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fabric-based products, including adorable
soft toys, cushions, rugs and other crafts.Nandawun SOUVENIRS
(Map p 48 ; cnr Baho Rd & Ahlone Rd; h9am-6pm)
This house-bound shop spans two storeys
and just about every Myanmar souvenir, from
lacquer vessels to replicas of antique scale
weights. The upstairs bookshop has a good
selection of titles on obscure Myanmar topics.Gallery Sixty Five GALLERY
(Map p 46 ; http;//gallerysixtyfi ve.webstarts.com; 65
Yaw Min Gee St; h9am-8pm) Housed in a beau-
tiful colonial-era mansion, the ground fl oor
of this private gallery is dedicated to revolv-
ing exhibits of contemporary local art.Loft SOUVENIRS
(Map p 42 ; 2nd fl , Monsoon, 85-87 Thein Byu Rd;
h10am-10pm) Above Monsoon restaurant is
this craft shop selling high-quality products
for prices that don’t send waves of shock
through your body.J’s Irrawaddy Dream SOUVENIRS
(Map p 42 ; 1st fl , Strand Hotel, 92 Strand Rd;
h10am-8pm) This shop features high-quality
Myanmar textiles, clothes, lacquer and other
handicrafts. It’s an especially good place to
fi nd stylish women’s dresses.Elephant House HANDICRAFTS
(Map p 48 ; Green Elephant, 519A Thirimingalar Rd;
h10am-9pm) Attached to Green Elephant
restaurant, this shop sells a decent selection
of Burmese housewares, primarily high-
quality and attractive lacquerware.Beikthano Gallery GALLERY
(Map p 48 ; 133/3 Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd; h10am-
8pm) Suburban gallery featuring the work of
contemporary Myanmar artists. Bookshops
It’s worth checking out the many bookstalls
(Map p 42 ) around Bogyoke Aung San Mar-
ket or along 37th St, which is also regarded
as something of a university library for the
people. Several stalls have small selections
of novels and nonfi ction books in English,
French and German.
English-language newspapers such as the
Bangkok Post and the International Her-
ald Tribune are sold by vendors in front of
Zawgyi House (Map p 46 ; 372 Bogyoke Aung San
Rd), and a small selection of magazines is
also available at Black Canyon Coffee (Map
p 48 ; Ahlone Rd). In addition to the following
shops, Nandawun (Map p 48 ; cnr Baho Rd &Ahlone Rd; h9am-6pm) also has a good selec-
tion of English-language books on Myanmar.Bagan Book House BOOKSHOP
(Map p 42 ; %377 227; 100 37th St; h9am-5.30pm)
This Yangon institution has the most com-
plete selection of English-language books on
Myanmar and Southeast Asia, and owner U
Htay Aung really knows his stock: we asked
for a book on the Shan language and were
handed an original text from 1887! The front
gate pulled across the entrance doesn’t nec-
essarily mean the place is closed unless the
door inside the gate is closed too.Monument Books BOOKSHOP
(Map p 48 ; 150 Dhama Zedi Rd; h9am-8pm) The
newest branch of this Southeast Asian chain
is Yangon’s most modern and well-stocked
bookshop. In addition to a good selection
of books on topics local and international,
there’s an attached café-restaurant.Inwa Bookshop BOOKSHOP
(Map p 42 ; 301 Pansodan St; h9am-6pm) This
bookshop sells a small selection of English-
language books as well as back issues of for-
eign magazines such as Newsweek and the
Economist. Malls
There are a number of modern Western-
style shopping malls selling everything from
hipster jeans to fl at-screen TVs. The largest
and most convenient:
Blazon Centre MALL
(Map p 48 ; 72 U Wi Za Ra Rd)
Dagon Centre MALL
(Map p 48 ; 262-264 Pyay Rd)FMI Centre MALL
(Map p 46 ; 380 Bogyoke Aung San Rd) Just east
of Bogyoke Aung San Market.
La Pyat Wun Plaza MALL
(Map p 46 ; 37 Ah Lan Paya Pagoda Rd) Not far
north of the train station. Markets
Shopping at the zei ( markets, often spelt
zay) in central Yangon can be fun, educa-
tional and a chance to interact with the lo-
cals. Fans of fresh markets should make a
point of visiting the hectic morning market
(Map p 46 ; h6-10am) along 26th St, adjacent to
Theingyi Zei. Another photogenic morning
market (Map p 42 ; h5-9am) unfolds along the
southernmost end of 42nd St, and a tiny but
lively night market (Map p 42 ; cnr Anawrahta Rd