Mandalay Hill, Mandalay
May Myo, Mandalay
Yangon
Looking back, I realise there were notable attractions around these areas there weren't photographed. Admittedly, I have been there, seen them as a child and those sights no longer marvel me as they should.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
How true. I did gain an experience of my own in Yangon in the summer of 2015 but that's a post for another day...
Mandalay —
Posting these photos also made me realise how underrated Mandalay is as a tourist destination. Places like Inle and Bagan enjoy all the attention for being a fishing village and a nominated UNESCO world heritage site respectively, but Mandalay deserves its own glory too. After all, it's the second capital in the country.
The first temple, located at Mandalay Hill, is a couple of hours drive out of the city. Within walking distance of the temple lay other amazing sights too that I unfortunately did not capture. There's also the U Pein Bridge, a structure built in the 1800s and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world (thanks Wiki!). So that's cool. May Myo is another small town located on a highland. It boasts of that beautiful garden that'd remind one of Garden By The Bay's flower dome... except the cool temperatures here are natural, as a result of the higher altitude. It's quite an extensive garden really, given that one could even take a tram just to view the place in its entirety.
Although Mandalay is a city in itself and can be hastily likened to Yangon, it certainly differentiates itself in its food offerings. Indeed the same food can be found in Yangon but damn, the authenticity of northern cuisine just can't be replicated! There was one day I craved for Rakine moet thi, the foods of the Rakhine ethnic group found in the north, and we found this place that served it for just 500Ks (S$0.70). It was so good we went back the next day for more. Back in Yangon, there was a chain restaurant that was known for the same dish... but it just paled in comparison. So seeking out the foods native to the region would definitely be a smart move!
Yangon —
Yangon, on the other hand, feels like familiar grounds to me. In the same way I wouldn't know how to recommend Singapore to others, I can't say much of Yangon. Shwedagon Temple is a must go, even though the most iconic structure of all isn't even featured here. Bogyoke Market is also a great visit for jewelry, souvenirs and even food. However, I personally find the experience there more enjoyable for a local who knows where all the different fabrics are located and is out to buy some lace or cotton. It's sort of like going to Orchard Road and knowing exactly where to find the flats you wanted in the shoes section of Ion's H&M.
This capital does offer more than its top-rated attractions on TripAdvisor, but I only saw them with my ~new eyes~ in 2015. Till I clear 2014 backlog then!
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