My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so I looked forward to returning to Southeast Asia. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
Yangon is a city of beautiful contrasts. Markets flourish along the crowded sidewalks, but they do have sidewalks, so that’s a huge improvement from Mandalay where every step could plunge you into a sewer or oncoming traffic.
Everything from Shoes. . . |
to Dessert is for Sale on the Streets of Yangon |
View from a Pedestrian Over Crossing |
View from the Other Direction |
Some Buildings from the Colonial Period |
I’m not a city person, but I do enjoy the kinetic excitement once in a while. Yangon didn’t disappoint.
Question: What do you know about the xylophone in the Strand Hotel?
T Authors such as Maugham, Kipling and Orwell were entertained by the music from the xylophone in the Strand lobby. (The Strand opened in 1901, and has hosted these notables along with hundred of others. I’m buying this history, so I can know more about one of the most famous hotels in the world.)
Collector Item |
NOW what do you know about Yangon?
T/F 1. The Mons were the earliest inhabitants of the area now called Yangon.
T/F 2. In the eighteen hundreds, the Burmese fought the British and won the battle of Yangon
Answers tomorrow.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – it must be wonderful to visit .. and looks like a slightly out of the way place, that was once of great importance. Love the market atmosphere .. the foods and the shoes …
Mons were the peoples of Yangon and the Brits defeated the Burmese in that first war .. it's been a wonderful series .. cheers Hilary
blogoratti says
Nice ad colourful all the way!
TBM says
I do love all the colors. Says a lot about a place. And I can't believe it's Y already. Where did April go?
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
I do not like the sound of Mandalay without sidewalks! I would definitely end up in a sewer 🙂 Those are very colourful shoes.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Empty Nest Insider says
I agree with Michelle! This might be the most vibrant visit on your A to Z tour.
Julie
Michelle Wallace says
I love anything multi-colored… the shoe display is a visual feast!
Clarabelle Rant says
I love all the colors in the market, but the dessert looks a little scary…
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klahanie says
Hi superstar, celebrity author and well cool storyteller, Lee aka the Lee with the hat and sunglasses, Lee,
Great post! Thanks for sharing! Following!
Thanks for this. Yangon a minute, I forgot what else I was going to type. Probably something really awesome. Never mind.
Thanks, Lee.
Gary 🙂
J.H. Moncrieff says
Gorgeous photos. I love Asian markets! What on earth was in those big pots that they were serving for dessert?
Yvonne Ventresca says
So colorful! Thanks for sharing the photos.
Yvonne
Patricia Lynne says
That would be a cool place to go exploring in.
Christine Rains says
How cool is that! A famous xylophone.
DMS says
Looks like a great city! I love the different views and the bright colors. 🙂
~Jess
Karen Mortensen says
What a great city.
Stephanie Faris says
Those shoes look so cool. I want every single pair!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I can't believe this is Y! Just like I can't believe I was ever in Yangon. It was only last November, but it seems a lifetime ago.
Nick Wilford says
I really hope the Burmese won that. It would have put our noses out of joint because we thought we were better than everyone else.
Elizabeth Mueller says
I don't know about walking through a big city where anything can happen…
Elizabeth Mueller
AtoZ 2015
My Little Pony
Arlee Bird says
I wonder about the sanitation of those big vats of desserts. I like seeing the big cities, but I also find them intimidating on occasion.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
A Faraway View
Stephen Tremp says
Yay Yangon! And yay one more day.
Julie Flanders says
The markets look so fun. I'm not even a big shopper but I just love those colors.
Courtney Turner says
Great post! So are the desserts tapioca pudding, which is popular in Thailand and also sold in little dessert cups at a fast food Vietnamese chain in Hawaii?? I noticed the pic of "shoes" which are also the preferred footwear in Hawaii – we call em "slippahs" and we have many different styles of them! Even for weddings!
Maui Jungalow
Tyrean Martinson says
Although I'm not into living in a big city, they are fun to visit for a day or two. Yangon looks like an energetic, colorful place!
Kern Windwraith says
I'm not a big shopper, but those markets look so enticing. Maybe it's the fact that they're right out in the open air, or maybe it's all the bright colours and the mish-mash of offerings, I don't know, but they are SO much more inviting than malls.
Bish Denham says
Are those spices and foods in that first picture? Smells delicious. (I don't do cities very well either.)
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
I really don't like the noise and crowds of cities though I might enjoy walking through that market. Both true today.
Annalisa Crawford says
The colonial building in the last picture is very imposing.
Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Joanne says
I enjoy the hustle and bustle of a city. Yangon looks lovely and colorful. I'll buy a dessert on the street.
Catherine Stine says
Wow, the colors are so amazing!!!
Elizabeth Varadan, Author says
What struck me most was all the color! What a dazzling place.
Chrys Fey says
I love all of the colors there. I wish more places were as colorful as Burma.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Look at all those shoes. I love shoes. And desserts – yummy. More fabulous pictures. Looks like a great place to visit.
Jeremy Hawkins says
the environment is very inviting… so much culture in one place.
Shirley Corder says
Great photos. As Alex said, it looks very colourful.
Participating in
Out of Africa – Topics from A to Z
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
It looks like a great blend of old and new. And very colorful.