Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market., Rangoon

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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 not the cheapest source of items. However, the prices were very reasonable, and significantly cheaper than the hotel gift shop.

The market is open 7 days a week, from roughly 9.00am til 5.00pm.

What to buy: There is plenty of jade of varying costs and standards and other gemstones, Burmese lacquerware, traditional Shan shoulder bags and the usual souvenir T-shirts etc. If you have a hankering to take home a traditional longyi, there are dozens of stores selling these quite cheaply as well.

The other popular item for sale is paintings, which were often of my favourite subject - monks - and very reasonably priced. Although the canvasses were displayed on frames, the paintings are readily removed, rolled and compacted for ease of transport.

This is also the location of several money changers, who are usually standing around quite conspicuously, and ask you on sight if you need any of their services.