Travel Guide Yangon

Yangon (formerly Rangoon) is a bypass in Burma (its airport is the country's main port of entry), and it is so much better. With 5 million inhabitants, this city of history welcomes various religious communities (Buddhists, Muslims and Catholics) who live with serenity. It is still a long way from the relentless mess of engines and pollution. Only 30 km from the sea, surrounded by lakes and gardens, it keeps the atmosphere of a large village. Few Asian capitals have managed to maintain similar authenticity. Skyscrapers have not had time to distort the landscape. Even though some major hotels begin to tickle the sky, the city is not crowded like its Thai neighbor (overrun by a flood of uncontrollable cars), and the multiple street shops have not been superseded by aseptized fast foods. This is happening and even if McDonald's is not there yet, KFC and less globalized signs like Mac Burger and Mac Curry have taken foot. Western civilization is only in its infancy. And yet everything changes very quickly in Yangon. The Chinese gradually reinforce their grip on the economy, reigning in Chinatown, the trishaws are gradually excluded from the city center to allow motorized vehicles (the two wheels are simply banned in the city center) and impressive hotels emerge, trusting in the influx of tourists to come.Losing its function as a political and administrative capital in 2005 for the benefit of the new capital Naypyidaw, a supernatural city built in the middle of nature, Yangon has preserved all its plugs. Historical capital, the city elected by the British at the end of the nineteenth century still retains its colonial footprint. A tourist and economic capital, the city has a real real estate boom, backed by authorities wishing to present a facade of economic development to the outside world. Yangon is the symbol of all Burmese ambivalence. Its vast parks in the city center close their doors to the local population upon arrival of the political dignitaries. The grids of its universities open and close, sometimes remain closed for many months. His prisons are full. A beautiful escape in the center of the city: It's Schwedagon. A pilgrimage of any Burmese Buddhist who respects himself and a true symbol of the country, the pagoda is shining from a thousand fires from the top of his hill. An enchanting atmosphere quickly invades anyone who is going through this assembly of devots, who walk relentlessly between the sanctuaries, bazaars and stūpa. For its Buddhist crowd, for its markets of local craftsmanship, for its outdated charm, Yangon deserves an extended stay to immerse itself in this atmosphere so specific to Burma.