Long time i didn't post anything on my blog. So, let me make this quick, we went to Myanmar last Oct as per our delayed wedding anniversary trip. Our trip covered Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake in 2 weeks. As usual i was a bit skeptical since i never heard any of my fellow Malaysian friends going there for vacation and i didn't get any information first hand. I didn't know what to expect and safety is my biggest concern. So, for your information, Myanmar is safe for women traveler, annoyance is very little but its the traffic that you need to be careful with.
We stayed at Clover Hotel at Mingabar St which is walking distance to Shwedagon Paya. Since we arrived in the evening we decided to stay in and rest. First thing in the morning after Mohinga for breakfast, we went to check Shwedagon Paya.
This is few tips that i can share with you if you plan to check all the paya (temple) :
1. DO NOT wear short pants. Below the knee is acceptable. But if you have to or its the only thing that you bring, buy Longyi (Sarong) outside of the temple. My husband wore short pants and we had to pay extra 5000 kyats for it. If you buy outside you can get cheaper, 2500-3000 kyats.
2. Wear sandal / flip flop / slipper since you have to open your shoes right the moment you enter temple ground. Take plastic bag as the local did to deposited your slipper and take it with you.
4. Have tissue ready to clean your feet afterwards since the temple ground not usually clean. There's dog, cat and chicken poo every where.
My favorite paya in Yangon is definitely Shwedagon Paya. Its huge and amazingly beautiful. We went there both during day and night time. We paid 8000 kyats each time and didn't regret it. They open until 10pm ( if im not mistaken) and this is also the place to change money if you have notes other than USD, EURO and SGD. Money Changer here accept all currency.
Shwedagon Paya Map
Cloudy morning since its end of monsoon and Nico wearing Longyi
Locals giving out offering all over the paya.
us
More offering
Night time at Shwedagon where less people come.
Monk chanting prayer
Small, big..budhha everywhere
After Shwedagon we took taxi to Ngahtatgyi Paya since its quite far to walk and we don't have much time if we need to check all the paya. Ngahtatgyi famous for its 26m seated buddha image. It was raining when we arrived so we stayed here for a while until its stop raining. When the buddha image is impressive its the carved wood panel behind it which actually caught me. Its beautiful and well crafted, see it for yourself and i can assure you that im right.
Across the road from Ngahtatgyi Paya is Chaukhtatgyi Paya which housed reclining budhha. Since we came from Ngahtatgyi, we took the back gate and have to open our shoes and steps on the soil. Its not something that i enjoyed since its only our first day in Myanmar. Well, i end up getting use to it and just need to see where im stepping.
