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Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market. Rangoon
1 Review This British built market is a huge maze of aisles, and stores clustered in "types", and houses the most comprehensive range of Myanma craft and souvenirs. It is very tourist oriented, and therefore...
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Theingyl Zei Market. Rangoon
1 Review This market is much cheaper than the Bogyoke Aung San Market, and the one most frequented by the locals. Whilst it does not have the same range of souvenir and tourist appealing merchandise, there are...
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there are lots of gem shops around yangon.. some cheaper.. some more expensive.. we were recommended to go to this shop by a close burmese friend.. according to them, this is the place where we can be sure of getting the best quality.. jade.. ruby.. diamonds.. and any other gem stone that one may fancy.. this varies very greatly.. depends on quality and size..
Longyi is very widely worn by both men and women throughout Myanmar. It is called "sarong" in Malaysia. You can buy longyi in many places throughout Myanmar. Longyi can be bought from the market, shops, etc. About USD1 for an average quality longyi. About USD2 for a good one.
We were told that this market is for the "rich" people. It is a very popular market where the tourists will go. There are many souvenirs stalls, longyi stalls, jewellery stalls, etc.You can get marble carvings, wood carvings, tapestries, lacquerware, jades, rubies, sapphires, etc, mostly cute souvenirs made for the tourists from this market. It's quite a big market...Most of the stall owners will be able to speak English. The Chinese stall owners can speak Mandarin! It was a surprise... Some can even speak the Chinese dialects.
Tapestries making is only in Mandalay. We went to one factory there. It's quite interesting to see the people stitching and making the tapestries. There, you can order what you want. You can select the design, material, etc and collect them in a few days' time. I think they can ship them to you too.We were told that buying tapestries will be the cheapest in Mandalay cos that's where they are produced. It will be more expensive in Yangon.
Marble carvings is unique to Mandalay in Myanmar. Apart from carving marble buddha images, there are also many small marble carvings for tourists as souvenirs.If you want to get some marble carvings as souvenirs, it will be the cheapest to get them from the numerous workshops in Mandalay. There's a street in Mandalay with numerous marble carvings workshops. I bought a medium sized marble elephant (about 6cm in height) for 3000kyat. The shop owner said that she's selling it very cheap cos it's the low season. I saw the similar marble elephant in a tourist shop selling for USD16! Wow!
As you travel around Myanmar, you can see the golden pagodas and buddha statues. They are usually covered with gold leaves.If you would like to buy gold leaves (as souvenirs or for donations to the temples), or products from gold leaves, it is the cheapest to buy them from the gold leaves making workshop in Mandalay. We were told that throughout Myanmar, gold leaves are produced only in Mandalay. During our trip, at the workshop in Mandalay, 10 pieces of gold leaves (about 2 cm square)cost 1000 kyat.
Lacquerware products are manufactured in Bagan. Therefore, the cheapest place to buy lacquerware products is from Bagan. It will be more expensive in Yangon, cos the products gotta be transported there.So if you are going to Bagan, and would like to buy good quality lacquerware products, buy from the lacquerware workshops in Bagan. In the shops, you can bargain. The prices are in USD. I am not sure if it's cheap as compared to those from Thailand...
The boatman brought us to this shop. Yes, it is for tourist but the merchandise and prices are pretty good! It offers a good selection of silk scarfs/shawls, table runners, tablecloths of many colours and sizes. It also has a selection of longyis - original and 'improved'. The original longyis are tubular and it takes skill to tie it and ensure that it doesn;t slip. 'Improved' version only require a simple knot to hold it in place. I bought the original and promptly forgot how to keep it in place the moment I came back! Take a tour of the weaving factory. You'll see mothers weaving and their babies right by their side. The colours are just wonderful! Silk scarfs/shawls, longyis, handbags Between USD 2 to 20 for different products
This is a 70-year old market. A must-go especially gems lovers. You can find many different products there - handicrafts, souvenirs, longyi, lacquerware, jade, precious stones (see picture).We bought some longyis and tablecloths from a merchant early one morning and when he completed the sale, he used the USD that we paid and use them to dust all his merchandise. It was his first sale that day and it will bring him good luck. It is a Asian custom that the first customer in the shop must buy something to ensure a good business day. So, do bargain your heart out cuz they want your business! =) Price depends on the stones you choose. Go to a merchant who sells the stones by weight. Most things can be paid by USD. Do check the exchange rate first. They vary.
In this book, written by Yangon based Ma Thanegi, the author tells the story of her 18 days' pilgrimage by bus to 29 towns and 60 famous pagodas.The backcover says: "this book is about the ordinary Myanmar people, their lives, their beliefs and their hopes". It's a very enjoyable read and a great insight in common Myanmar life. it contains some great drawings as well. Nice to have on one of those less exciting evenings.It's for sale at Pagan Bookshop at 37th Street, amongst few other places.the copied edition is $5.If somebody checks out and it's sold out, please tell me :-)
The Kandawgyi Palace Hotel Rangoon
11 Reviews and 189 Opinions Kandawgyi Palace hotel is located on the shore of Royal Lake. I hope these pics will help you to...
The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate Bagan
1 Review and 155 Opinions I can't tell whether this hotel is better or worse than other 4* hotels in Bagan, but I'd heartedly...
Hotel By The Red Canal, Mandalay Mandalay
1 Review and 239 Opinions Great hotel, arguably our favorite in Myanmar. You can tell the owners put a lot of thought into...
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Q: I will be in Rangoon 11/2/12 to 14/2/12 and Mandalay 14/2/12 to 17/2/12 Anyone interested in meeting in either city? I have...
A: I'll be here (as always ;-) )
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