Page 114 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

112 The DelTa anD wesTern MyanMar Ngwe SauNg
the beach. The thatched chalets ($125) are spacious and well-kitted-out budget rooms ($50) and beautiful deluxe
attractively furnished with traditional artworks and rooms ($120) with a nautical flavour. There’s a very good
textiles (some also have outdoor showers). There are also in-house restaurant, spa and infinity pool, and there are
some slightly cheaper rooms at the back, which have also lots of watersports on offer (see box, p.110). $50
quirky temple-style staircases. Also look out for the large Palm Beach Resort 2km south of the village
pool, very affordable spa and pavilion restaurant. Easily T042 40233, Epalmbeachngwesaung@gmail.com.
one of the better-value places to stay. $100 Peaceful, village-style beach resort, with thatched chalets
2 Eskala 1km south of the village T042 40341, arranged around magnolia-shaded walkways. Rooms are
Weskalahotels.com. Upmarket resort with a minimalist
furnished with benches, desks and four-poster beds, as
style – and a pavilion lobby that’s so large it could swallow well as well-equipped bathrooms (sea-view rooms come
up several smaller hotels. The best of the rooms are in with a $20 surcharge). Facilities include a spa and T-shaped
stylish cream and wood bungalows ($145) spread around infinity pool, with a cute bar and restaurant spreading out
spacious beachfront gardens, but there are also some around it. $140
slightly cheaper and less appealing rooms at the back of Shwe Hin Tha 4km south of the village T042 40340.
the property. There’s also a spa and a lovely, big pool. It’s This is Ngwe Saung’s most popular budget option, based
more popular with well-to-do Yangonites than foreign towards the southern end of the beach with Lover’s Island
tourists. $110 rising out of the waters opposite. Choose between the
Myanmar Treasure Resort 250m south of the rather plain bungalows ($55) right on the beachfront (with
village T042 40224, Wmyanmartreasureresorts a/c, hot water, TV and fridge) or the cheaper and more
.com. This village-style resort is one of Ngwe Saung’s characterful – but less comfortable – wooden cabanas
most upscale options, with lush gardens and buildings behind (with wall fan and cold water only; $33). Also has
almost buried under huge thatched roofs. Rooms come an attractive beachfront restaurant. Cabanas $33
with wooden furniture, four-poster beds and big Silver Coast Beach Hotel 4.5km south of the village
bathrooms with mirrors worthy of a film star. Facilities T042 40324, Ehtoo.maw@mptmail.net.mm. Close to
include a big pool, spa and games room (which has pool Lover’s Island at the sleepy southern end of the beach, this
and table tennis). $125 place has an atmosphere worthy of Robinson Crusoe, with
★ Ngwe Saung Yacht Club & Resort 6.5km south of little to disturb the peace apart from the occasional falling
the village T042 40100, Wngwesaungyachtclub coconut. The simple but large and comfortable bungalows
.com. Way down beyond Lover’s Island and on its own vast come with sea views and big verandas to enjoy them from.
beach with no other hotels around, Ngwe Saung Yacht Club There are also some good-value economy rooms (table fans
is a large, upmarket and very slickly run resort with a and cold water only; $30) in a little building at the back –
variety of accommodation options, including pre-erected they’re plain but spacious and adequately furnished.
tents for backpackers ($30 per person), plain but Simple attached restaurant. $40
eaTInG
Just like in neighbouring Chaung Tha, the restaurants in Ngwe Saung major in seafood, offering largely
generic menus featuring the same dishes prepared in pseudo-Chinese style (sweet and sour, hot and spicy, and so
on), along with a couple of Burmese curry-style variations. What’s actually available will depend on what the local
fishermen have recently hauled in – you could ask to have a look in the kitchen to see what’s in stock, and to check
how fresh it is.

Golden Myanmar Restaurant In the village generic Chinese style, with a pinch of Thai inspiration.
T042 40241. This entertaining local restaurant is There’s also a handful of pizza and pasta dishes available on
usually one of the village’s most enjoyable places to the menu. The staff are very welcoming, although the
hang out over a meal or a beer, offering an array of occasional live music acts can play havoc with your
decent food as well as cheery service. The menu features digestion. Daily 7am–10pm.
a good range of seafood and meat dishes (mains around Ume 3km south of the village, next to the main road
K5000), plus cheaper options such as noodles and between the Silver View and Yamonnar Oo resorts.
salads. Daily 7am–10pm. One of the few independent restaurants based outside
Royal Flower In the village T042 40309. This is the village, this friendly little place dishes up a short
without doubt one of the village’s most popular hangouts menu of simple Japanese dishes (mains K5000–7000),
among visiting Westerners, thanks to its cooler-than- plus a couple of assorted light meals and snacks
average decor and ambience. Mains (mostly K5000) accompanied by nightly fire dancing displays at 7.30pm.
feature all the old seafood and meat favourites served in Daily 10am–10pm.

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