Au premier abord, les rues se ressemblent et ont un air de déjà vu similaire à d’autres petites villes d’Asie du sud-est. Mais une fois entré dans le quartier colonial, la capital révèle sa magie.

At first glance, the streets have a deja-vu feel to it, similar to other cities in Southeast Asia. But once you enter the colonial district, the capital reveals its magic.

When people told us about Burma, in the past two years, the main thing that came out was the crowded and overpriced hotels, denied wrinkled dollars, totally useless credit cards and a country ranked in the top « has to be seen before hordes of tourists spoils it all » destinations. After fifty years of military rule and the dissolution of the junta in 2011, you inevitably wonder what can be expected upon arrival.

First step, the city of Yangon. At first glance, the streets have a deja-vu feel to it, similar to other cities in Southeast Asia. But once you enter the colonial district, the capital reveals its magic. Large avenues awoken by sunrise and then a parading crowd dressed in slender multicolor longyi (sarong). Buddhist monks draped in saffron robes, crimson or orange intermingle with the crowd in the middle of pink or yellow bus and bicolored trucks. In the background you have dilapidated colonial buildings where you can still discern some pastel shades. Others, just renovated, are a fresh vibrant red, or pure white, waiting to be blackened by the city’s pollution.
And above it, rise the stupas of many pagodas, rimming the city in a shiny golden glow. A spectacular sight!