THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 345

wood furnishings, or outside in the pretty garden area. It's unfortunate that very few locals
come here, though the cheery all-female staff more than make up for this. The menu bursts
with a winning combo of Burmese, Shan, Chinese and European food, all of it very well
done; a local recommendation is the zat byat byat (K4000), a Shan dish made from spiced,
minced meat mixed with chopped tomato and basil. Try a papaya lassi (K2000) for dessert.
Daily 10am-10pm.
SHOPPING
Poe Poe Bakery Kone Thae Rd. This bakery has been a lovely little addition to the town,
and makes a perfect place to source some trekking snacks. The vast majority of what's on
offer is sweet, rather than savoury; their banana bread (K400) is particularly good, while
Western sweeties such as Toblerone and Ferrero Rocher will certainly tempt those who've
been chocolate-lite Myanmar for a while. Daily 8.30am-6.30pm.
Rural Development Society Myoma Rd 081 50747, [e-mail] . Fair-trade
shop whose little space is filled with all sorts of goodies, including postcards (K500), hats
(K4000) and longyi (K3000 and up), as well as all sorts of minority beads, bands and the
like. All profits go towards development projects in surrounding minority villages. Daily
9am-6pm.
Secondhand clothing Butar Rd 093 6025 5111. Now, this is handy. Kalaw is one of the
few places across the land where you may find yourself shivering at night - at this small, no-
name shop, you can pick up a secondhand coat or windbreaker for as little as K2000. These
can also come in handy on hikes to Inle Lake - many of the villagers you meet on the way
would be grateful for a garment that you'll no longer need. Daily 8.30am-6.30pm.
DIRECTORY
Bank There's a branch of KBZ Bank (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm) on Min Rd, part of a large bank-
ing group whose owners have been subject to international sanctions . Its ATM and currency
exchange come in pretty handy, however.
Internet Cyber World on Aung Chan Tha St (daily 8.30am-10pm) can get you online for
K1000/hr; Sky Net on Kone Thae St (daily 8am-midnight) isn't as reliable, though cheaper
at K500/hr.
Massage Soe Thein offers traditional Pa-O massage for K7000/hr, from a first-floor room
on the Union Highway (daily 9.30am-6pm).
Post office Union Highway, Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm.
Snooker There's a popular hall on Butar Rd (daily 9am-9pm), which also sells beer. Tables
K2000/hr.
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