January 14, 2012

Gluten-free Burma - YANGON



I stayed in Yangon (Rangoon) just long enough to see the Shwedegon Pagoda and arrange travel to the more far-flung parts of Myanmar. My hotel breakfast included eggs and tea which complemented the gluten-free bread I brought with me. The grocery store was amazing and I made a few stir-fry meals in my hotel room. Then I found the Green Mile and had some delicious food, which I cannot now remember the name of, with no ill-effects, giving me courage as I headed to Bagan and Inle Lake. Below is the information for the Korean restaurant and grocery store, along with other helpful places in the capital.

Gluten-free Dining:
Green Mile Korean Restaurant
Tel: 661336
Although a lot or Korean food is not gluten-free, this restaurant is very health conscious. They do not use any MSG and the owner/manager is very aware of what each dish contains, so be sure to talk to her directly, not just to the waiter, when asking about which menu items are okay for you to eat.

Grocery Store:
City Mart Supermarket
Myae Ni Ghone Branch
Tel: 508470 or 50849
This grocery store has more imported/western products that most grocery stores in China. It's a great place to go to get snacks like Snickers, M&Ms, etc, as well as staples for cooking your own food like rice, chicken breasts, and veggies.


Internet access:
Coffee Circles
107 (A) dhamma zedi road
Tel: 95-1-525157
coffeecircles@gmail.com
www.thecoffeecircles.com

Travel Agent:
Seven Diamond Express Travel
Corner of U Wi Zar Ya & Damazedi Road
(just down the street a few shops from the Coffee Circle)
Tel: (+951) 731 26002  or  500421 or 500182
www.sevendiamondtravel.com
If you're going to fly, don't worry about searching for the lowest price. Domestic flights, regardless of the airline, time or day of flight, are the same cost within a few dollars no matter where you buy. The relatively longer flights (Yangon to Bagan, Mandalay, or Inle/Heho) are approximately $90-$100. The short flight between Bagan and Inle/Heho is about $66. Booking earlier will give you your choice of day/time of travel and you'll get the direct flights. When I flew from from Yangon to Bagan, it took all morning, because my flight first stopped in Inle/Heho, and then in Mandalay before finally arriving in Bagan.


Sleeping:
Hotel Ruby
No.23 Bawga Street
9th Mile, Mayangone
Tel: (95) 1 662536
hotelruby-yangon@mptmail.net
http://www.hotelruby-yangon.com
Close to the airport, nice spacious rooms for the price, friendly staff, and most importantly a fridge for keeping gluten-free food make this place my top choice.

Currency Exchange:
Summit Parkview Hotel
Northern Breeze Art Gallery
No.350 Ahlone Road
Dagon Tsp., Yangon
Tel: 211888 or 211966 ext: 178
Any taxi driver will know this hotel, but don't go to the hotel desk to exchange money, this exchange place is actually tucked away off to the side of the lobby after you walk past a hotel restaurant, some shops with tourist stuff and through an art gallery. They have good exchange rates and are the only place that is open on Sundays for exchanging currency.

Other Myanmar cities:

Gluten-free BAGAN
Gluten-free INLE LAKE

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