WE Smile Magazine June 2015

looked when it was amongst the grandest
cities of the British Empire. Along a road
of the same name is The Strand, arguably
the oldest standing hotel in the city.
Created by the Sarkies Brothers of Raffl es
Singapore fame, it was a stopping point
for famous authors like Somerset
Maugham and Rudyard Kipling. Heading
north to The People’s Park, pause to cool
down beside the large, elephant adorned
fountain. There is a famous photo spot
here which shows a clear path towards
Shwedagon Pagoda’s west gate. Follow
the signs, or the crowd and you’ll be on
your way to the landmark’s base.
Foreigners need to pay 8,000 kyats for
entry, and if your legs are not covered
you will need to rent a longyi (sarong) for
an additional 5,000 kyats. The price for
the longyi is refunded upon return. Walk
up the stairs or take the escalators.
Shwedagon is massive, and even on a
cloudy day the gold makes it diffi cult to
look directly at the structure. Guides will
happily tell passersby about the
diamonds, other precious gemstones and
hairs of the Buddha enshrined in the
monument, but perhaps the best way to
experience this sacred space is by
stepping back, fi nding a shady spot and
taking a moment to watch the locals
admire what their ancestors created.
As the sun sets and you get your last
few glowing photos of the pagoda, head
to Inya Lake. This is Yangon’s largest lake,
created by the British in 1882 as a city
reservoir. Nearby Inya Lake Park is a
popular destination for families, teenagers
and couples. An evening walk along the
banks provides insight into how city
dwellers end their day.
Through exploring Yangon, it seemed
that one discovery always stirred more
curiosity. Whether it is the heat, or the
diverse mix of people and architecture
styles, there are times while walking along
the old quarter that you lose sense of
where you are. One could smell Indian
curries while gazing at a Chinese temple,
hear the bickering of Korean dramas
subtitled with Burmese characters while
a crowd of Belgium backpackers
enthusiastically share a local beer with
roadside barbers. Some could argue that
Yangon is changing too rapidly, but
perhaps that was the city’s great secret.
It has always embraced change, and
through the ancient battles, colonialism,
military rule and current modernisation,
it manages to survive, retaining a piece
of everyone who visits in the friendliness
of its people, in the diverse cuisine and
the facades of their great buildings.