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We arrived safely and overtired on Sunday, 6th March 2016 in the late evening in Yangon as planned. Our City Star Hotel occurs like a small oasis right in the middle of lively and chaotic Yangon, just behind the City Hall. After a short rest and refreshment we walk around to explore the surroundings.


First night in Yangon

Although 5 million inhabitants and the former capital of Myanmar Yangon has the flair of a provincial town: All the shops close down at 10 pm apart from the few convenience stores. Boys play football right in the middle of the boulevards around Mahabandoola garden which is a park garden in front of the City Hall. We manage to get some noodle soup in an airconditioned restaurant. Then we are ready for the cosy bed. Altogether it took us 24 hours to get to the final destination.


Yangon City Hall

Next morning hotel breakfast consists of a mixture of asian full meals (fried rice, fried noodle) and toast, egg and jam for the european taste buds. Basic but good enough for a good day start.


Mahabandoola park garden


Street vendors on park entrance


The golden stupa of Sule Pagoda

We decide to stroll through Yangon‘s past as suggested by a guide book: Passing old colonial buildings down to the bank of Ayarwaddy river, back to the North through the narrow streets and the Indian quarter, up to the former Scott Market, today name Bogyoke Market.


A colonial building in the state of neglect as many other from the aera of the British empire


A tea merchant

As the sun reaches its noon height, the hot and humid 32°C becomes more and more unbearable. Time for a lunch break and to cool down in an airconditioned Thai Restaurant in the Mahabandoola road. Few doors further there is by chance a travel agent. And so we book our flight to the next destinations Bagan and Mandalay straight away.


Busy Strand road

Practical tips: 1 Euro = 1350 Kyats; 1 USD = 1200 Kyats.
Cash withdrawal with major credit cards from ATM is levied by a charge of 5000 Kyats by the local banks, and depending on your home bank also an additional charge by the home bank will be due.
Maximum of withdrawal each time: 300.000 Kyats.
ATMs are everywhere to be found in the tourist hot spots and at the airports.


Poor dwelling on the bank of Ayarwaddy


A takeaway restaurant nearby

Booking domestic flight is quite easy. There are several flights departing from Yangon in the early hours to most touristic highlights. The travel agent keeps the one way flights few hours on hold for us. So we have time to decide and to arrange more cash for payment. 12% additional charge will be due if using credit card. So we collect a big bunch of Kyat banknotes from the next ATM to pay the bill:
Yangon – Bagan one way 105 USD per Pax.
Bagan – Mandalay one way 70 USD per Pax.


A street Scene

A taxi drive from the airport to Yangon City costs around 10.000 Kyats.
Within town a it will take you 2000 – 3000 Kyats depending on your distance.


Current generator in front of many buildings as emergency electric supplier in case of municipal breakdown


A street view

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