Visit of the Year: Myanmar/Burma, Yangon

This year my trip takes me to an ancient city of Cambodia, as a guest of His Excellency Roland Eng for a week of Royal visit to his homeland followed by a detour visit to sleepy fishing village of Ngwe Saung by the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar.

Another week in Yangon (Rangoon), the cosmopolitan city and gateway to Myanmar.  Always green with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, Yangon is known as the “Garden City of the East”.  Besides visiting the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda here are a few of my own personal favorites.

A vendor at the bay

Restaurants:

Monsoon (www.monsoonmyanmar.com) 85-87, Thinbyu Road

This decadent restaurant and bar is a multicultural mix of old world charm and with a modern twist. They serve a variety of Southeast Asian cuisine.

House of Memories 290, U Wizara Road

Located in a historic colonial villa, this restaurant was once the headquarters to members of the Burma independence movement.  Serving traditional Myanmar food  and Western Style dishes.

Happy Noodle 62, Inya Road

Serves a variety of Myanmar noodles, specializing in Shan tradition.  Consistently good for the last 4 years, locals like to patronize.

Taing Yin Thar 5A, Parami Road

Newly opened on Parami Road, serving different ethnic Burmese food.

La Planteur (www.leplanteur.net) 22, Pagoda Road

Beautifully situated on the Royal Lake, the menu consists of French-Burmese fusion cuisine set in an old colonial home.

Mes Amis (www.mesamisyangon.com) 5, U Htun Nyein Street

(Owner was previously from Le Planteur), also located on the Inya Lake.

Ice Cream Street Vendor in Yangon

Shopping:

Scott Market - Also known as Bogyoke Aung San Market, (it was named after Aung San Suu Kyi's father) you can find everything from oil paintings to old Burmese coins.

Nandawun Centre (www.myanmarhandicrafts.com) - Old books & handicrafts centre.

Myanmar lacquer ware - Located in downtown Yangon, stocked with upscale quality lacquer.

Boutique Hotels:

Governor’s Residence 35 Taw Win Road (GovernorsResidence.com) in the elegant Embassy Quarter.

Inya Lake Hotel (InyaLakeHotel.com) 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road -

Strand Hotel 92 Strand Road – Great shops with well-known River Gallery

Emerging Artists:  

Khin Zaw Latt.  khinzawlatt80@gmail.com

Yan Naing Tun (www.rivergallerymyanmar.com/artistslist.php)

Kyee Myintt Saw (www.rivergallerymyanmar.com/artistslist.php)

Zay Yar Aye (zayaraye@gmail.com) Who also runs Space Art Studio

Spas: On Inya road

La Source Beauty Spa (LaSourceBeautySpa.com) 80-A, Inya Rd - Get away from it all at this charming Dutch colonial style villa spa. International Standard.

Day One Spa – Newly opened also on Inya Road; popular for local ladies who needs a little pampering.

From Yangon, an excursion to the Bay of Bengal beach, we took a 4-hour ride through the rice fields countryside, bamboo plantations and fish farms to Ngwe Saung - a fishing village along stretches of unspoiled beach with beautiful turquoise waters and soft sandy beaches.  The village consists of a few boutique hotels on the ocean and a handful local restaurants, lined with stalls filled with freshly caught lobsters, large craw crabs and abundance of fish.

Ngwe Saung Beach by the bay of bengal

Don’t forget to bring new hundred dollar bills (no credit cards accepted here yet!) and dollar bills come in handy for tips.

Stay tuned on my tips for Cambodian on my next blog.