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skyline, the enormous Shwedagon is a stunning
devotion to Buddhism, and on the must-see list for
all tourists. The next day, barefoot and hot, we walk
around with our guide in awe of the complex of temples
and stupas adorned with 27 metric tons of gold leaf
and thousands of diamonds and gems.
A long day of sightseeing in high humidity calls for
a cocktail, and there is no better place to relax in style
than Sarkies Bar at the 5-star The Strand hotel (above).
Opened in 1901 by the Sarkies brothers, who also built
the famed Raffles Hotel in Singapore, it is the height
of luxury in the city; we enjoyed barrel-aged cocktails
in the bar frequented by Rudyard Kipling and Orson
Welles. You might also want to visit the elegantly
decorated restaurant across the lobby, headed up
by celebrated Italian chef Christian Martena.
‘END OF STRIFE’
Around the corner from The Strand is Pansodan Street, where banks and
government ministries still occupy majestic, colonnaded buildings, most
of which have seen better days. This grand boulevard in Yangon, literally
‘End of Strife’, was once the centre of British Burma – the crumbling
colonial architecture still evokes awe and hides some hidden gems.
One such treasure is the contemporary and light-filled space that
houses Hla Day. Meaning ‘beautiful’ in Burmese, the social enterprise
works with Myanmar artisans, disadvantaged groups and small local
businesses to design, develop and sell quality handmade products with
a modern twist. Collections of all types – glassware, bedding, wallets and
bags – are carefully curated by colour and displayed with dazzling effect.
While we will visit other wonderful social enterprise stores on our trip,
Hla Day is unique for the sophisticated shopping experience it provides.
I walk away with a handwoven bag for my yoga mat, beautiful oven mitts
and handmade cards – my partner steers me to the door as I eye off
more purchases.TRIPPING OVER TEMPLES
Site of the first Burmese kingdom, more than 3,000 magnificent temples,
pagodas, and stupas rise towards the orange sky from the flat plains of
Bagan. We chose to follow our guide to some lesser-known temples by
bike, and were in a continual state of wonderment (and slight exhaustion)
at what we saw and learned.
Described by Marco Polo as “one of the finest sights in the world”, this
ancient city full of red brick and stucco structures will transport you to
another time, and though often passed over for a visit to Mandalay, is well
worth the trip. Temples where you can see the sunrise and sunset are the
most popular, though many travellers choose to view this incredible site
from above via a hot-air balloon ride.