This is just gonna be a short post because we didn't really do much when we were in Yangon. From Bagan we took a night bus going to Yangon where we will be flying out to Malaysia. We only had a few hours there, but we surely didn't waste it. Here are stories and photos!
Since I know we'll be arriving super early in the morning, I booked a room in Agga Bed & Breakfast so we'd have someplace to nap and bathe in. Booked a standard room with shared bathroom for P1,200 via AGODA.
Our stay was quick yet pleasant. The shared bathroom was okay. The breakfast was nice. The staff were also helpful. They helped us get a cab who took us to the airport and also brought us to Shwedagon as a sidetrip.
Just a quick history lesson! Yangon or Rangoon is the former capital of Myanmar (Burma). Yangon is the country's largest city with a population of nearly six million, and is the most important commercial center. Downtown Yangon is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture. The former British colonial capital has the highest number of colonial period buildings in south-east Asia. Although Yangon's infrastructure is undeveloped compared to that of other major cities in southeast Asia, it now has the largest number of colonial buildings in the region. Some of them includes: The former High Court, the former Secretariat buildings, the former St. Paul's English High School and the Strand Hotel. Now you know what to see when you're there. :) The official explanation for moving the capital to Naypyidaw was that Yangon had become too congested and crowded with little room for future expansion of government offices. (source: Wikipedia)
Locally known as Shwedagon Zedi Daw The, it sits atop of a hill and is 99 meters high. It can be seen from most places of Yangon day and night as the golden roof illuminates the city. Wanted to see it all lit up but can't because of our sched. Huhu.
The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires, the whole giddy concoction offset by a massive emerald positioned to reflect the last rays of the setting sun.
As Myanmar's most revered shrine it has always been customary for families, mendicants and followers of the Buddha to make the pilgrimage to the Shwedagon in much the same way that Muslims feel compelled to visit the Kaaba at Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
Such is the potency of the Shwedagon that Myanmars generally hold it to be indestructible. Despite a major earthquake in 1769, several smaller quakes in the 20th century and a major fire in 1931, it still stands imposingly on the top of a hill.
Visitors are required to remove their shoes upon entering the Shwedagon and negotiating the scalding floor tiles between the shaded sanctuaries is not an easy process. It's true! When the sun's high up the floor and tiles could burn your feet.
The pagoda is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha, a fact that only adds to its prestige. The stairways and bridges leading into the main sanctuary serve the thousands of pilgrims who flock here, and flower and book stalls, peddlers of religious souvenirs and tea shops do a brisk trade during the Shwedagon's long hours of opening.
Time to go!
Boarded the plane at around 8pm and arrived in Malaysia at around 12am. :) Felt a little sad because landing in Malaysia means we've reached our last destination and that our trip's gonna be over soon. Huhu. Spent a few days in Malaysia and can't wait to share it with you! Thanks for reading!:)
Since I know we'll be arriving super early in the morning, I booked a room in Agga Bed & Breakfast so we'd have someplace to nap and bathe in. Booked a standard room with shared bathroom for P1,200 via AGODA.
Book here:
Second floor kitchen area and where our room is located:)
Our room!
Our beds:)
Our free breakfast:) Sarap ng soup in fair.
Shared bathroom:)
Neighborhood where hotel is located
So nakakain na pala ako sa Lotteria! Haha! Saw one in Japan and wanted to try. Okay na pala haha!
Fastfood again.
Fried chicken that tastes normal yeyyy
Bruise from riding an e-bike in Bagan haha
Our driver picked us up at around 2pm and before going to the airport, he took us to Yangon's most famous site, the crown of Burma---the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda. It was huge, majestic and it was beautiful.
You had to walk through this huge hallway up 2 flights of escalators. No footwear allowed.
When we got to the top, we were made to pay 8,000 kyats each or P320 as entrance fee. Locals get in for free. I also had to rent a longyi skirt to cover my legs. We borrowed a huge umbrella because it started raining. No charge. :)
Inside, it's a vast complex with lots of smaller pagodas :)
There were more locals than tourists
The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires, the whole giddy concoction offset by a massive emerald positioned to reflect the last rays of the setting sun.
Such is the potency of the Shwedagon that Myanmars generally hold it to be indestructible. Despite a major earthquake in 1769, several smaller quakes in the 20th century and a major fire in 1931, it still stands imposingly on the top of a hill.
Visitors are required to remove their shoes upon entering the Shwedagon and negotiating the scalding floor tiles between the shaded sanctuaries is not an easy process. It's true! When the sun's high up the floor and tiles could burn your feet.
The pagoda is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha, a fact that only adds to its prestige. The stairways and bridges leading into the main sanctuary serve the thousands of pilgrims who flock here, and flower and book stalls, peddlers of religious souvenirs and tea shops do a brisk trade during the Shwedagon's long hours of opening.
It has become a symbol or their national identity:)
Time to go!
Yangon airport is nice! It's also clean:)
Waiting area
Boarded the plane at around 8pm and arrived in Malaysia at around 12am. :) Felt a little sad because landing in Malaysia means we've reached our last destination and that our trip's gonna be over soon. Huhu. Spent a few days in Malaysia and can't wait to share it with you! Thanks for reading!:)
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