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| DESTINATION OF YANGON |
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Walk the streets of Old Yangon to see leafy lanes and byways filled with enormous timber mansions, decorated in unique Myanmar style,where British captains of industry once lived. See century-old buildings with magnificent architecture, reminders of Yangon's past. The number of colonial buildings still standing in downtown Yangon is nothing short of sp- |
| ectacular. Myanmar's isolation from the rest of the world during the years after independence resulted in a unique preservation of many of its old buildings. It is heartening to see that at last, many of them are restored to their former beauty. Yangon's colonial streets are a showcase of the best, or most ostentatious, of colonial architecture an exuberant display of wealth and designer dexterity. The influence of Victorian and Edwardian architectural details soon made a deep impression on the local and Indian craftsmen and Indian craftsmen who embraced the styles wholeheartedly. Buildings developed an amazing hybrid style that resulted in an array of curlicue trims and turrets along with copulas and pergolas that adorn so many of the early buildings.Carved wood trims were also popular, all adding together to from an extraordinary architectural style unique to Myanmar. Yangon is perhaps the last authentic example of an Asian tropical city still featuring its former colonial origins, huge parks, shady trees and lakes and its religious monuments. Of those monuments, the most legendary, graceful and majestic of all, is the Shwedagon Pagoda built around 2,500 years ago. |
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| DESTINATION OF MANDALAY |
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Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar and situated in the hot and dry central region of the country. Mandalay is the cultural centre of Myanmar and the last royal capital. It is surrounded by other ancient royal capitals, Sagaing, Ava (Inwa) and Amarapura, which are highly interesting sightseeing destinations due to their historical and religious impor- |
| ance in ancient times as well as at present. In Mandalay, visitors can watch traditional handicrafts being made, such as kalaga tapestries, marionettes, bronze casting, stone and wood carving. Mandalay also houses the most revered Buddha statue in the whole of Myanmar, the Maha Myat Muni. The Buddha Himself is said to have breathed onto the just-finished image thus giving it some of the Buddha's power. People believe that image is somewhat "alive" and it is therefore treated with the utmost respect. Every
early morning, monks and people come to the pagoda to wash the image's face and to make offerings of water, food, flowers, candles and incense. Another interesting sightseeing point is the 230 meter high Mandalay Hill, from where one has a scenic view of Manda lay, the plains surrounding it, the Shan Mountain, as well as the Ayeyarwaddy River. The site is famous for beautiful sunsets. Mandalay Palace was destroyed by a fire in 1945 and has been largely reconstructed in recent years. Its grounds can now be visited as a museum. Another interesting attraction is Kuthodaw Pagoda (also called the largest book in the world), built by King Mindon after the Fifth Buddhist Council, where he entire Buddhist Canon in described on 729 marble stone slabs. Mandalay has excellent air, road and river connections to all parts of Myanmar and is the ideal base from which to explore the rest of Upper Myanmar.
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| DESTINATION OF PYIN OO LWIN (MAYMYO) |
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This one-time British hill town hideaway, about two hours drive from Mandalay, offers cool weather, eclectic architecture and stagecoaches. The town dates from the early 20th century and its main street is part of the famous Burma Road, an important route that leads north to the trading town of Lashio and beyond to the Chinese border. The street is an |
| interesting place to walk about, lined with a mishmash of building styles; iron grillwork, balconies, chimneys and wood-carved decorations accent the architecture. The town's clock tower, the Purcell Tower with its Big Ben chime, is said to be a present from Queen Victoria, identical to one in Capetown, So uth Africa. Close to Pyin Oo Lwin are several natural attractions, waterfalls and caves. Sports of major tourist interest include the Peik Chin Myaing Cave, which houses many Buddha images, and some models
of Myanmar's most revered pagodas. The cave lies in a beautiful setting with some waterfalls around. It is a favourite weekend destination for local tourists. Also of interest is the national Kandawgyi Botanical Garden. The garden, founded back in 1915, is home to a large variety of trees and flowers from Myanmar and abroad as well as numerous birds. What really makes Pyin Oo Lwin unique are brightly painted miniature stagecoaches drawn by lively teams of horses, which take the place of cars or taxies.
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City Golf Course
