Smeagol is off to Singapore, Burma and Bangkok
Sep 11th, 2011, 10:57 PM
#103
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We get back in the car and drive the short distance to Shwedagon pagoda. Ever since I read Somerset Maughams “the Gentlemen in the Parlour” and saw the cover shot of Shwedagon from the very early 1900’s and when Pook sent me the link to a free app of pictures of Burma I have been looking forward to visiting Shwedagon, which is the most sacred site in Burma.
We arrived by the north entrance (I think) SM pays the entrance fee for us (which he did in all the places we had been) and we go up in a specially built lift. When we step out, walk along the “sky bridge” K and I are awestruck OMG this place is awesome….. Gold stupas, statues, elaborate buildings are everywhere, its so beautiful we’re trying to decided if it’s the most beautiful place we have ever been (on a temple scale) SM tells us all about the carvings, buildings, statues, worshippers everything really. I don’t think I would do it justice in describing it here and for sure my pictures do not convey the beauty. (I think I end up taking about 15 before my battery finally dies!)
Sure you can do Shwedagon on your own (and we do later) but for us it was enhanced by all the detail SM gave us. (he got the measure of us for sure and didn’t overload us with facts) An interesting fact was the “temple” dedicated to the spirit who could grant wishes, this Buddha statue you cannot directly see, it has a camera pointing at it and it’s broadcast on a TV screen, this I am told is so the worshippers cannot directly wish for something (like a new government perhaps??)
We linger for ages just wondering around, until we finally make it back to the north entrance. There is a lot of cloud cover so sunset is a bit of a let down. SM asks us if we want to go anywhere else but we call it a day and ask him to takes us back to the Savoy. K and I have been on the go for about 13 hours and we are shattered but it’s been great. SM comes in to the hotel with us and arranges with the desk an early morning call and orders breakfast in a box so we can take to the airport in the morning. The same driver we have had today will take us to the airport at 05:45am tomorrow for our 7am flight to Bagan.
We tip SM (with an amount I hope is appropriate) and say our goodbyes.
K and I both agree that when we come back to Yangon on Saturday we will go back to Shwedagon to see it in the dark.
After a quick freshen up, K and I head for bar in the hotel, this is quite a buzzy little bar again for the expat crowd. Its quite smoky but K and I settle in and have a couple of beer Mandalay’s ( nice) and even though SM said there were some good restaurants nearby we are too tired and end up have some bar snacks and another beer. We both liked this bar as it had a good atmosphere. We retire quite early, shattered but having really enjoyed the day. Another early alarm call tomorrow and off to Bagan…..
We arrived by the north entrance (I think) SM pays the entrance fee for us (which he did in all the places we had been) and we go up in a specially built lift. When we step out, walk along the “sky bridge” K and I are awestruck OMG this place is awesome….. Gold stupas, statues, elaborate buildings are everywhere, its so beautiful we’re trying to decided if it’s the most beautiful place we have ever been (on a temple scale) SM tells us all about the carvings, buildings, statues, worshippers everything really. I don’t think I would do it justice in describing it here and for sure my pictures do not convey the beauty. (I think I end up taking about 15 before my battery finally dies!)
Sure you can do Shwedagon on your own (and we do later) but for us it was enhanced by all the detail SM gave us. (he got the measure of us for sure and didn’t overload us with facts) An interesting fact was the “temple” dedicated to the spirit who could grant wishes, this Buddha statue you cannot directly see, it has a camera pointing at it and it’s broadcast on a TV screen, this I am told is so the worshippers cannot directly wish for something (like a new government perhaps??)
We linger for ages just wondering around, until we finally make it back to the north entrance. There is a lot of cloud cover so sunset is a bit of a let down. SM asks us if we want to go anywhere else but we call it a day and ask him to takes us back to the Savoy. K and I have been on the go for about 13 hours and we are shattered but it’s been great. SM comes in to the hotel with us and arranges with the desk an early morning call and orders breakfast in a box so we can take to the airport in the morning. The same driver we have had today will take us to the airport at 05:45am tomorrow for our 7am flight to Bagan.
We tip SM (with an amount I hope is appropriate) and say our goodbyes.
K and I both agree that when we come back to Yangon on Saturday we will go back to Shwedagon to see it in the dark.
After a quick freshen up, K and I head for bar in the hotel, this is quite a buzzy little bar again for the expat crowd. Its quite smoky but K and I settle in and have a couple of beer Mandalay’s ( nice) and even though SM said there were some good restaurants nearby we are too tired and end up have some bar snacks and another beer. We both liked this bar as it had a good atmosphere. We retire quite early, shattered but having really enjoyed the day. Another early alarm call tomorrow and off to Bagan…..
Sep 12th, 2011, 08:09 AM
#112
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It was when we went back on the evening. We met a guy though who told us to walk on this black line and he was right, not so slippy. when we went during the day and when it wasn't raining it was fine. Damn I just realised how much I loved Shwe Dagon
Sep 12th, 2011, 06:09 PM
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Enjoying your account. I'm looking forward to Bagan.
You might be interested to know that as a foreigner, you are not allowed to change money at a bank. The government has an "official" exchange rate of something like 8 kyat to the dollar, while the current black market rate is about 700 to the dollar. I actually know of someone who asked to exchange money at the airport and was told by the man at the desk not to. At the airport they would have given him 8 kyat to the dollar. Scotts Market is the usual place to exchange money in Yangon.
You might be interested to know that as a foreigner, you are not allowed to change money at a bank. The government has an "official" exchange rate of something like 8 kyat to the dollar, while the current black market rate is about 700 to the dollar. I actually know of someone who asked to exchange money at the airport and was told by the man at the desk not to. At the airport they would have given him 8 kyat to the dollar. Scotts Market is the usual place to exchange money in Yangon.
Sep 13th, 2011, 05:45 AM
#120
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Oh, glad to hear your got 750 to the dollar! Some people have reported as low as 650 recently. The rate when I was there was 1000... obviously it's dropped a lot! I'm hoping I can get as much as 750 when I'm there in November.
Pook, if you go to any of the currency exchange websites, you'll see the "official" exchange rate. When NGOs bring money into Burma they have to exchange at the official rate. Ironically, charitable donations to NGOs working in Burma probably bring more hard currency to the junta than tourism.
Pook, if you go to any of the currency exchange websites, you'll see the "official" exchange rate. When NGOs bring money into Burma they have to exchange at the official rate. Ironically, charitable donations to NGOs working in Burma probably bring more hard currency to the junta than tourism.
