Impressions of Yangon

1. For the menfolk, smart casual consists of short- or long-sleeved shirt, sarong (longyi, pronounced “long-jee”), and velvet-and-leather flip-flops. At any time, 60% to 70% of the male population can be seen in this attire, so this is the first thing a foreigner would notice.
2. Public transportation is plentiful. There are your normal buses and taxis, and there are also mini pickup trucks with two rows of benches and a roof, usually packed to the max with people hanging on to the back.
   
3. There is some congestion during peak hours, but in general, the roads are clear, making for smooth driving. And parking is easy to find – one can park right opposite, or at most, across the street from the store or residence.
4. I would say more than 90% of the cars are right-hand drive, but people drive on the left.
5. Foodstalls are everywhere; sidewalks of busy streets are lined with them. The tables and stools are smallish and low on the ground.
   
6. Like KL, Indian Muslims are aplenty; halal food is no problem whatsoever. The fare is also familiar: naan, roti canai (called paratha), briyani. And of course, tea with milk. But their briyani and tea are much better
7. An overwhelming majority of vehicles are those from the 70’s and 80’s, but very well maintained, a lot are almost like new. The Toyota Corolla is by far the most popular model on the road. I spotted a number of Mazdas and a smattering of Hondas, but oddly enough no Mitsubishi cars, save for the Pajero.

4 January 2010 | Travel | Comments