Yangon Gallery of Photos

Rangoon 1927

I came late to Rangoon.
Everything was already there--
A city
of blood,
dreams and gold,
a river that flowed
from the savage jungle
into the stifling city
and its leprous streets,
and a white hotel for whites,
and a golden pagoda for the golden people.
That's what
went on
and didn't go on.
Rangoon, steps stained
by the spitters
of betel juice.

Pablo Neruda

Our excellent breakfast every morning on the top floor of the Botahtaung Hotel, Yangon.

The thing that sets the Burmese apart from other S.E. Asian countries is that they are a reading culture. You don't see people in surrounding countries devouring newspapers every morning the way the Burmese do.

There are hundreds of great old buildings in Yangon that should be saved and refurbished. Whether the will or the money is there is a huge question.

An ice delivery. This is why we can't eat ice in Myanmar.

Egg delivery. Fortunately eggs are not affected by high temperatures and we can eat as many eggs as we want.

A typical Burmese tea house. The tea is always tasty but we can't risk eating any of the goodies they always tempt us with. These bao certainly have some kind of meat inside that has been at room temperature (100 degrees) all day long.

Mmmm, fish skin. Original flavor no less!!

Old British buildings are everywhere in Yangon.

Down the street from our Botahtaung Hotel is the Botahtaung Pagoda right on the Yangon River.

Cranes are everywhere in Yangon. Yangon is on the move! Some will have a great view of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Others will have their view blocked.

The most exciting development in Yangon for me is that the amazing Secretariat Building is being restored!! Every other time I've been in Yangon I've seen it going downhill further and further to the point where nothing of value was left on it or in it. All the doors and windows were gone and squatters were living like the dark ages inside. The grounds were overgrown and I nearly cried every time I saw the sad scene. It is a huge building and the grounds encompass a full three square blocks. It is a masterpiece of nineteenth century British architecture so when we saw it this time my heart was uplifted. Some things are worth saving no matter the cost. I'm sure this is costing tens of millions of dollars. It's going to be magnificent.

The newly restored Secretariat Building. The most impressive old British building in Yangon will live on!!

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Scott AndersonThe photos are wonderful, but so is the Neruda.
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4 years ago

Jen RahnThe Neruda poem is a powerful image to accompany your photo gallery!

I wonder what Neruda would write if he were alive and could see Yangon today? If he thought the city felt stifling in 1927, I can only imagine how he would feel about the arrival of the automobile.
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4 years ago

Ron SuchanekDon't say that last line of the Neruda poem two more times.
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4 years ago