A brief tour of Yangon, Myanmar!

Went to Myanmar before the earthquake. This time I went to Yangon, Myanmar's largest city (but not the capital, mainly because of Myanmar's complicated history of changes). Since it is not a tourist hotspot and because of the recent turmoil, I rarely saw travelers like me. 📰Visa: Before applying for a visa, you must first arrange 1️⃣ round-trip air tickets 2️⃣ accommodation 3️⃣ local insurance. The local insurance fee is USD50, and the visa fee is also USD50, both of which can be completed online before departure. ✈️Air tickets: There is a direct flight of China Airlines every two days, so you can go early and return early. If you choose to transfer, there are many options to choose from, but it will take a long time, and most of them will transfer in Bangkok. 💰Money: It is more convenient to exchange US dollars locally. It should be noted that the larger the denomination, the better the exchange rate. In addition, the newer the better. If it is damaged, it may be rejected. The exchange rate I got at Yangon Airport was USD100=MMK260,000, but in the city it was USD100=MMK330,000, so the exchange rate would be much better if I could change it in the city. In addition, Myanmar Kyat (MMK) cannot be taken out of the country, but can be exchanged for US dollars at a currency exchange before leaving the country. 🚕Transportation: Just download Grab first. When taking the local bus, you never know when the bus will arrive, and there is no English information available. The same problem applies when taking a taxi locally, as there is no meter and you can only shout out the fare. Also, the driver may not understand where you want to go. So it is more feasible to take Grab or walk. It costs MMK17,800 (NT$269) from the airport to the city, and about NT$50 within the city, which is quite cost-effective. 🍜Food: For food, skip the roadside stalls (it’s difficult for me as a pescatarian), but you must try Shan noodles and fish soup noodles. For drinks, you must try milk tea (and it must be hot). For Shan noodles, I recommend 999 Shan noodle shop Fish soup noodles and local tea are from @rangoonteahouse Conclusion: I quite enjoyed this solo trip. In addition to having fewer tourists, it also allows you to get closer to local life. What attracted me was not only the many historical sites, but also the traces of history that could be found in the subtle details every time I turned around. Before World War I, the dynasty expanded and fought with India, but was defeated by the British who colonized India and was dominated by them. That was why Aung San (the founding father of Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi's father) later became pro-Japanese and gained the power to compete with Britain. The subsequent military dictatorship led to the country being closed for decades, and also brought the once wealthy country into the ranks of underdeveloped countries... And the history of these changes can be seen in every corner of the city.