Page 165 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

MawlaMyine SoutheaStern MyanMar 163
InForMatIon anD tourS
Maps Most of the hotels can provide city maps, although reverse – you can pick these up from the hotel reception.
the Cinderella Hotel’s version is a cut above the rest, with Tours Breeze Guesthouse runs reasonably priced day-trips
photographs and information about local sights on the to Bilu Kyun (see p.164) and Nwa La Bo (see p.165).
aCCoMMoDatIon
Aurora Guesthouse 277 Lower Main Rd T057 excellent service. The rooms are spacious and attractively
22785. This lime-green guesthouse has a selection of decorated, the beds are comfortable and the hallways
cheap partitioned rooms with shared bathrooms (from display a treasure-trove of Burmese handicrafts. The huge
$7), as well as a few much smarter en-suites. There’s a breakfasts are also particularly good, and there’s unusually
pleasant shared balcony and the owner is gruff but fast wi-fi. It also caters to backpackers, with spotless
helpful – it’s a great budget option. Breakfast is not (though cramped) eight-bed dorms ($15). $50
included. $20 Mawlamyaing Strand Hotel Between Lower Main Rd
Breeze Guesthouse 6 Strand Rd T057 21450, and Strand Rd T057 25624, Wmawlamyaing
Ebreeze.guesthouse@gmail.com. This backpacker strandhotel.com. As you’d expect from Mawlamyine’s
favourite has finally been given a bit of a renovation fanciest hotel, the spacious rooms here are attractive and 3
after many years. Its once grubby, cell-like rooms are comfortable, though they’re somewhat bland. There are
now smart and white – though they’re still so small it’s two hotel restaurants (one inside and one open-air, the
like sleeping in a rabbit hutch. The bathrooms are also latter with nightly karaoke), and an excellent buffet
still communal. The most expensive rooms ($30) are breakfast is included. $110
large and old-fashioned, with shutters that swing open OK Hotel 11–12 Thaton Tadar St, on the corner of
to let in the sea breeze, but they seem to be perennially Strand Rd T057 24677, Wokhotel-mlm.com. The tiled
booked up. The staff are knowledgeable, and its location rooms here may not be particularly stylish, but they are
in the centre of town is great. $16 clean and comfortable and each one comes with a/c and an
★ Cinderella Hotel 21 Baho St T057 24411, en-suite bathroom – some with bathtubs. Since it’s close to
Wcinderellahotel.com. A few blocks east of Strand Rd, the market, rooms facing Thaton Tadar St can be very noisy
Cinderella is one of the best-value hotels in Myanmar. A – try to get one of the quieter rooms with great views over
small army of staff, some in white gloves, provides Strand Rd and the river. $35
eatInG
Every day from 5pm onwards, a strip of open-air food stalls sets up along Strand Rd, just north of Dawei Jetty – it’s a
great spot to grab a bite to eat and watch the sunset. The food on offer, like barbecued skewers, fried rice, seafood
and noodles, often doesn’t taste as good as it looks (and some people report getting sick after eating here), but the
atmopshere is great fun.

Bone Gyi Strand Rd T057 26528. Dishing up good Burmese-style with fresh vegetables and side dishes. In
Chinese food, this popular restaurant stays full of well- the evenings foreign tourists can outnumber locals, but
to-do Mawlamyiners until late in the evening, although this place hasn’t let its popularity get to its head – it
as many come here to drink as to dine (there’s even a retains a slightly chaotic and grubby feel. You can expect
wine list). It’s a little more expensive than most to pay around K1500 for a filling vegetarian meal and
Mawlamyine restaurants (mains K4000–7000), but approximately K2500 for a meat-based one. Daily
the food quality is higher and worth the price. 10am–9pm.
Daily 9am–9pm. Mya Tha Lwin Dawei Jetty, Strand Rd. A sizeable step up
Delifrance Strand Rd, south of Dawei Jetty T09 566 in quality from the bustling night market stalls next door,
0192. An imitation of the international chain, this small the busy and buzzy Mya Tha Lwin is a popular Chinese
café serves decent coffee (espresso K1000), cake and seafood restaurant where a main course will set you back
sandwiches (K1000–1500), and has a small patio around K3500. Daily 9am–11pm.
overlooking the hustle and bustle of Strand Rd and the YKKO Dawei Jetty, Strand Rd T09 401 591 212. Clean
river. Daily 9am–10pm. and bright, with lovely views of the river, upmarket YKKO
★ May South Indian Chetty Restaurant Strand Rd serves Thai food, barbecue and kyay-oh (noodle soup),
T09 4980 4047. This low-key restaurant is at its best along with an array of juices and coffee in its a/c dining
(and busiest) around lunchtime, when it fills with room. Prices are higher than elsewhere in town – a plate of
market porters and office workers who come for the barbecued skewers will set you back approximately K3000.
delicious Indian-inspired curries and biryani, served Daily 10am–10pm.

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