Yangon

"This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know.” – Rudyard Kipling

 Right-hand drive cars (made for driving on the left side) being driven on the right side of the road. Absurdly low crime rates rivaling that of Singapore’s. US dollar bill exchange rates dictated by the size of the presidential portraits. The largest number of exquisitely restored (preserved?) colonial British architecture in the whole of Southeast Asia. And of course, economic policies largely dictated by the whims of its ruling military junta. In the words of Rudyard Kipling which stills rings true even today when describing Burma, “It will be quite unlike any land you know.” Welcome to enigmatic Yangon.

With its pace of life so relaxed you will think you’re whiling your time away in the countryside, the city of Yangon charms you with its calmness and overall eccentricity, all at one time. Having a wide variety of enticing getaway locations within and outside the city proper, this metropolis of 6 million souls lives up to its name, which translates to “End of Strife” in Burmese.

The military government may be notorious for its time-and-again crackdown on monk-led riots, but you have to give props for the overall semblance of religious tolerance in the city. Among its countless Buddhist temples, you can also meander along to many churches and mosques, with the government even doling out annual grants to each and every religious community. Don’t miss out on the much celebrated Shwedagon Pagoda, the single most important religious site in all of Myanmar. The imposing Pagoda is purportedly 2,500 years old, and as such it has witnessed scores of historical moments in Burmese history.

As is customary when in cities such as Yangon, best buys are always located in the markets, not shopping malls (of which there are only a few in the city). The top place for shopping haunts is the Bogyoke Aung San market, which sells just about anything and everything. Textiles and clothing, souvenir items and jewelry make up the bulk of wares catered for Burma’s small and slowly burgeoning number of tourists. This British-built bazaar, with its colonial architecture and hewn with cobblestone streets within, is located at Bogyoke Aung San road, nearly opposite Traders Hotel.

Myanmar is slowly but surely opening up to the outside world, whatwith the sudden arrival of cuisines from around the world. You will definitely realize how cosmopolitan Yangon is once you see for yourself how easy it is to help yourself to distinct gastronomical adventures. Don’t miss out on trying the local cuisine, a delightful hodgepodge of Chinese, Indian, Shan, Mon, and Rakhine influences. Especially popular with locals is the ubiquitous roasted duck, allegedly the world’s best.

For those looking slightly more than the ordinary and would give up the comforts of five-star commodes in exchange for a superlative travel experience, we're offering meditation with a Buddhist monk in a forest monastery near Pegu. Restricted to a maximum number of four people, meditate in the forest under the instruction of a monk under the strict monastic rules. Partake in the monastic lifestyle in the forest and be inducted into Buddhist philosophy. Accommodations ( a simple house with an en suite toilet but no electricity) and instructions by the Buddhist monk will be free but the costs for transport and food would be divided amongst the number of people in the group. This tour would be offered as an extension from Yangon.