Myanmar (Burma) - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 565

in international restaurants, and it shows. If you can't
decide what to get then try the platters (eight pieces for
K2500). They also do Peking duck, good for two people
(K12,000). Daily 7am-9pm.
Myo Myo Museum Rd. Traditional Burmese dishes from
the family that also owns the long-standing Linn Htett
restaurant on the edge of the market. This newer
offshoot has the same great dishes (curries K2500), and
its enthusiastic owners help to make it stand out from
the crowd. Daily 9am-9pm or later.

TREAT YOURSELF
Princess Garden Mine Li Quarter T 081
209214 or T 09 5148418. Set in delightful
gardens with a small swimming pool, this
is a restful and friendly little retreat that
books up well in advance during peak
season - hardly surprising given that the
prices, particularly for bungalows, remain
very reasonable. Breakfast is served on a
terrac e w ith views of the surrounding
fields. $40

★

TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
Aung Puppet Show Ahletaung Kyaung Rd. The current
puppeteer has been performing for 27 years; he learnt
from his grandfather and is now teaching his son. They
also sell puppets for $10-20 (daily 7am-9pm). Shows
nightly 7pm & 8.30pm (30min; K3000).

Joy Hotel Jetty Rd T 081 209083 or T 09 43110067,
E [e-mail]. This cheap and cheerful
guesthouse is set beside a canal used by traders, which
makes for great people-watching from the terrace where
breakfast i s se rved. The rooms are comfortable, albeit a
little tired. $22
Min Ga Lar Inn Phaung Daw Pyan Rd T 081 209198 or
T 09 5216278, W mingalarinn.blogspot.co.uk. Business is
obviously good at this self-proclaimed “home away from
home”, as they opened a slew of new rooms in 2012. It's a
shame that they're so pricey - an eye-watering $85 - but
four of the cheaper, and perfectly decent, older rooms
remain. $28
Remember Inn Haw St T 081 209257 or T 09 5214070,
W rememberinn.jimdo.com. The forty rooms here are
well kept and decent value - paying extra for a superior
room gets you a fridge, TV and a/c. The best reason to
stay, though, is the wealth of assistance provided by the
owners. Wi-fi in rec eption. Visa cards accepted for a four-
percent charge. $25 .

7

DIRECTORY
Bank AGD Bank, Yone Gyi Rd (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm), has a
money change counter. KBZ Bank, Main Rd, also has
an ATM.
Internet Comet, Yone Gyi Rd (daily 8am-10pm); iNet,
Ahletaung Kyaung Rd (daily 6.30am-10pm); KKO, Yone
Gyi Rd (daily 7.30am-10pm).
Spa and massage Places offering massage are
popping up all over Nyaungshwe. Aqua Lilies, Museum
Rd (daily 9am-9pm; T 09 428363584), is one of the
most established; treatments include a traditional
anaite massage (K11,000/hr). Win Nyunt Traditional
Burmese Massage (daily 8am-8pm; K7000/hr) and Win
Traditional Intha Family Massage, Shwe Chan Thar St
(daily 7am-10pm; K5000/hr), are more basic setups in
family homes.
Shopping Gallery 19, Shwe Chan Thar St (Tues-Sun
9am-8pm), sells work by Taunggyi-based photographer
Kyaw Kyaw Win, with prices starting at $10 for a 12x8-
inch print.

EATING AND DRINKING
Beyond Taste 10 Phaung Daw Pyan St T 09 428358111.
Reflecting the tourist boom of recent years, this is one
of a handful of places aiming for more sophistication. The
food, such as a popular Shan fish curry (K3500), is well
made and the upstairs balcony is an appealing place to sit.
The K700 tax added to the bill is less welcome. Daily
breakfast to dinner.
Dan Nar Yee Museum Rd. This popular beer garden - a
set of simple open-sided huts in a yard - also serves some
basic food, such as noodle dishes and barbecue (K200/
stick). Daily 8am-late.
Daw Nyunt Yee Phaung Daw Side Rd. Locals rate this
no-frills place as serving some of the best Chinese food in
town. Most main dishes cost K3000-3500, though there
are simple noodle or rice-based meals from K1500. Daily
6am-9pm.
★

VISITING KENGTUNG
Reaching Kengtung from within
Myanmar is expensive, as the road in
from the west is closed to foreigners and
flying is the only option. The town can,
however, be reached by road from
Thailand via the Mae Sai-Tachileik
border (see p.763). Kengtung is a
pleasant town with a lake at its heart,
and provides access to many ethnic
minority villages . It isn't possible to
stay overnight in them, however, and
the trailheads can only be reached by
taxi. This makes hiking relatively pricey.

Live Dim Sum Yone Gyi Rd. Not only are the dim sum
here a change from standard Chinese food, but they're
tasty in their own right - the chef has years of experience