My first view of Yangon: Lower Pazundaung Road, near the Motherland 2 hostel. For more on Burma, please see http://www.legalnomads.com.
The fruit market on Lower Pazundaung Road. With very few tourists in sight, the vendors were excited to talk, and kept foisting free food at me as I walked by.
One of the sidestreets off of Maha Bandoola road.
Tracks from the Yangon Circular railway, which does a 3 hour loop of tiny towns around Yangon. This shot was taken just off of Lower Pazundaung Road.
St. Mary's cathedral, designed by Dutch architect Jos Cuypers and built in November 1899
One of the many colourful side streets in Yangon.
Beautiful Hindu temple in downtown Yangon.
And some of the many pigeons hanging out and waiting for me to walk by.
Facing the temple, women crouched low with raw chicken meat for sale.
Many, many pigeons at the temple.
The busy streets of downtown Yangon.
Impromptu soccer match on one of the many side streets leading up to Sule Pagoda, the centre of town.
My first soup in Yangon: a deliciously rich fish brother covered in roasted chickpeas, fresh mint and a samosa chopped up and thrown on top.
First time viewing Shwedaggon pagoda in Yangon.
Monk chatting with Katie, who was at the Motherland 2 hostel with me.
As the afternoon progressed, more and more Burmese people would come and visit the pagoda on their way home. I just sat on the side of the main zedi and watched the peaceful prayers.
This monk sat, read and wrote until it was too dark to see.
Many of the monks had cameras and were as enthralled as I was to be in Shwedaggon's shadow.
Mid-afternoon sweeping of the floors, in a perfect line.
The men first...
Followed by a line of women.
Sunset over the pagoda.
Everyone sitting to watch the sunset.
This remains my favorite picture from the Shweddagon set. I feel peaceful just looking at the photo.
These are filled with water for anyone to drink when walking by. Most towns have them scattered throughout, as well as outside the monastery.
Just another day in the neighbourhood: cow, errant youths, and lifejackets for sale.
Bookstore right next to the Motherland 2 hostel.
One of the many tea shops throughout town, frequented almost exclusively by men. Great tea and snacks to be had at them, at the best prices in town.
Typical afternoon snack: entrails!
This used to be one of the main government buildings in Yangon, but is now overgrown with weeds as the government has moved to Naypyidaw.
Balloon games on a side street near Bogyoke Aung San market.
Colourful plants and scaffolding on a building in Yangon.
Fried chickpea cakes and corn fritters, the perfect afternoon snack.
This lovely woman took us to the train station even though it was well out of her way.
Christine (right) was at the hostel as well, and ended up being a great travel partner - we took the train up to Myitkyina and hung out at the Kachin State fair.
On the circle train around Yangon. Took a full 3 hours but it was a great way to get a slice of typical life for people in Yangon.
One of the stops on the circle line train.
This was definitely the man in charge of the train - everyone gave him a wide berth and he took notes throughout.
At every stop, vendors would come in selling cigarettes, betel nut and fruit.
The babies in Burma were just adorable.This guy was no exception.
Downtown Yangon, facing the Sule Pagoda.
Fun, varied architecture on display facing Sule Pagoda.
One of the more aloof cats I've seen.
Side view!
I opened my map in Yangon to find a store where I could buy a longyi. Immediately, 15 women surrounded me asking how they could help. One brought me by hand to the store for fabrics, then brought me to her house and sewed me the skirt herself. Amazing. This was the view from her apartment.
View of her apartment, in a government subsidized block just off Lower Pazundaung road.
Inside her place.
Hard at work on my longyi.
One of the differences in Burma: no cell phones. They're $1000 to purchase (SIM card) and government permission is required. As a result, most calls are made from phone 'booths' on the street, like this one.
"Hello? I'd like a room please?"
2 monks off of Boyoke Aung San Market
The centre of it all, Sule Pagoda. After work, many Burmese stop in on the way home to pay their respects and make an offering.
Practicing for Chinese new year in downtown Yangon
Many kittens scattered along the shelf and floor of this stall, with the father on guard for intruders. There were 7 in all, hopping and jumping around.
Beautiful old buildings in downtown Yangon.
Another phone 'booth'.
Delicious fried snacks on offer for 10 cents each. Chickpea fries, chicken and tofu.
Chicken central!
Monks buying electronics. A quintessentially strange thing to see at first, but sadly extremely common throughout South East Asia.
Terrific barbershop in downtown Yangon.
Sunset over Anawratha road.
It's DOSA TIME! Schoolgirls gathered and giggled as I waited for mine to be ready.
Yangon's biggest danger: falling through the huge sidewalk craters. Not a joke - legs will (and have) been broken!
Side alley off of Merchant Road.
With the high, bright buildings and narrow side streets, I couldn't stop taking pictures as I wandered around. This from near Sule Pagoda.
Soap for sale at the Mingalar market (site of a huge fire on May 24, 2010)
Inside the 4 story Mingalar market.
Eggplants for sale. These are folded beautifully into a wide variety of Burmese foods.
Nuns at the market, looking for fresh produce.
In the banana section of the market. More bananas than I have ever seen.
Washing the bananas for market day.
This family asked to have their picture taken (we all can see who was most excited about the photo).
Me and the adorable girls from the flower stall.
The flower section of the market was stacked floor to ceiling with freshly cut, beautiful flowers. I spent hours there, just inhaling deeply and watching the bustle around me.
A shame this picture came out blurry. These two characters were betel nut sellers from the food floor of the market.
Breakfast - DOSA!
Inside the flower section of the old market. No other tourists in sight, and people were fairly surprised to see me there, especially with a camera!
Unimaginable (for me) balancing skills here.
Down in the basement, the fruit section.
Classic "I can sleep anywhere": under an 18-wheeler trailer truck. What?
The biggest pile of ginger I've ever seen.
One of the cuter kids I'd seen in the market. Each with distinctive (adorable) thanakha circles on their faces.
Playboy in Asia: an actual brand, not just a magazine.
Most side streets had their own vendor specialty that spread from top to toe. This one: electronics alley.
No comment.
Loved this picture of the rooster checking out a dress.
My last full day in Yangon, I went and bought 2 longyis at the market. I liked one stall in particular, run by this lovely woman and her daughter.
Self portrait!
Monk in an internet cafe. Also a common sight.
Chicken biriyani from the streets of Yangon. Delicious!
Also served from the biggest pot of rice I've ever seen.
Stationary street.
Looking down Stationary Street.
One of my favourite blocks in Yangon, colourful and varied.
Huge liters for sale on....you got it: lighter street.
Sitting at the many breakfast stalls for morning mohinga soup
Selling curtains, jasmine flowers, tofu salad and tshirts all on one street corner.
Hindu temple with its many pigeons.
My nemesis
Bananas all sold at the end of this one street in Yangon. There are vendors who sell a bit of everything, but most of the gridded streets of downtown Yangon are arranged by items for sale.
These nuns were on a quiet alley near Merchant street and my hostel. I really appreciated the lovely colours and bright orange wraps - so beautiful!
Waving goodbye on my last night in Yangon.
