Saturday 12th November - A one night stop in Bangkok and an early morning flight on Bangkok Airlines saw us land in Yangon. Despite choosing the slow lane through immigration and being the last out of the customs hall we met out guide - James - and headed to the Savoy Hotel.
We found the travel agent - Myanmar Travel - through the internet and made our deposit to HSBC in Bangkok. So far so good !
Stop one was Chauktatgyi Pagoda which houses the country"s largest reclining buddha who is now housed in a large shed metal roofed protecting from the elements. A short walk by Kandawgyi Lake and lunch at the Padonmar Restaurant which was housed in an old colonial house.
At 1530 we headed to Yangon's most famous site the Shwedagon Pagoda We started at the 'Foreigner only' entrance and headed in a lift up to the main level of the stupa. The main stupa has been renovated and both the gold plate and gold leaf renewed as well structural reinforcement particularly of the top of the stupa. As sunset approached the area grew crowded with many pilgrims as well as tourists. The way back was via the staircase which also had been renovated in the last few years.
Back at the hotel we thought we would try a massage at the Seri Beauty and Health which was recommended in lonely Plant and co-incidentally opposite the hotel. Dodging the storm drains with no or broken covers at first glance the place looked shut but we did find the entrance and had an hours foot massage for USD 10.
Dinner was also handy with the Friendship restaurant on the next corner chosen not for the English football on ESPN but the fact it was packed with locals.
Unfortunately the alarm will go at 0500 on Monday as the flight to Mandalay is at 0730.
We found the travel agent - Myanmar Travel - through the internet and made our deposit to HSBC in Bangkok. So far so good !
Stop one was Chauktatgyi Pagoda which houses the country"s largest reclining buddha who is now housed in a large shed metal roofed protecting from the elements. A short walk by Kandawgyi Lake and lunch at the Padonmar Restaurant which was housed in an old colonial house.
At 1530 we headed to Yangon's most famous site the Shwedagon Pagoda We started at the 'Foreigner only' entrance and headed in a lift up to the main level of the stupa. The main stupa has been renovated and both the gold plate and gold leaf renewed as well structural reinforcement particularly of the top of the stupa. As sunset approached the area grew crowded with many pilgrims as well as tourists. The way back was via the staircase which also had been renovated in the last few years.
Back at the hotel we thought we would try a massage at the Seri Beauty and Health which was recommended in lonely Plant and co-incidentally opposite the hotel. Dodging the storm drains with no or broken covers at first glance the place looked shut but we did find the entrance and had an hours foot massage for USD 10.
Dinner was also handy with the Friendship restaurant on the next corner chosen not for the English football on ESPN but the fact it was packed with locals.
Unfortunately the alarm will go at 0500 on Monday as the flight to Mandalay is at 0730.