Myanmar: Yangon Sight Seeing, Circular Train, Night Bus to Bagan → Roaming Alpaca

The thing with early morning flight is waking up and the fear of missing the plane. I needed to be in the airport earlier than usual to exchange those crispy US Dollar note.

Departing from Changi Airport with my trusty Kelty backpack

Not many people was at the money changer at that hours, had my money changed within 10 minutes. Sweet!

Upon departure, interesting cloud formation

Flight from Singapore to Yangon (SIN-YGN) takes around 2 hours only, reasonably short flight. Surprisingly , there is timezone difference in Yangon, MST (UTC+6:30). When it is 6pm in Singapore, it is 4.30pm in Myanmar.

One needs to fill up a Passenger Declaration Form when entering Myanmar. The airline provided me this form during my flight. It is recommended to fill this on the plane up to save some time during immigration.

Hello Yangon

My flight arrived on time, immigration and luggage collection was done in 20 minutes. A lot faster than I have expected.

While waiting for my luggage, I looked around the money changers available right beside the luggage belt, there were at least 5 money changer offering similar rates. Remember to look for the best rates available.

To my surprise, Singapore Dollar (SGD) is actually accepted by the money changer. I changed one of my $50 notes which is not considered mint as far as Myanmar’s standard is concern, the rates are reasonable good too.

My advise is if you have some Singapore Dollar, there is no need to change to US Dollar.

Money changers at the luggage waiting area.

Different Exchange Rates for different notes.

Myanmar’s airport offers free Wi-Fi, knowing that Wi-Fi is precious here, I decided to hang around ensuring all my data are downloaded and synced in my phone.

What to do at the airport

Ask for a free map at the information counter
Ask as much direction and information needed for your trip
Hangout for the Wi-Fi to ensure all is good
Chat with other tourist who are waiting for their departure flight to listen to their Myanmar’s Highlights.
Grab a cab to the city centre which cost K7000. I stopped at the City Hall Building

Download Myanmar Map — Downloading Myanmar Map

Yangon City Half Day Walkabout

It took 40 minutes from the airport to the city centre. You can see most of the tourist attractions and old buildings over here.

Sunblock is a must! Myanmar is Humid and Hot!

Loitering around with my offline map, a little bit of instinct and some faith…

Emmanuel Baptist Church is a Baptist church in the central Yangon at the corner of Mahar Bandoola Garden Street and Mahar Bandoola Road opposite to Yangon City Hall. It is one of the oldest churches in Yangon.

Ayeyarwady Bank Ltd. (AYA Bank) is a private bank in Myanmar

Man working on a typewriter. A machine which is rarely used nowadays in Singapore or any developed country — Man working on a typewriter. A machine which is rarely used nowadays in Singapore or many developed country

Fruit Seller. You can see a lot of vendors selling fresh-cut watermelon or papaya. — Fruit Seller. You can see a lot of vendors selling fresh cut watermelon or papaya.

Chicken, Duck, Cabbage noodle? You name it! Lots of chilli included!

When I say it is hot, I really mean that it is hot! Even this local monk agrees!

First Meal

There is a lot of recommendation from the Internet about this shop – 999 Noodle Shop. It took a while for me to locate it. Due to the amount of foreigners visiting, they now have English menu.

I ordered a Double Fried Toufu which means that the bean curd is deep-fried twice and Shan noodle. Not knowing what the outcome will be, I am feeling adventurous!

My Double Deep Fried Tofu, served with some sauce and garlic

Shan Noodle. It tastes like any typical rice noodle.

I finished everything! Not too surprise with the taste of the food, but this may be because this shop has adapted to make their dishes more foreign friendly.

Oh ya, if you feel like going to the washroom, the one at 999 Noodle Shop, is exceptionally clean!

The walk continues

Once the stomach is full, more walking around. Considering my bus to Bagan leaves only at 7pm, I still have half a day to explore Yangon.

First stop – check out the local supermarket to get some biscuits, cup noodle, and water. My assumption is that there should be more choices of biscuits in Yangon than other places. Turned out I am actually right.

Ruby Mart. Looks like a supermarket for the local, price are decent

Ice Cream. Lots of flavour, perfect for hot Yangon!

Water. Prices are from K150-K300. I consider this relatively cheap. — Water. Prices are from K150-K300 for 1 Litre bottle. I consider this relatively cheap.

Circular Train Experience

They say the easiest way to experience the local’s life and culture is to do what the locals do, and in Yangon it is getting on Yangon’s Circular Train which runs for 3 hours.

The station is not far away from the City Hall building, it is approximately 25 minutes walk. I would suggest this walk as this is what the local does.

Yangon Railway Station. An overview of the tracks.

Yangon Railway Station. Train cars waiting for maintenance.

Yangon Railway Station. Overhead bridge connecting the train station and city.

Yangon Central Railway Station was built in 1877 and then destroyed and rebuilt between 1947-1954. I like the traditional architecture style!

Yangon Central Railway Station. A historical building, still with an authentic Burmese taste — Yangon Central Railway Station. A historial building, still with a authentic Burmese taste

This is where you get your inter-city train tickets. If you are coming from the airport, ask the taxi driver to head down here straight, get your Bagan sleeper ticket then continue to explore the town.

Worry not, working ATM is also available here!

Yangon Central Railway Station. The main hall where tickets of intercity are sold

Yangon Central Railway Station. Train Platform with local food seller all around.

To take the circular train, just go straight not the railway station, tickets are sold at platform 8. Local pays K100-K200 while we pay US$1 (~K1000). That’s 5 times the price local pays. Soon enough, you will realise that travelling in Myanmar is all about the money.

My Circular Train US$1 Ticket which is good for a full day.

Circular Train Timing and Directions. L = Left, R = Right

While waiting for my train to arrive, I was able to capture snapshot of life in Yangon.

A girl enjoys a nap while her mother sells noodle at the train platform

Clothes hung at one of the power box, a typical way of drying clothes here.

2 young ladies enjoying their lunch which a dog is waiting eagerly behind for potential leftover. — Two young ladies enjoying their lunch which a dog is waiting eagerly behind for potential leftover.

A noodle seller waiting preparing the ingredient while waiting for customers. Judging at the amount of chairs, her business could be really good!

My trusty "never been washed" backpack — My trusty “never been washed” backpack

A seller waiting for incoming train. They will then go up to the train offering snacks to the passengers.

The Circular Train Ride

Having been in to trains in country such as Singapore and Malaysia to “experience” the local life, this ride is certainly feels a lot more “local”!

Free seating in the train, you get to watch almost age group of people boarding and leaving the train.

What surprises me in Yangon, you too get to observe groups of people who are always with their eyes glued to their smartphones. Monks get to ride for free!

Free seating also means make it as it is your home seat.

Cars are held to allow the train to pass through.

Two ladies carrying most likely they home-grown to the market to be traded. — Two ladies carrying most likely they home grown to the market to be traded.

The view which I like the most - Large green fields! — The view which I like the most – Large green fields!

Stations are very simple. It consists of a small block of "office like" building, and a signboard of the destination. Not all of them have English though. Ask the local if you would like to stop at a certain stop. — Stations are very simple. It consists of a small block of “office like” building, and a signboard of the destination. Not all of them have English though. Ask the local if you would like to stop at a certain stop.

A women holding an umbrella covering her baby form direct sunlight while her husband brings the vegetables onto the train.

A man carrying a bucket of cabbage onto the train to transport to another market. — A man carrying a bucket of cabbage onto the train to transport to another market while her daughter looks on.

Life is tough in Yangon, people work very hard for a living!

Now the train is full of vegetables. — Now the train is full of vegetables, the Train Conductor is also seen here.

All seated, off the train goes to the next destination.

One of those random shots where kid are having fun. It is always heart warming to see this.

A man leading his thee calves back home. — A man leading his calves back home.

Rice fields, a long stretch of rice fields.

I decided to land on stop at one of the random stations to get a taxi to Aung Mingalar Bus Station. — I decided to stop at one of the random stations to get a taxi to Aung Mingalar Bus Station.

Local coffee shops. Expect to pay some tourist price here. A noodle should cost around K1000. Tea is free flow.

My Taxi Ride to Aung Mingalar bus station. I was able to make a bargain to K3000. The ride was around 30 minutes.

A truck full of young monks. I find this interesting.

AUng MIngalar bus station – JJ Express to Bagan

The taxi driver stopped me at the main entrance of the bus station, I requested him to stop me there instead of paying an “entrance fee” of K300. No, that’s not a lot of money, I was just not sure if that was genuinely needed. So I alighted from the taxi and walked to JJ Express. Everyone knows JJ Express, so locating it was fairly easy.

There have a high reputation of good service and safety, that was the reason I wanted to ride with them. I booked my tickets via JJ Express’s Facebook page and asked to pay at the bus station. Being a bit worried at the beginning, now I am confident to say that it is save and alright to book from them via the Internet.

JJ Express waiting lounge provides slow but possible to WhatsApp Internet quality. Considering it was unexpected, I am happy with it. There is also water station provided free for guess too. The overall personnel are friendly too.

Another view of JJ Express' Lounge overlooking the customer counter. — Another view of JJ Express’ Lounge overlooking the customer counter.

The sky turns dark fairly every, by 6pm looks like 8.30pm in Singapore

My dinner at Yangon before departing to Bagan, Fried Rice with Chicken, should never go wrong.

View of the front. There is TV but I am glad there was no disco light or loud music played.

It was very nice of the to provide each of us a blanket. We needed it! — It was very nice of the to provide each of us a blanker. We needed it!

The bus ride was good, no bumpy ride! If I recall correctly, there were 2 stops altogether, both 30 minutes and you can get decent food and washroom is clean too.

I would recommend JJ Express. I took the Business Class Bus – 2+2 seater because First Class Bus 2+1 was sold out. Having taken both Business and First Class during my Myanmar adventure, I would be happy to take the Business Class again if First Class is sold out.

Next up: Bagan.

2 Comments

Syed Farhan
September 21, 2015 @ 8:37 AM

Hi.. Enjoyed reading ur post. Doing a similar route from Sin to RGN to Bagan. Very informative. Thank you for writing this..

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- Sniper
  September 21, 2015 @ 8:39 AM
  
  Glad to know it helps. Safe travel!
  
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