TRAVEL DIARY: YANGON, MYANMAR

January 13, 2015 / Guest User

A view by the entrance to Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

If New York City is a place for the night owls, Yangon is a city for the early birds. All the exciting things happen in the morning!

In Yangon, right before the crack of dawn, you'll hear temple bells donging in the distance mixed with the cockadoodledoos. Many Buddhist families in the city wake up at this time to prepare rice and food for the monks who are already walking in the streets and passing by homes. It is also a great time to visit Pagodas within the city like Shwe Dagon Pagoda and Sule Pagoda since early morning is the coolest time of the day in a hot weather city like Yangon. By the time the sun rises, many locals are already at the fresh market; shopping groceries and exchanging conversations.

Let me give you some background information about the city before I go any further!

Yangon, or Rangoon in old English spelling, was once the capital of Myanmar, a country which was once called and is still known as Burma. In 2005, the capital of Myanmar was officially moved to Pyinmana which is now known as Nay Pyi Daw. However, Yangon currently remains the commercial hub of the country and is the largest city with over 5 million in population. It is also the city where I was born and raised. That's right! Over the winter break, I returned to Myanmar and spent two weeks reacquainting myself with Yangon and its culture. And here's my photo diary. I hope you enjoy!

Note: Text over the pictures will not show on mobile devices.

A charming old house in Yangon. Traditional two-story houses like this one usually showcase a great use of wood, high ceilings, large windows and a balcony. There are a good amount of traditional houses like this left throughout the city despite the constant renovation and construction within Yangon over the past two decades.

Crows relaxing on electrical power lines throughout the city. If not crows, you will find an army of pigeons on these. There are high chances that they will poop on your car (and you) if you park right underneath their rent-free resting spots. I don't know who is to blame- the crows or the pigeons.

A Hindu temple in Yangon.

Although the majority of the people follow Buddhism, Yangon is a highly diverse city that celebrates many different religions.

This is an example of newer buildings which were constructed in the late 90s and early 2000s. Apartment buildings like this have several floors in effort to adapt to the growth in population within the city. As you can see, people of Yangon are not afraid of colors! Pink, green, yellow and blue - you'll see them all. This color palette could also have been an influence by the Hindu temples.

A typical morning near Thein Phyu market. Early morning between 7am-9am is a common time for the locals do their groceries shopping at a market like this.

Street-side vendors selling produce and flowers.

Inside Thein Phyu Marketplace.

Buddhist nuns dressed in pale pink walking through the crowd in the market.

A stray cat.

Stray cats and dogs are commonly seen on the streets of Yangon. When it comes to the dogs, it's best if you stay out of their way and walk by them with confidence. Unless you are an animal lover and are not afraid of their health conditions, do not pet them or play with them. Yikes - I sound so cold-hearted. .

Women from the market wearing Tha-Net-Khar on their faces.

Tha-Net-Khar paste is produced by grinding a bark of Tha-Net-Khar tree on a stone slab. Many women, children and very few men wear this on their faces and sometimes on their arms. The creamy paste gives off cool sensation and is said to protect one from sunburn by wearing it. Tha-Net-Khar is a traditional cosmetic essential in Myanmar culture. I loved wearing it as a kid!

My favorite breakfast to have in Yangon!

Lightly fried dough a.k.a Ei-Kya-Kway with Burmese sweet tea a.k.a La-Pat-Yea. (Unlike American sweet tea, Burmese La-Pat-Yea is thick, and it uses condensed milk as a sweetener.) Many food places offer this combo in Yangon especially in the mornings.

Students in white and green having lunch at a street vendor place.

A local book/DVD rental store. As a child I rented cartoons and movies at places like this everyday!

Locals on a cycle richshaw, known as Site-Kar in Burmese. It is one of the cheapest forms of transportation in Yangon and is commonly used for short-distance travels. (Example: From the market to your house.)

Children playing street games on Myanmar Independence Day - January 4th. The day is commonly celebrated by sports activities in most neighborhoods. Adults usually conduct the games and watch and cheer on the sidelines as the children participate. In this picture- the children are preparing to walk to the finish line with a candle in their hands as the referee explains the rules of the game.

January 4th 2014. Bread Eating Contest - without using hands!

A glimpse of Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

People from all over the country donated money to cover every inch of this pagoda with gold plates. Shwe Dagon Pagoda is not only a great tourist attraction but it is also a very sacred and well-maintained place by the locals and the Buddhists in Myanmar. As soon as you step on the floor of this Pagoda, you feel at peace.

Note: You cannot wear your shoes inside any pagodas.

A sight of Shwe Dagon pagoda in the evening.

Kandawgyi Lake.

In the distance is the Karaweik - an iconic royal barge that currently houses a restaurant.

Kandawgyi Lake is a must-see place of Yangon. It offers a calm atmosphere and serves as an escape from the hustles and the bustles of Yangon streets.

There's nothing better than walking on the wooden bridge across the lake on an early morning.

People of Yangon doing yoga in the Kandawgyi Park. Any one can join! This happens every morning between 5-7am - the only time that is free for anyone to enter Kandawgyi Park.