Yangon 30 Sept to 2 Oct

The airport at Yangon is brand new, despite the fact that the capital was moved about 3 years ago to Nay Pui Daw

Our local guide, Sno, pointed out many places on the way from the airport to the hotel that had been damaged by the cyclone. We stayed in the Strand hotel – to Yangon what Raffles is to Singapore – a restored old colonial building. It appears to be one of the few restored places. It has a lovely opulent feel – many staff, huge rooms, someone playing either a traditional harp like instrument or a zylaphone like instrument in the communal entrance / sitting area but with antiquated IT facilities.

Many of the streets are wide, tree lined, but with large old colonial buildings in a sad state of disrepair, often empty and overgrown with vegetation. Some are deserted government buildings.
The footpaths are appalling – large chunks of concrete missing or out of place. I went for a walk at dusk on our first night here but prudently cut it short. I found it impossible in the rapidly fading light to concentrate on where I was walking, dodge the many families who had come onto the footpath to cook their evening meal, keep a track of where I was on the map ( the numbering, naming system of streets seemed to change at intersections) and be vaguely aware of who was walking near me. Having said that, the people seem very friendly. There are only 2 or 3 postcard sellers outside our hotel. One walked a block with me. I stopped walking and said to her I would rather walk on my own and would buy a postcard before I left from her. She said ‘OK’ and left me.

About 80% of the people – men, women and children, wear the traditional longhi ( ankle length sarong like garment). All school children wear the same dark green colour , as do teachers!

People drive on the right hand side of the road but in mostly second hand cars from Japan with the driver on the right of the car.

We visited the Shwedagon Pagoda – a huge complex of many smaller shrines, temples, pavilions and statues around a large bell-shaped, gold leaf covered stupa. It is the most sacred of Buddhist sites in Myanmar. Many people ( men, women and kids of all ages and family groups) wander around or sit and quietly contemplate. The place as a whole had a very peaceful atmosphere. The only non local people that we saw were some people from other Asian countries visiting and a Spanish couple.