Wandering around Yangon

My 2nd solo trip and my first for this year. I chose Myanmar because I find it very majestic even by just looking at the pictures and that I wanted to explore it myself.

I heard some people say that Myanmar is 40 years behind Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. But I must say that Burmese people are the most friendly and most sincere people I ever met in Southeast Asia.

Before heading to Yangon, I had to stay in Malaysia for a 14-hr lay over. There’s no direct flights from Manila to Yangon by the way. I decided not to go to KL since I have been there twice. I stayed in Capsule by Container Hotel inside KLIA2 which i booked in Booking.com. It’s a pretty awesome experience to sleep in a container.

here’s my room

The price is I think reasonable since it just inside the airport. They offer free wifi around the facility.

Day 1

My flight the next day is at 6:55AM and i arrived at Yangon International Airport at 8:00AM and immediately took a taxi going to Backpacker Bed & Breakfast. The hostel is a little difficult to find because it is located at the 2nd floor of a building. But thanks to the friendly taxi driver who helped me. The hostel’s location is perfect because it is in the downtown and very near Sule Pagoda and Bogyoke Market. Check in time is at 12noon so I’m very early that i decided to walk around the area first and tried some yummy street foods.

After check in, my first stop is Bogyoke Market which can be reached by foot.

Me and the friend I met, hired a taxi going to Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple and Botataung Pagoda and then back to Bogyoke for only 15,ooo kyats.

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

Entrance Fee: Donation only

Botataung Pagoda

Entrance Fee: 4,000 kyats

Make sure to bring with you a bag or a plastic bag to carry your shoes because you are not allowed to wear them in the pagodas.

Day 2

After breakfast, i took the taxi to Shwedagon Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Yangon and the highlight of my trip. It is probably one of the reasons why I was interested in Yangon. It was around 10am and was so hot but I didn’t mind because I was so amazed and I can’t believe that I am actually inside the Shwedagon.

The stairs to the pagoda. I entered the East Gate and i didn’t know that there was an elevator.

There are so many interesting spots inside Shwedagon. You might want to hire a tour guide to show you around plus they are also good in taking pictures.

Entrance Fee: 8,000 kyats

Taxi fare: 3,ooo kyats

It took me about 2 hours to explore the pagoda. After that, I walked towards the Kandawgyi Lake and from there I took a taxi going back to the hostel coz i needed to rest because of the very hot weather.

I can’t get enough of the Shwedagon and I decided to go back at night.