Myanmar (Burma) - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

50th Street Bar & Grill T 01 397060, W 50thstreet

yangon.com; map p.533. This a/c expat haven is a bit of a

surprise coming in from the scorching streets of the

Botataung district. It's a US-style bar where you can sit

back with a beer (happy hour 3-7pm, all day Sun) or play

a game of pool. It has various deals such as 2-for-1 pasta

from 5pm on Mondays and there's live music on Friday

nights. Mon-Fri 11am-late, Sat & Sun 10.30am-late.

GTR Club 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, within the Inya Lake

Hotel complex T 09 73090680; map p.532. Aimed mainly

at wealthy young locals, this is one of the most fashionable

clubs in the city and plays mostly electro house. Although

entry is free, even soft drinks cost K3000. Daily 10pm-3am.

Kôsan 108 19th St; map p.532. Although it serves food,

most people come here for a drink before or after eating

at one of the 19th St barbecue restaurants. It's best known

for its mojitos (K800) and is popular with groups of young

locals and expats. Daily noon-midnight.

Strand Bar Strand Hotel , 92 Strand Rd; map p.533. It's

worth going for a drink in the bar at the classy Strand Hotel ,

which opened in 1901, if only for its colonial-era vibe.

Drinks are pricey, typically $5-7, so the Friday happy hour

(5-11pm) is unsurprisingly popular. There's wi-fi in the

lobby and bar. Daily 11am-11pm.

Thiripyitsaya Sky Bistro 20th floor, Sakura Tower,

corner of Sule Paya Rd and Bogyoke Aung San Rd T 01

255277; map p.533. The prices here are steep, but during

happy hour (6-9pm) a draught beer is “just” K1500 (down

from K2500). It's worth it for the views of Shwedagon Paya

and the downtown area. Daily 9am-10.30pm.

Embassies Thailand, 94 Pyay Rd (Mon-Fri 9am-noon &

1-5pm; T 01 222784; W thaiembassy.org/yangon/en);

UK, 80 Strand Rd (Mon-Thurs 8am-4.30pm, Fri 8am-1pm;

T 01 380322, W gov.uk/government/world/organisations

/british-embassy-rangoon); US, 110 University Ave (Mon-

Fri 8am-4.30pm; T 01 536509, W burma.usembassy.gov).

Internet Internet cafés include Jasmine, Pansodan St

(daily 7am-midnight); BizNet, Botataung Pagoda Rd

(daily 8am-11pm); Smart Net, 37th St (daily 9am-10pm).

Money The exchange booths at the international terminal

of the airport generally offer very good rates, particularly

the ones before you exit through customs. Many banks

change dollars and euros, including MOB on Mahabandoola

Rd, Shwe Bon Thar Rd and Pansodan St, and CB Bank on

Mahabandoola Rd and Strand Rd. CB Bank also has ATMs

(including one in the international terminal of the airport).

There are moneychangers in Bogyoke Aung San Market,

but there's no need to use them unless you're stuck outside

of banking hours.

Post o ce Strand Rd (Mon-Fri 9am-3.30pm).

Swimming There's a small pool on the roof of Junction

Centre Maw Tin (5th floor; Mon-Sat 6am-9pm, Sun

6am-8pm; K8000/day).

7

The delta region

and western

Myanmar

he fertile delta region south and west

of Yangon has long been of great

importance, due to its abundant

agricultural production and strategic

location for trading. It made news

headlines around the world in 2008 after

being devastated by Cyclone Nargis,

when the military regime blocked foreign

aid claiming that they had the situation

under control. his worsened an already

appalling situation and the o cial final

death toll was 138,000 people, although

in reality it was probably much higher.

Most people rush straight through the

region's lush green rice fields and sleepy

towns on their way to the beaches at

Chaung Tha and Ngwe Saung . If you

don't mind roughing it a bit, and

spending a night on the river, then one

good way to see more of the delta is to

travel by public ferry from Yangon via

Myaunmya and Pathein.

SHOPPING

Books Bagan Book House, 100 37th St (daily 9am-6pm;

T 01 377277), has the best collection of books about

Myanmar. Innwa Bookstore, 246 Pansodan St (daily

8.30am-5.30pm; T 01 389838), stocks a smaller selection

plus international magazines. Monument Books has

branches at 150 Dhamazedi Rd ( T 01 537805) and in

Junction Centre Maw Tin.

Handicrafts Pomelo, above Monsoon restaurant, 85-87

Thein Byu Road ( W pomeloyangon.com), sells fair-trade

products with an emphasis on helping disadvantaged

producers to improve their social and economic positions.

There are a couple of handicraft shops in the National

Museum, which also stock CDs of traditional music (from

$5) and books.

Shopping malls and department stores Junction

Centre Maw Tin, corner of Anawrahta Rd and Lan Thit St;

Parkson FMI International department store, Bogyoke

Aung San Road (daily 9am-9pm).