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

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with shared bathrooms - plus good breakfast and wi-fi.

There was a lot of construction during the time of writing;

it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the feel

of the place. You're still sure to get a friendly welcome from

Lily, the sister of Mr Charles, who along with her hus band

also owns the older Nam Khae Mao Guest House . $20

Yee Shin Namtu Rd T 082 80711. This neat and tidy guest-

house has 14 tiny rooms, so small that they have little furni-

ture other than the beds. Most of them don't hav e pr ivate

bathrooms; for $25 you can get a/c. Wi-fi in rooms. $15

(K1000-2000) and a range of snacks such as pancakes

(K1000). Daily 9am-9pm.

Yuan Yuan Namtu Rd. This street-side café is known for

its excellent chicken rice (K1500) made by Ayeyong and

for the drinks (K800) prepared by her husband Atha (aka

Mr Shake). They also do steamed buns (K250) in the

morning. Daily 11.30am-10pm.

SHOPPING

Books The stall on Namtu Rd run by Ko Zaw Tun, aka

Mr Book (daily 6am-9pm), has a small but interesting

selection of books in English. He also knows everything

you could wish to know about the town and its citizens.

Tea Houk Hou sells Shan State tea, grown around 70km

away. A kilo of the best-quality tea costs K3000, and it's

possible to see it being sorted and packed.

EATING AND DRINKING

There are several cheap food stalls in the central market

and simple restaurants on Namtu Rd.

★

Mrs Popcorn's Garden Off Namtu Rd - take the

turning for the nat shrine (see p.582), turn left before the

shrine then right at the crossroads. It may be a little out of

the way, but the garden is a fantastic place for coffee, fruit

juice (K600) or a snack (but not popcorn - the charming

owner Khin Myint Htay doesn't make it any more). If you

want lunch then she can prepare a rice or noodle dish

(K1500-2500), but it may take a little while. Daily 9am-

around 7pm.

Pontoon Coffee Pontoon Rd. Run by Australian expat

Maureen - who has spent many years in Hsipaw - this

café serves proper coffee from a shiny new Italian machine

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