Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BY BOAT
Theoldgovernmentslow-boatfromYangonacrosstheDeltatoPatheinwasonceoneofMy-
anmar's classic journeys, although at the time of writing they were running only as far as
Myaungmya (2 weekly at 4pm; 22hr; deck $7, cabin $35) with buses (K1500) making the
final1hrjourneytoPathein;therearerumoursthattheentireservicewillbediscontinueddue
to falling demand and improved road transport. If running, boats depart from Lan Thit jetty,
2.5kmwestofthe
Strand Hotel
onStrandRd;checkatthe
IWToffice
orthe
touristoffice
for
the latest information.
Tickets
are available from the IWT office at the jetty - it's in Building 63 (no sign) next to
Building 64 (signed), on the right-hand side of the main road into the port area.
GETTING AROUND
Despite its size, Yangon is reasonably easy to get around.
Downtown
is relatively compact,
makingitpossibletowalkbetweenmostofthemajorsights,althoughnarrowpavementsand
dense crowds can make for painfully slow going in the very centre.
Outside the centre
, dis-
tances between attractions are significantly longer, although there are plenty of inexpensive
taxis available. Note that motorbikes and tuk-tuks have been banned from the city centre,
meaning that traffic in the city, while often dense, is generally relatively orderly by Burmese
standards.
By taxi
The easiest way to get around Yangon is by catching one of the city's plentiful taxis
(mostly white Toyota Corollas; all clearly identified by the yellow “TAXI” sign on their
roofs).Nonearemetered,althoughthecity'sdriversareagenerallyhonestandhelpfulbunch
-unless arriving at one ofthe city
bus
stations -and you'll most likely be offered a fair price
without the need for strenuous bargaining (although of course it pays to haggle if you feel
you're being asked for a fare that's over the odds, and, equally, you should
always
agree a
fare being setting off). Fares are generally a bargain: around $2 for a trip around downtown,
for example; $2-3 from downtown to the Shwedagon; $5-6 from downtown up to the Kaba
Aye Pagoda; and $7-8 out to the airport. Booking a taxi through your accommodation is the
easiest way to get hold of a cab and get a fair fare, although they can also be flagged down
on the street. If you get stuck, there are usually plenty of empty vehicles hanging out at the
front of Bogyoke Market, or try in front of the
Sule Shangri-La Hotel
.
By train
The city's famous
Circle Line
is worth taking just for the fun of the ride, and also
offers a cheap and convenient way of reaching
Insein
.
Bybus
Theheartofthecity'sextensivebusnetworkistheeasternsideofSulePagodaround-
about,downtown,although busesareofminimal usetocasual visitors -routesaredifficult to
work out and vehicles are signed and numbered in Burmese only.
