Page 191 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Yangon to MandalaY Central MyanMar 189
man-made lake and, as with all the hotels in Naypyitaw, Rooms without bathrooms cost just K21,000, and it also
there is an abundance of space. $55 has smarter suites and villas. K31,000
Aureum Palace Yaza Thingaha Rd T067 420746, Kempinski Shwe Pyi Taw Win Rd T067 8106061,
Waureumpalacehotel.com. This is an impressive resort, Wwww.kempinski.com. This is the top choice of
with appealing contemporary Asian styling and attentive diplomats and movers and shakers. The enormous
service. Accommodation is scattered around extensive Kempinski has contemporary chic business rooms and a
grounds overlooking a small lake; rooms are bright and pool, as well as the appropriately named Diplomat Bar and
spacious, and come with desks, wardrobes, tables and the superb Yangon Kitchen Restaurant (see below).
comfy chairs. Facilities include a big (although shallow) Frequently offers big discounts if you book online. $174
pool, gym and spa. Also goes by the name Shwe Nan Taw Tungapuri Hotel 9/10 Yaza Thingaha Rd T067
Hotel. $59 422020, Wtungapurihotel.com. Feeling more lived-in
Golden Lake Yaza Thingaha Rd T067 434022, than most along Yaza Thingaha, this hotel has some of the
Ethegoldenlakehotelnpt@gmail.com. The cheapest city’s cheapest rooms, plus good attached Thai (see below)
option in the city has English-speaking staff and simple, and Chinese restaurants. Usually, a discount of around
but surprisingly smart, rooms set in a concrete block thirty percent is given almost before you can open your
overlooking nothing in particular. Even so, it’s a good deal. mouth to ask for a room. K35,000
eatInG
★ L’Opera Nirvana Hotel, Yaza Thingaha Rd T067 Bright, modern restaurant serving up a huge selection of
422253, Woperayangon.com. This is the best Italian Western, Thai, Japanese and Burmese dishes (mains
restaurant In Naypyitaw, and may even be one of the best K4000–6000), plus good Western and Burmese
restaurants in the entire country. The chefs at l’Opera serve breakfasts. There’s also a small in-house bakery and
up beautifully presented dishes such as linguini with good coffee. Daily 7am–10pm. 4
cuttlefish ink and beef tenderloin with black truffle sauce. Tai Kitchen Next to the Tungapuri Hotel, Yaza
There’s also a huge open-plan wine cellar. Needless to say, Thingaha Rd T067 422282. Large and pleasantly lively
there aren’t many backpackers eating here. Mains restaurant serving up a big menu of authentic Thai cuisine,
K15,000–43,000. Daily 10am–10.30pm. plus a few traditional Shan dishes – the pad thai (K5500) is
Maw Kong Nong Golden Hill, near Thabyegone as good as you’ll get in Myanmar, and there’s a good drinks
Market. This big hilltop beer station is one of the list and coffee selection too. Mains K5000–8000. Daily
few places in central Naypyitaw resembling a local 8am–10pm.
Burmese restaurant, and it has decent traditional food ★ Yangon Kitchen Restaurant Kempinski Hotel,
(with an English menu) such as the usual Shan noodles, Shwe Pyi Taw Win Rd T067 8106061. Fancy dining on
plus dishes like fried chicken with green mustard, fried Norwegian salmon or duck confit? The Yangon Kitchen,
pork with bamboo shoots, and Shan meat and vegetable inside the upmarket Kempinski Hotel, is one of the most
salads. Choose from what’s shown in the cabinet exclusive restaurants in Myanmar, and the food and
(two meat plus one veg dish for K2500) or go à la carte presentation couldn’t be further away from the curries and
(mains around K5000). There’s another branch, May salads that most Burmese eat on a day-to-day basis. Inside,
Kong Nong II, with over thirty different curries ready in you’re likely to encounter large parties of military top brass
the glass cabinet, at the bottom of the hill. Daily with jackets covered in medals, and the perfumed wives of
10am–midnight. various diplomats. Mains K18,000–25,000. Daily noon–
Santino Golden Hill, near Thabyegone Market. 3pm & 6–10.30pm.
DIreCtOry
Bank There are several ATMs at both the Capital several of the hotels. There’s also a moneychanger in the
Hypermarket Centre and Junction Centre, as well as at Capital Hypermarket.

Meiktila

The attractive lakeside town of MEIKTILA is an agreeable place to break the journey
north from Yangon to Mandalay. The town stands at something of a crossroads, with
connections west to Bagan, east to Inle Lake and north to Lashio, as well as to
Mandalay and Yangon. It’s also one of central Myanmar’s prettiest and most enjoyably
low-key destinations, with its shrine-studded lake, bustling market and tree-lined

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