Yangon and the Circular Train

When we arrived in Yangon on our first trip to Myanmar years ago we really didn't care for it, stayed 2 days and never returned. Maybe it was the dark dank hotel room, the less than inspiring street scene, or the fact that we both were struck down by colds on arrival. 

This time we stayed in a friendly spotlessly clean bright hotel in slightly  a different part of the city and we were healthy. We found Yangon to be a fascinating jumble of decaying and restored  colonial buildings, markets, street food stalls, temples, and upscale eateries.

Myanmar has changed. No longer do we have to travel around with annoying wads of money in bulging money belts...enough pristine unblemished un folded, unmarked precious $US to last the entire 28 days. ATMS are at every corner of Yangon. 

No longer did the scarcity of hotels where foreigners were allowed to stay mean trying to book ahead by public phone, praying that the person at reception could speak some English. We travelled with our own phones, purchasing sim cards and data for next to nothing. Hotels were booked through Agoda and Google Map helped us get where we wanted to go. Internet is still painfully slow and the power still fails regularly, but it really is easier to travel.

We missed taking the the circular train last time. It's a narrow gauge computer train that takes you from downtown Yangon to the suburbs and the countryside and back again in about 3 hours for about 20 cents. A pleasant way to watch everyday life away from the Yangon traffic chaos and a great intro to the city.

Just a few photos to give you a rough idea...lots of buying and selling, visiting and waiting.












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