Yangon

Arriving in Yangon was definitely different. The crazy, rabbit warren streets and organised chaos of the downtown was something of a fresh culture shock for us, which we thought we’d be over by now! It has similar vibes to La Paz but in many ways felt a lot safer – this is something that we have found is a pretty big difference between South America and South East Asia across the board.

Whilst it didn’t feel in any way unsafe and the people were all amazingly friendly, I think it’s safe to say walking around the city is not for the faint of heart. With 40 degree heat, piles of rubbish, sewage and a good helping of rats, it’s definitely a place that assaults the senses. Gone are the convenience stores found of every street corner in Thailand and instead, street food sellers, cars, scooters, dogs and more share the crowded passageways. That’s not to say that there aren’t places which provide a rest bite from the craziness – there are a number of cafes, restaurants, bakeries and shiny glossy shopping malls, but you will need to first know where you’re going (they are often tucked away in not very obvious places) and a taxi to get there (trying to walk is pretty mental in the heat and getting a grab taxi is perfect for convenience). We had a seriously delicious lunch at a vegan cafe where they served pitta breads stuffed with fried tofu, couscous, hummus and Middle Eastern spices.

Another major part of any stay in Yangon is a visit to the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda. This stupa contains relics of the Buddha and is the most sacred pagoda in all of Myanmar. The whole complex is absolutely huge and on the recommendation of our hostel, we arrived at 5:30pm in time for the sunset and to see the beautiful buildings lit up in the dark. Everyone who enters must be barefoot and dressed respectfully, with their shoulders and legs covered. The entrance for foreigners is where you need to buy tickets and where you can pick up a complementary bottle of cold water and a cold wipe. Wandering around as the light faded was so surreal as we watched devotees, monks and nuns meditating and making offerings. It’s definitely something not to be missed – a truly epically scaled religious site that welcomes visitors and worshippers alike.