Myanmar-Day 2: Yangon

We began our second day in Yangon by going to the local train station to take a commuter train called the Circle Line. It makes a big loop around the city, ending back where we started from, and from it you get to see alot of the more rural neighborhoods you may not have gotten the chance to see otherwise. Plus, it was less than a dollar to take, for both of us. The whole trip took about three hours, and it was totally worth it. The train station was not what I was expecting from the outside. Totally beautiful and grand right? 

We had breakfast just outside the station. This is Mohinga, or rice noodles served in a fish and herb broth. Really delicious actually. 

Our hand written train ticket! 

On the platform waiting for our train. This is a little more what I was expecting. Half of these people aren't waiting for trains but are selling stuff to other passengers. The trains weren't marked, and we almost got on the wrong train. Luckily a really nice man told us to wait, and he got us on the right train when it did leave the station. Helpful strangers were the norm in Myanmar. 

That was the wrong train we almost got on. Once it left the station, it then stopped about 50 meters from the platform, waiting for some reason. All of these women who thought they missed the train took their opportunity and ran after it, jumping aboard just before it took off again. 

We got to see all sorts of things from the train, mostly rural farming communities. I think this style of home was what I was mentally picturing before coming to Myanmar, not the 5 story apartment complexes we saw in Yangon. This looks like the Philippines to me. Just one of the areas where my expectations were totally wrong. 

They have these water jugs with cups all over Myanmar. It is a free drinking water program I think. We never used it, but I think its cool they have some sort of social programs happening for the people, even though it is for something as basic as drinking water. 

About half way along our train ride, we stopped at Da Nyin Gone, a huge fruit and vegetable market. Quite a busy place!

These ladies got on the train at Da Nyin Gone with their produce. Not sure if they are heading into town to sell them, or if they are going to go cook with them. 

Drew's back was feeling it after sitting for so long, so he was up wandering the train for a bit. 

Biggest watering cans I've ever seen! 

Back in Yangon, we found some street food to partake of. This lady is making savory pancakes. The yellow stuff on her cheeks is called Thanaka. Essentially they take the bark from the thanaka tree and ground it up with water into a paste. They then wear it in different patterns on their faces. It serves as both sunscreen and makeup. Almost every woman we ever saw in town wore it. Even in their advertisements the models were wearing it. 

This lady is making betel nut pouches. The betel nut is a local nut in Myanmar that when chewed produces a narcotic effect. The majority of men in Myanmar chew it. It also stains the teeth and when they spit, it stains the sidewalks red. It almost looks like blood until you know what it is. To make the pouches, the lady takes a leaf, puts a white paste on the leaf (was never able to confirm what that white paste was), adds some tobacco and one or two betel nuts. Then she wraps the leaves into a little ball. I'm pretty sure the men stick the entire thing in their mouthes when they chew it. 

Wheelbarrow of chickens anyone? 

These are bags of fermented tea leaves and pennywort that they use for delicious salads. 

A Hindu temple. 

An Angelican Church that was locked and had no door nobs. 

That evening Drew and I went on a food tour with a fantastic young guy named James, who surprisingly loved to play ultimate frisbee! That sport is spreading around the globe! This dish is vegetables and chicken stir-fryed in soy sauce and maybe peanut butter called Mala Hin. The other dish is Shan tofu made from chickpeas and fried. That was delicious.

This is Drew in his happy place, on a food tour. 

While we were at the cafe eating the food in the above pictures, our guide called the next place to make sure our grilled fish would be ready when we got there. It turns out he wasn't calling a restaurant, but this guy in red's actual cell phone, who was grilling the fish at a street stall. Funny. The fish was absolutely delicious and was served with a similar sauce to something we had in the Philippines.

This is the bar street in Yangon. 19th street. Also where we got the grilled fish.

Next stop was at another street food stall for some tea leaf and pennywort salads. These are definitely my favorite Myanmar foods. Never had anything like them, and so tasty! 

Next was Myanmar curry. Myanmar has a large influence from India, and the curry was no exception. Much oiler, but equally delicious. 

Finally, dessert consisted of a glass with pudding, ice cream, milk, and jellies. Right up my alley, and surprisingly not incredibly sweet. Yay for food tours!