HazelDiary

I visited Myanmar with a travel partner without plans for 5DAYS 4NIGHTS recently. We spent 4 days in Yangon and 1 day trip to Bagan. It was an adventurous trip as both of us (ladies). We booked the flight ticket with Tiger Airways due to the affordable flight offer and finding excuses for a short gateway from the bustling city.
Before you start your journey to Myanmar, make sure you have apply for VISA. I did a post on how to apply VISA in two ways here. Hope it helps to start off your journey to this beautiful country.




Shwedagon Pagoda

This 110 metres Shwedagon Pagoda has 2,500 years old is dazzled with 4,531 different diamonds with the largest one being a whopping 72 carat diamond. It is also known as Great Dagon Pagoda and Golden Pagoda. It has 99metres (325 feet) high that dominates Yangon skyline.

There are many other statues and temples around the area for you to explore. My travel partner and I took at least 2 hours to explore the place and we went during day time and night time. Different timing gives us an awesome moment admiring the gorgeous site of the pagoda. You can see the young monks praying in a group during evening time.

The entry is free for the local devotees who meditates and worship at the pagoda. There are monks around the area giving the sharing to the locals. Do expect some local tour guide approaching you to offer touring the pagoda.Fret not, they are not aggressive as compared to Cambodia tour guide.

Opening Hours: 4:00AM -10:00PM Daily. (Closed on certain period. Check here for details)

Entrance Fee: 8,000 Kyats

Attire: No sleeveless top, no bottoms above knees, no socks. You are to leave your shoes at the entrance or keep them in your bag and bring it along with you.

Getting Here : Take a taxi from downtown Yangon (approximately 2,000-2,500 Kyats)

Website: http://www.shwedagonpagoda.com/

Sule Pagoda
Sule Pagoda is located in the center of Yangon. It has 48 meter (152 feet) high golden dome used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city. It was then rebuilt in the 1880’s. The uniqueness of the pagoda is its octagonal-shaped pagoda.

I find it quite similar with the pagodas I saw at Schwedagon pagoda thus I gave this a miss.

Opening Hours: 4:00AM – 10:00PM Daily

Entrance Fee: USD$2.00 per pax

Getting Here: Take a taxi from the downtown Yangon and it is at the junction of Sule Pagoda Road (2,000 Kyats)

Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market was built in 1926 during the British Colonial period. Thus, the architecture of the place has the western traits. It is known as a popular tourists shopping centre for souvenirs. There are stores selling garments, foreign goods, foodstuffs and many more. It is also listed in the Yangon City Heritage List as one of the British colonial era buildings.

I did not purchase anything from here and just window shoppings looking at the stores products. Most of the products are similar to Thailand and Cambodia souvenirs. Things like paintings, jewelries, handicrafts and wooden cravings of Buddha are available here but the price is not cheap though.

Opening Hours: 9:00AM – 5:00PM (Closed on Monday)

Getting Here: Take a taxi from downtown Yangon to Bo Gyoke Rdat (1,500Kyats). Alternatively, walk approximately 30 minutes from central Yangon.

Website: http://www.bogyokemarket.com/main/index.html

Chinatown Yangon
The famous 19^th Street in Chinatown is known for its barbecue stalls. If you hop into the cab, the cab driver will definitely know the place. There are other stalls along the few rows of streets within Chinatown area selling seafoods, fresh fruits and goods. There are cheap deal skewers for locals and tourists to choose.

You can have your meals settled here with various choices. Bars are also available at Chinatown. Basically, you can spend quite sometime here with eating and drinking.

There is one spa shop opened by Korean guy in between the restaurants.Pampered yourself with Burmese massage in Chinatown. Although the boss is Korean, the operations are by the locals. Thus, you can enjoy the Burmese-style of massage with WIFI provided.(WIFI is not stable )

Getting Here: Take a taxi from downtown Yangoon (2,000 – 2,500 Kyats)

Kandawgyi Park

You can stroll along the park or make a reservation at Karaweik Palace for the international buffet dinner and cultural show. Alternatively, there are other restaurants for you to choose. The park is quiet and full of greens.

Opening Hours: 4:00AM – 10:00PM Daily

Entrance Fee: 2,000 Kyats

Getting Here: Take a taxi from downtown Yangoon (1,000 – 2,000 Kyats)

Yangon Circular Railroad Ride
If you google things to do in Yangon, this will be at the top list. With only 300 Kyats, you can enjoy the ride of the circular loop route in Yangon Railroad. The route consists of 39 stations and it takes about 3 hours to end.

If you are planning to experience it, make sure you got the deal at 300Kyats as the ticket seller was trying to sell us at 1,000 Kyats per pax. So, make sure you get the price right before purchasing. The ticket counter to purchase will be at Platform 7.

I only travelled few stations and explore how Burmese daily life route and seeing how they spend their daily life. We ended at local wet market to explore.

Opening Hours: 3:45AM – 10:15PM Daily

Fee: 300 Kyats

Getting Here: Take a taxi to Yangon Central Railroad Station from downtown Yangon (Approximately 3,000 Kyats)

Local Market – Thiri Mingalar Market
Every country’s local market has its beauty. In Yangon, fresh foods and fruits markets are available all day. If you are taking the circular railroad ride, stop by Thiri Mingalar Market and experience it. The roads are not in good conditions so there may have muds and soils along the route. So, be prepared to get your feet dirty.

Getting Here: Take a taxi from downtown Yangon at 2,000 Kyats or alight at Kamayut Railroad Station.

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