The streets of Yangon, Myanmar

Trishaws are common in Yangon, although limited to outside the busy city center.

Long an isolated country, Myanmar (Burma) is now awakening to the impact of investment from the outside world. Anxious to catch up, it is faced with the daunting task of balancing development with tradition. Bangkok largely failed to protect its traditional culture, and even the rest of Thailand is now looking to have more conveniences, even if it means losing part of its cultural identity in favor of advancing technology and transport. In talking to various people in Yangon, this is a concern very much on their minds. The army's presence is not evident, and memorabilia and T shirts extolling democracy are openly sold.

Scaffolding is made by lashing bamboo pieces together to build new office buildings and hotels.

Surprising to me, Yangon is not much like Bangkok at all. Although only half the size (5 million) of the Thai capital and a predominately Buddhist country, Myanmar resembles more its western and southern neighbors of Bangladesh, India and Malaysia. Swarms of pedestrians move along the streets, trishaws carry passengers mainly in the old part of the city, and the food is quite different than that of Thailand. Many men, as well as most ladies, wear a wrap-around garment known as a "longyi", similar to those worn in India and Bangladesh. 

A man looks out over an intersection near an abandoned crumbling colonial building. So many buildings from the British colonial period have been neglected and are crumbling. I have no doubt that they will now be replaced with new condos, malls and office buildings.

The streets of Yangon are now crowded with used cars largely from Japan and Thailand, which causes not only traffic flow problems (many traffic jams and slowdowns), but since all imported vehicles are right-hand steering as in the rest of Southeast Asia, and vehicles stay in the right lane, as in China, Europe and the U.S., driving takes on an added safety precaution. I'm told that in five years, all cars will have left-hand steering. An added bonus is that no motorcycles are allowed in the city, resulting in a much more pleasant atmosphere, even though the cars and speeding aged buses use blaring horns far too often, scattering pedestrians before them.

Yangon is a colorful, bustling city with glistening temples and vibrant street markets. If one wishes to see Myanmar before it loses much of its charm and traditional scenes, the time to visit is now.

Street markets abound in Yangon. It is a good way to see the microcosm of Myanmar society and culture.

Schwedegon pagoda is Myanmar's largest, and was established over 2,500 years ago. The gold purportedly is from the ancient Thai (Siamese) capital of Ayyuthaya that the Burmese sacked in the 17th century.

I hope you enjoy the photo tour. As always, I welcome your comments.

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Buddhist monks can be seen everywhere in Yangon. Unlike Thai monks who are accorded deep respect, the Burmese monks appear to be more pedestrian, partaking in normal activities at all hours, and can be seen whiling away an afternoon at a tea shop, chatting with people and smoking cigarettes. Like their Thai counterparts, they receive alms and food in the morning as they walk through the streets.

These pigeons caught my attention, balanced on wires in front of the wall of a building across from Scott Market.

The lower trunk of sacred bodhi trees are painted white
and encircled by colorful ribbons or fabric.

A typical street in Yangon.

A sign of the times. This is Myanmar's first western fast food restaurant that opened in late June 2015, next to a Hindu temple.

Window in the old city.

These water jugs, hanging from the branch of a bodhi tree, contain drinking water for monks.

Brightly dressed ladies as seen from Scott Market.

A woman gathers dried laundry from a rack behind a snarl of electrical and phone wires.

As in other southeast Asian countries, astrologers are popular in Yangon.

The shop of an engine repairman.

Trishaw drivers line up to pick up passengers from a ferry.

Many people hang dried rice on buildings to feed birds. It is considered a way to "make merit" for Buddhists.

Lottery tickets are popular in Yangon. 

A trishaw driver patiently waits for passengers in the rain.

A doorway used for temporary storage.

I spotted this man coming down the street carrying freshly butchered chickens on his head. He eyed me, stopped, and posed. We both enjoyed the encounter.

If you are planning a trip to Southeast Asia, I recommend a visit to Myanmar. It is changing, but still largely has retained its traditions. But go soon before "progress" changes it forever.

Next: The markets of Yangon