Buying a violin in Myanmar...

After reading "how to think like Leonardo Da Vinci: seven steps to every day genius" book by Micheal J. Gelb, I am suddenly interested to classical music and hope that one day I can play a classical song.

But I didn't really plan to buy a violin in Myanmar, it is just coincidence that I came across a music shop in Bogyoke Aung San Market. The violin here is cheap compared to Malaysia, I have brought it only with USD50. Although the quality is not that good, but for a beginner like me is ok to play around as my "toy".

Taking the violin on flight is another challenges which I didn't put in mind when I purchased the violin. I forgotten that passenger is not allow to hand carry violin on board after 911 incident. This means I have to check in as luggage. What if the violin break in to two piece? Although is not that expensive, but it is still a waste.

At last, I still have to check in the violin cause mentioned by the ground staff the string of the violin can be used as killing weapon on the flight. No choice, I just have to bear the risk.

Luckily, the violin is in good shape and I am now started to learn violin in hometown. It was quite fun! 

A cup of coffee please!

I happened to browse through a blog sharing by Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott on Burmese cuisine, one of their top eating experiences was flan and coffee near Sule Pagoda, Yangon. As a coffee lover, I quickly jot down the address: 128 Sule Paya Road without the shop name.

1) Let Ywe Sin tea & coffee shop (near Sule Pagoda)
Me and my husband didn't really go all the way to look for this shop, but coincidentally we bang into this shop by following the strong aroma smell of coffee just like Daniel and Audrey. Then only I realised this is the shop! With our tiredness walking all the way from Bogyoke Aung San market to Sule Pagoda, we would like to order the same things as mentioned in the blog.

I told the person who served us for two coffee and flans. But they do not understand what flan is, and we had to point to the flan eating by a person sitting at the another corner. The waiter brought us a sandwich instead of a flan, until we need to walk to the table and point him the flan. For them, they called it a pudding rather than a flan.

The shop name is Let Ywe Sin, the coffee and pudding are recommended to try when you drop by to Sule Pagoda.

A lot of local people are here for their tea break

At the end, we brought a total of five packets of their coffee with 700 kayts per pack and 1,600 kayts for dinning in. Estimated USD6.

2) Coffee Factory (1st flood of UK mart building, Bogyoke Aung San market)
This is another shop we tried, and I believed this shop is specially designed for foreigner. At first, we have difficulty to look for this shop although a signage is hanging outside of the building. We asked around and actually the shop is located inside a shop... Did I describe it correctly? Yes, it is hidden inside.

     
The atmosphere here are serene and comfortable, there are air conditioning provided here. Photo of oldies singers 70s and 80s are hanging on the wall. Of course the price is higher compared to previous one but it is still reasonable for the environment we were enjoying. I ordered a cold local coffee and a Cappuccino for my husband, it cost 2,200 kayts ($2.6), but the coffee are nothing really special.  

Things to be remind when travel in Yangon, Myanmar

With last minute invitation from my husband, I decided to fly to Yangon, Myanmar for a short trip while my husband having a business trip here. I am a bit excited because this will be my third trip within two months.

Although my husband had been traveling here for business for quite a number of times, but this is the first time he invited me. I think he might been well surveyed here and can show me around. But this is not true, he had to work and I need to travel by myself. Therefore, I did a last minutes research and here I go!

4 days 3 nights trip in Yangon, Myanmar is considered a very long holiday, unless you travel to other places as well such as Mandalay, Bago, or Inne lake. If not, you will feel boring like me. I meet one Malaysian lady who always come to Myanmar for business, she felt boring too! Therefore, one or two day is enough for you to spend around in Yangon.

The places I have visited is Shwedagon Pagoda, Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha, Sule Pagoda, Karaweik hall, Kandawgyi lake, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Downtown Yangon, and St. Mary's Cathedral. There are more pagoda in town, but I just choose the significant one to visit.

Oh ya, the currency they are using is kyat. You can pay by USD but they will charge a higher price compared to kyat. Therefore, it is suggested to change your USD in kyat in airport or your hotel. When changing your dollar, the person will inspect your dollar carefully and will reject any dirty or folder notes. Hence, bring a new and nice shape dollar. Likewise, there are also different conversion rate for $100 and $50, for $100 you get more kyat.  

The most convenience transportation here is taxi and you will need to negotiation your price when you took it. I had an experience when I wanted to go to Padonmar Restaurant, but the taxi driver send me to Panda hotel. Due to difficulty to explain it in their language, I told him to send me back to my hotel. But when we reached, he asked for additional charges which I refused to pay. At last, I asked the hotel people to talk to the taxi driver who is not good in English. Learning from this experience, I will normally showed them the full address. Another things to mention, most of the taxi is without air condition (a/c), one of the taxi driver told me that for air condition taxi will normally charge higher price than non a/c.