Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Dagon; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun)
Half a day could easily be spent wan-
dering around this sprawling covered market, sometimes called by its old British name,
Scott Market. It has more than 2000 shops and the largest selection of Myanmar handi-
crafts and souvenirs you'll find under several roofs, from lacquerware and Shan shoulder
bags to puppets and jewellery.
Pick up some nice slippers here, convenient for all the on-and-off demanded by paya
protocol, and a
longyi
; U Maung Maung in the main hall has a good selection ranging
from cotton ones for K5500 to silk-mix ones for K9500.
Other shops worth seeking out include
Yo Ya May
(1st floor), specialising in hill tribe
textiles, particularly those from Chin State, and
Heritage Gallery
, next door, which has a
good selection of reproduction and authentic antiques with an emphasis on lacquerware.
Pomelo
HANDICRAFTS
(
www.pomeloyangon.com
;
89 Thein Byu Rd, Botataung; 10am-9pm)
The best selection of
contemporary handicrafts in Yangon - and all produced by projects supporting disad-
vantaged groups in Myanmar. Fall in love with the colourful papier mache dogs and bags
featuring bold graphic images as well as the exquisite Chin weavings and jewellery made
from recycled materials.
Bagan Book House
BOOKSHOP
( 01-377 227; 100 37th St, Kyauktada; 9am-6.30pm)
This Yangon institution has the
most complete selection of English-language books on Myanmar and Southeast Asia,
and owner U Htay Aung really knows his stock, which includes tomes dating back to the
19th century.
Theingyi Zei
MARKET
(Shwedagon Pagoda Rd, Pabedan)
Most of the merchandise at downtown Yangon's largest
market is ordinary housewares and textiles, but it's also renowned for its large selection
of traditional herbs and medicines, which can be found on the ground floor of the east-
ernmost building.
Traditional herbal shampoo, made by boiling the bark of the Tayaw shrub with big
black
kin pun
(acacia pods), is sold in small plastic bags; this is the secret of Myanmar
women's smooth, glossy hair.
Inwa Bookshop
BOOKSHOP
