My six Yangon trivia

Yangon - Walking around Yangon town, I noticed some interesting facts here.

1.    Betel nuts chewing - many people were chewing and spiting on the road the red remnants of the betel nuts.   I looks utterly disgusting red splatters here and there and all over the place.   When they smile it reveals their addiction of Betel nuts chewing with reddish black stain on their teeth. This is a deadly addiction and the main causes of mouth cancer.

2.   Thanaka - You will notice young and old ladies putting this yellowish-white cosmetic paste on their faces.  Sometimes Myanmar guys too apply it too.   This is a distinctive feature of Myanmar people.  This cosmetic paste is obtained from the bark of the Thanka tree.

3.   Motocycles - We wonder why there were no motorcycles in Yangon town and was revealed by a local that motorcycles are banned on Yangon town since 2003.  If they are caught riding a motorbike within the town, they will be fine Kyat (pronounced like chat) 50,000 (about USD 50). No one know the real reason why?

4.   Taxis - there are many taxis plying the streets of Yangon but none has any meter installed in them.  You need to ask and bargain before getting onto the taxi.  Within the city it ranges from USD 1 to 9.

5.   Pagodas - There are many Buddhist Pagodas in Yangon and much more in all of Myanmar.

6.  British colonial building - there are so many old British colonial building which should be kept to retain the flavour of Myanmar past, but sadly these are torn down to make way for rapid development.   Buildings are being torn down faster than they can be recorded and preserve.

7.  Mohinga - the unofficial national dish of Mynamar.  Fine, round rice noodles served in a hearty herbal fish and shallot based broth.

Mohinga at Shangri-La breakfast

Feel restaurant

Yangon - For dinner we went to this restaurant that came highly recommended for its many local patrons.   There were many local diners in this restaurant and food was good.   It is more casual and I had to walk up to the counter and pick the dishes I like,  my orders was noted down and brought to my table.

Pick and choose your dishes

complimentary starters

The sauce in the middle was spicy and had a strong fish smell but fortunately it tasted good.

Dishes Lesley ordered

Lesley ordered 'fried prawns with sambal', 'egg plant', 'mutton' and 'vermicelli and egg' dishes.  All tasted really good.   We cleared the dishes and the second round I ordered them.

Beef stew and pork stew

The Beef had a very strong 'animal' smell and not really to my liking.  The Pork was ok.

Roti prata or Roti chennai

It was funny to see this Roti prata being sold which I believe has more to do with Malaysian influence.  Many Yangon residents can speak Malay having lived and work there for years.

Malacca food

This Feel restaurant also had hawker style stalls set up outside the restaurant that serve Malaysian food of Laksa and chicken rice.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Yangon -  The concierge told us that the best time to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda was around 4-6pm when it was cool and not so hot.   The Shwedagon Pagoda is believed to be built more than 2500 years ago.   This is Yangon's most prominent landmark visible from far away and towers over 100 meters above the city-scape.

The entrance to the Shwedagon Pagoda was Ks 8,000 and shoes have to be removed, but the floor is reasonably clean.   Since it was raining prior, a green anti-slip mat lined the surrounding of the Pagoda walkway.   The Shwedagon Pagoda and the surrounding buildings cover a wide area.

The temple is sheathed in gold worth more than $100m, the glowing bell-shaped stupa stands at the centre of the 14-acre Shwedagon complex.   The radiant 32 storey stupa rises upward, and is studded with 4,350 diamonds and precious stones, including a 76-carat diamond on its tip.

The Shwedagon Pagoda

One of the temple within the compound

Entrance to the South stairway

Shops along the South Stairway

There were many taxis waiting outside the exit of the Shwedagon Pagoda.   You need to bargain on the taxi fare.

Walking tour around Yangon downtown

Yangon - We decided to do a walking tour around Yangon downtown.   Our first stop was Sule Pagoda; which was a short distance from Shangri-La hotel.

Sule Pagoda is situated in the center of Yangon and it is one of the its oldest landmarks.   The Pagoda was built about 2200 year ago.   The golden zedi is unusual in that its octagonal shape continues right up to the bell.

Sule Pagoda

We walked along Sule Pagoda Road to Sule Pagoda.  When we reach the Sule Pagoda, we did not enter the Pagoda and just took photos from the outside.   From here it was short walk to the Independence Monument situated in a park.

Independence Monument

High Court Building

There are many colonial buildings in Yangon and this is one of them High Court Building.   We walked down Merchant Road and passed by some interesting buildings.

Bank entrance

This bank building looks very old and dilapidated with dated plastic chairs.

2nd hand book store

Burmese pears at street hawkers

The weather was very humid and I was perspiring with sweat dripping down my face and my tees was soaked.   We had to find a nice cold place to cool off and found this doughnut shop.

Lesley ordering cold drinks and doughnuts

Rubbish strewn everywhere

I found lots of rubbish just strewn along the streets, the stench was unbearable.

Union bar and grill

Our second stop to cool off in this hot and humid day and it was nice with air-con.  We sat down for a while to cool off with drinks and french fries.   The waiter was very friendly and we had a good chat.   It was a short walk down Strand Road to the iconic Strand Hotel.   This is the only historical hotel with a rich colonial background.  Set on Yangon's riverside boulevard, it was opened by hoteliers du jour Aviet and Tigran Sarkies - Persian born Armenians, who were also behind the Eastern & Oriental in Penang and Singapore's Raffles.

Luxury 5-star The Strand Hotel

The Strand Hotel Lobby

We next walk down Strand Road to a Jewish Synagogue on 26th Street.   The people in Yangon are helpful and friendly, and most can speak either English, Malay or Mandarin - as we know all 3 it was quite easy to get around.   The Jewish Synagogue was closed.

Jewish Synagogue

Along 26th Street, you will come across a Muslim Mosque, a Jewish Synagogue, a Hindu Temple and a busy street market.  There were many people at this street wet market.

26th Street wet market

Pork, chicken and fish are not chilled but left in the open for customers to buy.

Fresh fish for sale

Pork left in the humid weather for sale

We cross a bridge overhead the Bogyoke Aung San Road to the iconic colonial Bogyoke Market.  This market was built by Mr C Scott and was called Scott market in 1920.  After 1947, the market was changed to Bogyoke Aung San Market.  There are hundreds of shops selling luxury items, handicrafts, food, clothing, jewellry, fashion and consumer goods.

From the overhead bridge, I could see Shangri-La hotel.

Sule Shangri-La in the distance

Bogyoke Market

First trip to Yangon & Padonmar restaurant

Yangon - Today is my first time to Myanmar.  The flight on SilkAir was partially filled and we landed on time to a modern but small Yangon International Airport.   Every foreigner has to have a VISA to visit Myanmar and I already had mine done a few weeks back.  You can also do it upon arrival but all documents need to be complete otherwise entry could be a hassle.

There are a number of money changers and USD and Singapore Dollar are readily accepted. 

Taxi are changed on standard distance rate with no meter and a lot do with negotiation; but it's not so expensive and thus we seldom negotiate.

Our Hotel is Sule Shangri La Hotel; which was used to be Traders Hotel.  It's near the famous Sule Pagoda and thus the name for this Shangri La hotel.  The management up one notch their Shangri-La branding and charge exorbitant room rates to foreigners. 

Room view - background Sule Pagoda

Downside is that the Internet access is very slow.

Yangon formerly called Rangoon (under the British colony) and is the Capital of Myanmar (formerly called Burma).   This capital has a population of 5 million residents.  Though the capital is undeveloped it has the largest collection of colonial buildings but soon this will give way to massive redevelopment of the city.   It will be sad and a big lost to future generations when century old colonial building are torn down to make way for sky scrapers.

The hotel concierge introduce us to Padonmar restaurant which is one of the reknown restaurant here in Yangon.    Upon reaching this restaurant you will realize it is famous because many famous people have visited and ate at this Burmese restaurant.   The food is half Burmese and Thai food but we chose to eat only Burmese food as we have never taste it.

deep fried Sand fish

delicious sauce for the Sand Fish

Our first appetiser was Deep fried Sand fish, I never tried it so I ordered.  It taste like fried anchovies.  Search the internet and this is what is looks like, yucks!

Sand Fish

Ordered also the local beer - Myanmar Beer

Have a Myanmar Beer

Mutton Satay

Fish in tomato curry

Egg plant dish

Tomato rice

The tomato rice was serve in a small basket and meant for one person only. 

Seafood @ Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya - After our meeting in Ayutthaya we drove a short distance to a riverside restaurant.    A popular seafood restaurant around here.

As I walk through the restaurant, they were busy preparing Thai Giant King prawns over the grill.  They are huge and these were the ones that we ordered.

King prawn grilled over the fire

Fried chicken with salad dish

spicy crab salad

Grilled river fish

My huge river king prawns

This river king prawns is expensive @ 600baht each (about SGD 26) and weights 350g each.    But it is so fresh and really yummy, the yellow 'brain' taste like melted cheese.

Price list for the famous King prawns

1st line item reads - 250g King prawns price 375Baht, so we ordered the 3rd line down @ 350g.  The have Giant prawns weighing 700grams.

Chabuton @ CentralWorld Bangkok

Bangkok - The famous Japan & Thai ramen chain with Michelin star chef - Chabuton.  The ramen is famous for their tender pork.

Chabuton @ CentralWorld Bangkok

Famous ramen

We had our dinner late near their closing time of 10pm.  I think everything taste delicious when you are hungry.  The broth was thick and tasty.  This restaurant allowed us in as their last diner for the day.

Tub Tim Thai & Seafood Restaurant

Bangkok - The hotel concierge recommended some Thai restaurants about 10 minutes walk away and we came to this Thai & Seafood restaurant called 'Tumtim Thai & Seafood Restaurant'

We ordered grilled snapper with their side condiments

grill snapper

The grilled snapper has a very thick skin and white salt crust could be seen on the fish.   The flesh of this fish is nice and tender.  The waitress showed us how to wrapped for this dish.   Take a lettuce, put a small bunch of bee hoon noodle (rice vermicelli) ,add a dash of spicy chilli sauce, add the snapper.  Wrapped it up nicely and put it on your mouth.

lettuce, cabbage and spicy sauce

Vermicelli

Thai fish maw and prawn in brown sauce

Grill station outside the restaurant