Yangon, Myanmar, is a land of rich faith, belief, and fascinating civilization. It is renowned for its religious sites, particularly the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda, a symbol of the city. Yangon's charm also lies in its colonial architecture, evident in the numerous colonial-style buildings scattered throughout the city. Exploring these architectural gems is a captivating activity for visitors. Immersing oneself in the local atmosphere and culture of Yangon is an experience that leaves a lasting impression.

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We boarded the plane at Don Mueang Airport at 12:05 PM and arrived at Yangon Airport at 12:55 PM local time. Myanmar time is 30 minutes behind Thailand time. For this trip, we were two people. After passing through immigration at the airport, we went straight to the bank booth to exchange money. We had exchanged USD in Thailand and brought it to exchange for Kyat in Myanmar. The dollar bills we exchanged must not be folded or crumpled. Importantly, before exchanging for Kyat, we had to keep some USD aside because some expenses, such as entrance fees to certain places, only accept USD.

After exchanging money, we were approached by a group of taxi drivers who were eager to sell us tours. However, we politely declined as we had planned to explore the city independently. We then walked to the taxi rank in front of the airport and hailed a taxi that was waiting for passengers. The taxi driver agreed to take us to our accommodation for 8,000 Kyats.

After packing our belongings, we headed to the Sule Pagoda. We actually enjoy walking around because it allows us to observe the local way of life and take pictures, which is fun. However, this time we were short on time, so besides walking, our main mode of transportation was taxis. At first, we were a bit apprehensive about how to negotiate the price, as we didn't know the rates. But we used the method of checking the approximate price on Uber first and then negotiating the price.

The Sule Pagoda is approximately 1.4 kilometers from our accommodation. Along the way, we captured images of daily life and old English-style buildings. One peculiar observation was the constant honking of car horns, which seemed to be the norm here. Initially startled by the noise, we gradually became accustomed to it.

The Sule Pagoda: A Historical Landmark in Yangon

The Sule Pagoda, also known as Sule Paya, is a prominent landmark in the heart of Yangon, Myanmar. With a history spanning over 2,000 years, this octagonal pagoda stands tall at over 150 feet.

After visiting the temple, we took a stroll through the nearby park, Maha Bandula Park. The park features a spacious lawn where people can relax and unwind. Adjacent to the park is a local food market, offering a delightful opportunity to explore the culinary delights of the region.

The area surrounding Sule Pagoda has been considered the center of Yangon's prosperity since the British ruled Burma. Therefore, there are buildings of artistic and architectural value.

After relaxing for a while until 6 pm, our next destination was 19th Street, also known as Soi 19, on Maha Bandula Road, located near Sule Pagoda in the Chinatown district. The street was bustling with vendors selling their wares on both sides, making for an enjoyable walk as we browsed the offerings.

A short stroll brought us to Chinatown, where the streets were lined with barbecue restaurants and similar-looking beer bars, alongside local dessert shops.

We didn't stop to eat anything because it was too crowded and there were no seats. At first, we thought about taking a taxi back because it was quite a distance, but as we walked, we got hooked. It was fun, and we got to see new and interesting things, so we decided to walk back and find something to eat along the way. We came across this restaurant and ordered grilled chicken with rice. The taste was good, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was also decent.

[Day 2]

We woke up at 7:00 AM and went downstairs to the dining room for breakfast.

Every morning, there will be staff waiting to offer food to the monks.

After finishing our meal, we hailed a taxi from our accommodation to Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda. The fare was 3,000 Kyats. Entry to the pagoda is free, and you can simply remove your shoes and walk in. (Remember to bring a bag to carry your shoes in case any other temple charges a shoe deposit fee.)

Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda houses a magnificent Burmese-style Buddha statue in the meditation posture, standing as tall as a five-story building.

After taking the picture, we crossed the street to the other side and found the temple of 'Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha', which is known as the 'Sweet-Eyed Buddha' by Thai people. It is a reclining Buddha statue over 70 meters long. This Buddha statue is the largest and most beautiful reclining Buddha in Myanmar. The Buddha statue has a sweet face, which is typical of Burmese Buddha statues. The most striking feature of this statue is its sweet eyes.

After paying respects at the temple, it began to rain. We waited at the temple for a while. Inside the temple grounds, there are souvenir shops and clothing stores where you can walk around.

We stayed there until almost noon. Then we hailed a taxi to the Ka Ba Aye Pagoda. We called it from the front of the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda. The fare was 4,000 Kyats. When we arrived at the Ka Ba Aye Pagoda, we looked for food because it was already noon. We crossed the street to the opposite side where there were many local restaurants. We chose to enter this restaurant because it was crowded, but we didn't know what it was called because the whole restaurant was in Burmese. More importantly, the staff couldn't speak English. But that's okay. We just pointed at the menu and got fried chicken with rice because it looked good from the picture. The taste was good.

After finishing our meal, it started to rain again. It seems like we always encounter rain wherever we go. This temple charges an entrance fee of 3,000 Kyats for foreigners. The Ka Ba Aye Pagoda is a beautiful, round-shaped pagoda with five entrances. The interior is particularly stunning, with marble and colorful mosaics adorning the walls. There are also many beautiful Buddhist paintings. The name "Ka Ba Aye" means "world of peace" in Burmese.

We strolled around the temple and had the opportunity to have a friendly conversation with a Burmese uncle about the history of the temple.

We then took a car to the 'Swe Taw Myat Pagoda'. Upon arrival, there was an entrance fee of 2000 Kyats for foreigners. The Swe Taw Myat Pagoda is a beautiful octagonal-shaped pagoda. The Shwedagon Pagoda, as it is known in Thai, is home to a replica of the Buddha's tooth relic. The temple also features shrines dedicated to the Buddha's birthday, as well as a blend of Burmese architecture from various eras, resulting in exceptional Buddhist art.

After visiting the temple, we hailed a taxi to Scott Market. This time, we encountered a taxi driver who didn't speak English. Showing him a picture didn't help either. Fortunately, a local resident helped us by speaking Burmese and even negotiated the fare for us. They were incredibly kind! The first taxi driver quoted 7,000 Kyats, which we declined. The second driver offered 5,000 Kyats, and we countered with 4,500 Kyats. The taxi driver agreed, and we were on our way. After a short ride, we arrived at Scott Market, also known as Bogyoke Aung San Market. This market offers a wide variety of goods, including diverse food options, clothing, souvenirs, silverware, and gemstones.

After finishing our shopping, we went to eat at the 'Junction City' mall, which is located opposite the Scott Market. This mall is quite large and seems to be a popular shopping destination for locals. We went up to the food court on the top floor, which offered a wide variety of food options. We ordered the four-bone pork rice from the Taiwan Snacks stall, which was delicious and cost 4000 Kyats. After finishing our meal, we took a short walk around the mall.

Our final destination for the day was the **Shwedagon Pagoda**, the highlight of our trip. Initially, we planned to walk there, but after a long day of exploring, we decided to take a taxi from the mall. The ride was short, and soon we arrived at the temple.

As dusk settles in, the setting sun casts a breathtaking glow upon the pagoda. As darkness approaches, the temple welcomes a growing number of visitors.

After visiting the temple, taking photos, and praying, we decided to try taking the bus back. We asked a local person about the bus route to Sule Pagoda, and they told us to take bus number 8. We waited for a long time, but it was already late, and we thought there wouldn't be many buses anymore. So, we had to call a taxi to Sule Pagoda for 2000 Kyats. We chose to get off at Sule Pagoda because it was a lively area, so it wouldn't be too deserted. We wanted to walk around a bit more before returning to our accommodation.

[Day 3]

After breakfast, we had some time to spare before leaving. We took the opportunity to visit the Botatauang Pagoda, which was a short 20-minute walk from our accommodation.

Foreigners are charged an entrance fee of 6,000 Kyats. Upon entering the pagoda, visitors are greeted by stunning golden architecture.

Most tourists queue to pay their respects at the enshrined relic of the Buddha's hair. The surrounding area also houses numerous beautiful Buddha statues for worship. The most popular spot for Thais to pray is the "Nanthida" shrine, where Burmese people believe that praying to the "Nanthida" deity will grant their wishes quickly.

After we finished praying, it was time to walk back to our accommodation. After we checked out, the staff at the accommodation kindly called a taxi for us and even saw us off to the car, wishing us a safe journey. It was a very touching gesture. The taxi fare to the airport was 7,000 Kyats, and it took about 45 minutes to reach Yangon Airport.

Summary of expenses (excluding aircraft)

The cost of accommodation at Motherland Inn for 2 nights is $46, which is equivalent to 763 Thai Baht when divided by 2.

The taxi fare of 845 baht, divided by 2, equals 423 baht.

Food expenses = 907 baht

Entrance fees for each location + donations = 613 baht

Total = 2706 Baht

::::Thank you to everyone who has followed our journey and photos. We hope to see you again on our next trip. ◡̈:::