Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon in the British colonial days, is a large city in the south of Myanmar. It retains many beautiful old colonial buildings, as well as lots of new development following the opening of Myanmar to foreign investment.
The people we met in Yangon were very friendly. They dress quite modestly, and the first thing we noticed at the airport is that everyone had their knees covered. Most men wear a longyi, long ankle length wraps. Many women have a clay paste smeared on their cheeks which acts as a sunscreen/ moisturiser/ make up.
We stayed at a guesthouse near the Sule Pagoda. This pagoda was built 2200 years ago, and is now in the middle of a roundabout near the city centre. We had Myanmar-style breakfasts, which consisted of roti bread, curry and a banana.
We met up with Torrey's mate Lachlan, who is an Australian advising the government in economic policy. We had a few beers at a craft beer bar called Father's Office. It is named for the building across the road from the pub, which was the British administrative centre of Yangon, and site of Aung San's assasination. Aung San is a national independence hero, known as the father of the nation. He is also the father of current president Aung San Suu Kyi, although he died when she was 2 years old.
We also visited the famous Shwedagon pagoda, one of the holiest sites in this devoutly Buddhist country. It is a beautiful gold stupa surrounded by smaller stupa and temples.
