Monday, April 14, 2008

Update from Myanmar



It has been very hard to get a proper internet access in the city. As know a new friend, he brings me to the very local and cheap internet cafe.

The trip is like this... and I have so many things to talk about Myanmar.

Since my last blogger entry, I have been safely arrived Yangon by the flight from Bangkok and it made me wake up by 4a.m. in the morning.

On the first day, I couldn't believe it was so easy to step out from Yangon airport. It is new a clean so very different from some people said. So, when I just stepped out from the airport, I had already been surrounded by so many taxi driver. Finally, I got one with USD$7 but normally is a lot cheaper since the water festival it boosted up the price for everything.

Just by the taxi stand, I saw so many guys was chewing something and it is a very local "snack". It called "Batel" and mixes with nut and some red sugar... I guess. So everyone's mouth is dyed by the red sugar. Every single guys I saw in airport from Myanmar are with red teeth and red lip... even the inner lip. Also because they like to spit on the group, everywhere you go you can see something like blood on the street.

On the way, the taxi driver kept asking me about exchange money and he offered me the exchange rate 1USD=1000kyats. It is a bit more than what I read from lonely planet so I just thought "OK! Go for it!". Since the exchange rate of 100USD is much better than other other so everyone would ask for the 100 note. However, really need to be careful about they would put some bad money inside with broken edge or super old one.

Just follow the recommendation from Lonely Planet, I chose to stay in "White House Guesthouse" in the downtown of Yangon. With the reasonable price, I got a really nice room on the roottop where I can see the famous Paya and beautiful sunset. So decided to buy more flim and got some 2400kyats per roll.

After this, I just tried to have a quick look of the city and walked around. Suddenly, someone I guessed as a taxi driver who came and asked where I wanted to go. I just rejected him at the first place but he started to be very nice to tell me about the direction and kept following me. After 15mins, some more old ladies popped up and asked me for tips.

During the water festival, the traffic in Myanmar is difficult especially from Yangon to Mandalay. It is not because too many bus or car from one place to another place but there are not enough of buses. It seems to be the entire city shuts down for Myanmar New Year.

Finally! I got one ticket from Yangon to Mandalay and it is like 6 times than usual. It costs me 30USD. I can't believe it is so expensive. Also on the same day, those Indian guys asked me to exchange some more money as I think I need. I tried to be smart and found out their wanted to cheat me 20USD. However, at the end, they still took it back. So, I still lost 20USD.

After I bought the ticket and returned from the Aung San Stadium to the downtown. That tourist guide still tried to follow me and I was so pissed off. He started to say sorry to me and said he is a bad guy. He told me he wanted to bring me to eat something for what he did to me. He brought me a pretty full lunch in the Central Hotel in Yangon. After the meal, I just wanted him to leave me alone so I just gave him 10USD and went to a internet cafe.

After this, it gave me really bad impression of Yangon. I just don't want to spend another day in this city. I just tried to spend my own time around Strand Road next the Yangon River. There are a lot of building were built in colonial period. It is actually the most beautiful part of the city. With the railway track which is not used anymore. It reminded me a bit of George Town in Malaysia.

It happened! Another two girls from my guesthouse from Beijing felt the same way. :p They have already booked their return ticket back to Beijing and as soon as possible. It means they need to pay triple price!

After this talk, I just stayed at my room and enjoyed the sunset. I was so tired and just fell asleep.

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