Yangon

« The weather in Sweden is simply magical! And around it, there are even more places to explore, with events happening every day of the week. For your birthday, it's a tradition to go and pour water over Buddha. And there are also celebrations, with flowers and all the beautiful decorations! »

« Yangon was once the capital of Myanmar. Here, we arrived willingly - it's quite friendly.

Notably, in this area, local airlines are the only option for flights.

We decided to stay here for one day and two nights to see the Shwedagon Pagoda🌌. It’s a stunning stupa, covered in pure gold, topped with a 74-carat diamond (15 grams). Its apex alone contains 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies. The entire structure gleams and shines like the sun! (see video) Just make sure not to judge the city based only on this main tourist attraction!

That’s why we headed to the central station. For around $0.80 (400 kyat), we bought two tickets for the "circle line train." The entire journey takes about three hours. It's a slow ride (15-18 km/h) through different landscapes and the lives of the local people. We found ourselves quite rapidly immersed in the atmosphere, despite the noticeable absence of cleanliness and sanitary norms. Trash is everywhere. You'll often see betel nut involuntarily spat out everywhere—this product is made from betel leaves,areca nut, and lime. The teeth of those who consume it get stained black and girl’s dental health can suffer due to it.

Everything seen so far is firmly etched in my memory, while the occasional jarring stops made this trip even more challenging. Sometimes, it felt impossible to breathe.

Out of the blue, at one of the stations, we were completely revitalized. Luckily, at this moment, I filmed a video :)

Afterward, we headed to the center of the city, to a local market😱 (see video) and Chinatown.

Arriving at our hotel, we realized we weren't done yet; we changed our clothes and went out to explore within the vicinity of the evening pagoda.

Yangon is a city of contrasts. Heavy contrasts... »

« I arrived straight from Podnobesnaya to Yangon — the largest city and former capital of Myanmar (Rangoon). Honestly, Yangon is one of the most vibrant places among all that we were lucky enough to visit in Myanmar! Right out in the open air! Yangon doesn’t develop like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, or Kuala Lumpur. There’s no need to expect anything particular from it; the country is just beginning to evolve. In Yangon, there are no motorcycles. I was very surprised because in Southeast Asia, motorcycles reign supreme, while here, just like in many other places, it's all about cars. They say that the roar of motorcycles and scooters annoyed the locals, so they banned them. Convenient! :)

In Myanmar, internet access is incredibly limited, with less than 1% availability (compared to 46% elsewhere), so locals without home internet hang out in internet cafes. By the way, due to strict censorship online, sites and blogs that discuss the country’s political situation are often shut down, and inconvenient bloggers are cut off from connection. (Sounds familiar?) »

« As in the former colony in the South, you won’t find a bustling atmosphere here, just elegant buildings showcasing European architecture. The signs and the people give it away that you are not in Europe, but in one of the Asian regions. If we discuss whether it’s "good or bad to be a colony," there are certainly pros and cons. But let’s not dwell on that... »

« I'm often asked what I think about Myanmar and where I find myself in this unique country. I really enjoy it here; the locals are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and it seems the country hasn't been overrun by tourists yet, likely due to its long closure to the outside world.

Here, motorbikes are banned, and the cost of petrol is mind-boggling! All cars run on gas. Taxi rides around the city cost about $2 (though it's possible to negotiate for even less). There are also bicycle rickshaws, reminiscent of those in other countries. 😄

It looks a bit strange to see men in long skirts, called 'lungees,' and women dressed in a unique way, often in long skirts paired with blouses. I personally quite like the traditional long skirts and dresses!

Additionally, there's a curious sight of litter almost everywhere; on my first day, I was surprised to see piles of trash on the pavement and couldn't quite grasp the issue until I realized it was a systemic problem. It’s as if every step of the way one encounters litter, leading to the unfortunate title of 'litter-producing country.' 👈🏽👌🏽

In the photo, one of the most significant Buddhist sites in the world, over 2500 years old, known as Shwedagon Pagoda, charges $10 for tourists to enter. Local residents can visit for free. »

« Myanmar is astonishing, and falling in love with it at first sight is nearly impossible: the city of Yangon is as unwelcoming as it is noisy and chaotic in everyday life. Years of socialism have left their mark on every corner; you walk past colonial grandeur, imagining yourself with a paintbrush in hand, sweeping with your left foot. Everything changes when you encounter spiritual Yangon, during a confrontation with the unreal 92-meter golden stupa adorned with five thousand diamonds and countless larger gems. The Shwedagon Pagoda holds more than three buckets of gold; just one princess contributed her weight in gold—over 88 pounds—though the people of Myanmar are not large. But it’s not only the scale and value of this structure surrounded by smaller pagodas and stupas that impress. What truly captivates is how this impoverished country is willing to sacrifice its food to pray to golden pagodas; spirituality (here, Buddhism is deeply religious: prayerful, ritualistic, and daily) is paramount. People don’t just visit the temples when necessary; they go every day, spending time there, eating, sleeping, and connecting. They pray to the Buddha, now a deity, who was asked not to elevate himself to the level of gods. Their prayers are sincere, unbound by schedules or obligations, performed daily and fervently.

The smaller stupa is also adorned with gold and precious stones; on one side, an astonishing mosque looks on, on another, the City Hall, and on a third, a column resembling an Egyptian obelisk. Surrounding the stupa are stalls with astrologers, and inside, it's divided into eight parts according to celestial bodies and the number of days in a week (Wednesday is split in two). The residents of Yangon give the impression of urban Indians from Delhi or Mumbai, whose paths you might want to avoid around the markets, just in case, to steer clear of being splattered by the red stream of betel from their mouths. The smells around are quite nauseating; honestly, at first, it seems like a garbage dump, but it’s just the aroma of local street food. I diligently smile at this city, wanting to feel and understand it, but for now, I can only pity and admire. Little do I know that just an hour’s flight from Yangon, Myanmar will completely and utterly win me over. »

« Yangon, Myanmar.
The reclining Buddha statue of Chaukhtatgyi measures 72 meters in length. The steps are adorned with mosaics featuring 108 images that reflect the unique qualities of Buddha, showcasing his connection to life and teachings.
Entry to the temple is free for locals, but foreigners are sometimes charged a fee.
This Buddha is even larger than the one we saw in Bangkok together with a friend; this one is just massive! 🙏😲😀😌 »

« Yangon Zoo, the most depressing place in the world. But some people actually like it... 🌧️🐒 »