Buzz
Myanmar's young women use wood powder as sunscreen, while men casually chew betel nut in traditional attire.
Exploring the Unusual Facets of Yangon from a Vietnamese Traveler's Perspective
Mr. Le Nguyen Dona (residing in Ho Chi Minh City) shares his personal journey of exploring the temples and pagodas of Myanmar in his own unique way:
Yangon, also known as Rangoon (roughly translated as Luminous Threshold), stands as the largest city in Myanmar. Viewed from an airplane, Yangon reveals fields harvested for the season, with golden patches of rice fields and dry grasslands.
Rising above the vast carpet of rice and expansive grass are the radiant spires of the temples, a sight easily spotted from rural villages to urban areas. The first impression of my journey to this newly opened country is one of serene tranquility with a hint of melancholy.
Thanaka: Myanmar's Natural Beauty Secret
As the plane touched down, our first encounter was with Yin Yin, our local guide. She impressed us with a warm Mingalaba greeting in Myanmar language. With her petite, energetic demeanor and a bright, humorous face, Yin Yin set the stage for an exciting journey. Clad in traditional longyi, what captivated us most was Thanaka. It's a sunblock cream trusted by every Myanmar woman.
Thanaka has a long history in Myanmar, officially mentioned in the 14th century during the reign of King Razadarit. It's a powder made from the bark of the thanaka tree, a common tree in Central Myanmar, South, and Southeast Asia.
In Myanmar, Thanaka serves as a natural cosmetic applied on the face to combat the scorching weather. It's considered a secret to keeping women's faces fresh, fighting against acne and aging.
With an intriguing tone and pride, Yin Yin invited us to try applying a bit of Thanaka on our faces. The refreshing sensation somewhat made us forget about the 30-degree heat in Yangon.
Next, we encountered numerous street stalls and market shops selling small pieces of wood along with sharpening tools. According to Yin Yin, the locals highly value this specialty. They prefer grinding these small wood pieces to obtain Thanaka powder instead of buying pre-made ones in the market.
To explore the enchanting temples here, we were advised to bring sandals. At any temple, both visitors and locals are required to leave their shoes and socks outside the gate.
Shwedagon, the most sacred temple in Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda, captivates with its dazzling golden stupa architecture. The term 'Shwe' in Shwedagon means gold.
This name also recalls a golden era of the country, when it was referred to as Dagon, meaning Golden Land. The pagoda boasts a 98-meter golden tower, perched atop Singuttara Hill. Shwedagon has four main entrances from the East, West, South, and North.
This temple houses sacred relics of Buddhism, such as the eight strands of hair from the Buddha. It is believed to have been built over 2,500 years ago, predating the Buddha's enlightenment.
Adorning the diamond bud on the golden spire is a 76-carat diamond, its brilliance visible from below thanks to an intricately designed lighting system.
Exploring the tower clockwise, we sought out the Buddha statue corresponding to our day of birth. There are 8 Buddha statues here, each representing a day of the week from Monday to Sunday. Wednesdays have both morning and afternoon sessions.
Arriving at our designated area, like other Myanmar locals, I solemnly performed rituals, offering small handmade wreaths prepared at the entrance. Then, I used cool water to pour onto the statue three times as a gesture of gratitude.
Yangon by Night
In the evening, I started strolling around the streets near the hotel in downtown Yangon. By this time, electronic stores and small clothing shops had already tidied up. Across from the city hall is the central park.
The imprints of time are vivid on the buildings dating back to the British colonial era in the 19th century. In the city center area, only a few workers catch the 'legal' buses during the day to go home. Legal because, after official operating hours, there are ready-to-hire vehicles with slightly higher fares.
In the sparse market area, only a few stalls selling fried food and a rare convenience store remain in the row of shops. I noticed small rectangular tables where Myanmar men in traditional attire leisurely sat, chewing betel nuts, enthusiastically sharing end-of-day stories.
Chewing betel nut is a time-honored tradition passed down through generations in Myanmar. It's not just for the older ladies; even young men here indulge in the practice.
Simple betel nut packets are sold alongside somewhat aged apartment buildings with staircases that might be smaller than usual.
In front of those residential areas or shopping centers, stand large power generators like silent storytellers. Occasionally, power shortages occur in the city center, making these high-capacity machines indispensable. Our hotel also experienced a few instances of 'powering down to reduce load.'
Myanmar might look very different in a few years. This journey of mine is not too late to witness what defines the unique charm of this nation with a rich history. I hope when I return, the familiar greeting 'Mingalaba' will still be there, the sunblock of Thanaka will be generously applied, and the gleaming spires will still stand tall in the radiant evening light.
According to Le Nguyen Dona/Vnexpress
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Explore: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourDecember 4, 2018
