Page 330 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

328 NortherN MyaNMar Hsipaw and around
aCCoMMoDatIoN
Hsipaw Resort 29/30 Myohaung Village T082 80721, right, a pleasant but cramped wooden guesthouse has a
Whsipawresort.com. Hsipaw’s most upmarket hotel range of dorms from $7 (some with a/c) as well as some
offers 28 classy rooms in pretty bungalows with $16 twin rooms with shared facilities; and on the left
wonderfully comfortable beds. Each room has a terrace there’s a hotel with en-suite rooms with a/c from $22 (or
with a bench looking over the gardens to the river. Based $18 if you’re on your own). In the guesthouse, the wi-fi
on the opposite bank of the Dokhtawady River from the doesn’t extend beyond the reception area. $16
town, next to a small agricultural village, the hotel Red Dragon Mahaw Gani St T082 80740,
operates a free boat service and also has a good restaurant. Ereddragonhotel.hsipaw@gmail.com. This newly built
While the wi-fi is good in the reception, it’s much weaker in block stands above the surrounding buildings, just north of
the rooms. $90 the town centre. One of the best-value places in Hsipaw,
Lily the Home 108 Aung Thapye St T082 80318, especially for single guests, its high-ceilinged rooms are
Wlilythehome.com. This family-run hotel’s new block has perhaps a little impersonal and there are odd quirks like
a range of comfortable en-suite rooms starting at $30 bolts on the outside of the rooms. That said, the hot water
(some with balconies), as well as a top-floor terrace for is reliable and you get a lot of space for your money. The
breakfast. Behind, the two-storey older building has $20 standard rooms face the street and the $24 superiors
cheaper rooms, though they’re rather dark on the ground have river views, and both come with a/c and en-suite
floor. Another building has “backpacker” rooms with shared bathrooms. Single travellers pay half, except in the
bathrooms, which sell out quickly at $8/person. There’s a cheapest rooms where they pay $7. $12
computer in the reception for guests to use. Bikes can be Yee Shin Namtu Rd T082 80711, Eyee.shin2012
rented for K2000/day, and treks can be arranged. $20 @gmail.com. This small, central guesthouse has fourteen
Mr Charles 105 Auba St T082 80105, Wmrcharles tiny rooms, ranging from $6 singles with fans and shared
8 hotel.com. The most established accommodation option bathrooms to $20 en-suite doubles with a/c. The cheaper
in town, Mr Charles is divided into two sections: on the
rooms are divided with plywood partitions. $12
eatING
North of the bridge, Namtu Road is lined with inexpensive teahouses and small restaurants.
★ Black House Coffee Shwe Nyaung Pin St. You can relax few Western favourites like burgers starting from around
in the reclining chairs on the peaceful riverside terrace at Black K3000. The delicious Shan set menu, K20,000 for 2–4
House Coffee, based in an old wooden house and owned by diners, needs to be ordered in advance. Daily noon–9pm.
a friendly Shan family. Hot drinks including coffee start Mrs Popcorn’s Garden Near Little Bagan T09 402 664
from K1000, and cake costs around K700. Daily 7am–6pm. 925. In a lovely garden on the road between Little Bagan
Club Terrace 35 Shwe Nyaung Pin St T09 4924 2416. and the nat shrine, the cheerful Mrs Popcorn and her
With something of the understated style of its namesake in daughter serve locally grown tea and coffee, plus simple
Pyin Oo Lwin, this restaurant has a pretty wooden deck snacks – no popcorn, though. This is the perfect place to
overlooking the river and a menu that covers the usual spend the afternoon lazing in the sun. Cooked meals are
bases – Thai, Chinese and Burmese. It’s pricier than most available if you order in advance. Daily 9am–dusk.
other restaurants in Hsipaw (K2500 for a bottle of Myanmar Pontoon Coffee Namtu Rd. Run by an Australian
Beer, K3500 for meat and fish dishes), but the food, service expat called Maureen, this café has moved from the
and environment all make it worth visiting. Daily riverside and now occupies an airy two-storey building on
10am–10pm. a quiet corner of the main road. Serves coffee (from K1500)
Mr Charles 105 Auba St T082 80105. The dining room and a small range of snacks like pancakes, sandwiches and
at Mr Charles serves a range of Asian dishes, along with a guacamole. Daily 9am–9pm.
ShoPPING
Mr Book Namtu Rd. The kindly Ko Zaw Tin, aka “Mr Book”, donates school supplies and funds to village schools near
runs a small bookshop from a dusty shack on Namtu Rd, Hsipaw – donations of any kind are gratefully received.
which has an interesting selection of English books on sale. Daily 6am–9pm.
He’s also involved with several charitable projects and often
DIreCtory
Banks Hsipaw’s banks are clustered around the clocktower offering currency exchange and ATMs.
on Bogyoke Rd, with branches of KBZ Bank and CB Bank

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