Yangon

Yangon was the former Capital of Myanmar. It had been a capital since 1885 during the British Colonial time. In 2006, the militant govt decided to relocate its capital to Naypyidaw (north of Yangon). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naypyidaw

I felt so rich!!!

I had never traveled with such a huge stack of notes...

US$100 = 117,000 Kyats

Foreign Exchange is illegal in Myanmar, hence, tourists like me gotta exchange my money in the black market. When i touched down, my cabby brought me to this shop selling candy to exchange the money. The exchange rate was not good - 1 USD to 1,100 kyats. I decided to exchange 100USD first, then the shop lady gave me 2 stacks of 500 kyats-notes (around 200+ notes) and asked me to leave immediately. I didn't even have the time to count my notes.

Fortunately, she was honest.

Extremely Cool School Uniform.

The traditional longyi (aka Sarong in Malay terms)

The Burmese is retaining its traditional outfit, normally, the guys would be wearing either T-shirts or shirts with Longyi. It is not weird at all, and it is quite nice. Got character!!!

Street Vendor

Boy with a basket "hat". =)
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Downtown of Yangon

Story of an ordinary person in Yangon
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I was walking alone on the street of Yangon, and a tour guide trainee approached me. I conveyed to him that I did not need a tour guide, but would be happy to talk.
He was brought up in a remote village, where he was be working in the Padi field. His family do not own the farmland, and they were just merely offering their labour for meagre salary. The normal working hours on the field was 8-6pm under the hot sun. He decided to come to Yangon to look for job, learn english and attend tour guide course.
Without much money, he is living in a monastery.
Unfortunately, there is not much work available in Yangon and he would normally hangout outside the hostel that I was living, hoping to meet some tourists who would engage his service.
He asked me if there were alot of tourists on my flight.
Sadly, I told him that most people on my flight were either Burmese or Businessman.
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I saw him hanging around outside the hostel for the 2 days when I was in Yangon.
Life is hard.
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Colourful Toys

Sexy Eyes...

Another perculiar thing in Yangon - the absence of motorcycle.

See the article: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/284/1407/Motorcycle-Article/Dr-Frazier-Rides-Through-Burma.aspx

"Yangon, formally known as Rangoon, was a "forbidden area" for motorcycles. That meant no motorcycles could be ridden in the area except by some military or government official or a police officer. The city had been a former capital of Myanmar and the government had outlawed motorcycles because of their use by gun guys for assassinations, one person driving, the other the shooter on the back. To go a step further, the government outlawed all bicycles in the same area, except for bicycles used for postal delivery. When the government built a new capital further inland they left the laws intact for Yangon."

Motorcycle is one of the cheapest form of transportation.

Normally, you see seas of motorcycles in Asia cities, esp Vietnam.

Yangon is unique, as usual.

This is Oppression!!!

Glittering Shwedagon Paya

It was built between the 6th and 10th centuries, however, due to earthquake, the last restoration was back in 1769.

Interesting-looking character

Young Monk Praying

Shwedagon Paya

It is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Myanmar.

As usual, only tourists need to pay money for entry.

Shwedagon Paya

Sunset at Shwedagon Paya

Silhouettes of the Payas

Nightfall @ Shwedagon Paya
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Nightfall @ Shwedagon Paya

There were still quite alot of devotees praying.
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Myanmar Beer in Tiger Glass

We met a Burmese guy at Shwedagon Paya, and he used to work as a general work in Singapore. We went for dinner and drink @ a popular restaurant.

The food looked simple, but it was quite tasteful. =)
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Painting of a Monk

I like this picture alot. There is some rawness and retro-feeling that I can't explain.

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The Voice???

This publication is an irony and a joke!
Most probably, it is the voice of Propaganda, the voice of Oppression, the voice of the Militant Govt.
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Another perculiar thing in Myanmar.
Do you know what's so strange???
Let's see if you are observant.
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I do not know the exact terms to explain.
The road direction is like those in US (Cars moving on the right lane in a 2-way traffic road).
The car is like those in Britain (Driver seat is on the right).
In another words, there is absolutely no LOGIC in this arrangement.
1. When the car is parked by the road side, the front passenger will alight with oncoming traffic (imagine kids alighting) and the driver will alight on pavement.
2. When the car wants to overtake (via the left, as it is US-kinda road), he gotta ask the front passenger on the left, as the passenger have a better view than the driver. This is quite hazardous.
The military govt is very "smart".
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Colourful Brollies
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Modern Dental Surgery

What do you think? =)
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Little Girl with Thanakha (Myanmar Skincare)
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Telephone Station.

I was surprised that my cellphone couldn't work in Myanmar.

In fact, only the rich and those working in the govt have access to cellphones.

If you go to India, Remote parts of China, Cambodia, and Vietnam, lotsa people have cellphones. It has became a necessity (a commodity) rather than a luxury.

However, in Myanmar, it is still a luxury.

Another form of oppression.

The internet connection was damn slow.

It took me 1 bloody hour to send 2 simple emails informing my family and company that my cellphone couldn't work. The internet firewall was amazing!!!

Yet, another form of oppression.

Having fun =)