For most tourists, travelers, and visitors, Myanmar's image
is that of ancient temples, monks, and images of Aung San Suu Kyi. I couldn't
blame them. The country just recently opened itself up to the world after the
military administration gave way for democracy. However in Yangon, the former
capital, has a different story to tell, and like any developing nation, a
struggle to keep its cultural heritage intact.
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| Yangon City Hall from Maha Bandoola Park |
Yangon or Rangoon as it is known in its colonial title was
the capital city of British Burma, then the independent Burma. Six million
people live here, and despite the administration moving out the capital to
Naypyidaw on 2006, the city still is dominant in Myanmar's financial centre.
Because of its importance as a river port to the British and the Burmese, the
city became prominent during the colonial era.
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| Shwedagon Phaya - Perhaps Yangon's most famous landmark. However, this city has a lot to offer. |
Shwedagon Pagoda is by far the most famous landmark of the
city, dominating the skyline with its golden spire that pierces through the sky
and surrounded by stately parks. Locals and tourists alike flock the temple in
droves every day and every night. It’s a must see and a must experience for
all. However, Yangon also has another cultural treasure in its sleeve – the downtown
itself.
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| The High Court from Maha Bandoola Park. The British colonial architecture has some influences from India. It is said that the British architects were brought to Burma and brought with them the designs of the buildings of the British Raj, giving emphasis to ventilation, arches, and big windows that are suited for tropical countries like Myanmar. |
It is said that among all of the former British realms in
Asia, Yangon has one of the largest number of well-preserved colonial-era
buildings. It literally dominates the old downtown’s streetscape and
architecture! While Bagan prides itself with the ancient brick pagodas that are
scattered all over the semi-arid plains, Yangon on the other hand delivers with
these stately buildings mostly built during the British rule in Burma.
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| Buildings along Pansodan Road |
Nowadays, one can appreciate the old world charm this city
has to offer, by walking in the downtown area itself, starting with the city plaza
itself, or Maha Bandoola Park. The syncretic neo-colonial and Burmese
vernacular City Hall looms on its north side while the red-bricked High Court is
flanked east of the park.
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| Standard Chartered once was housed in one of those buildings |
Not far from it is Sule Pagoda. Roads in downtown Yangon
radiate from this point, as if it imposes itself as the Kilometer 0 of the
city.
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| Strand Road was the waterfront road of Yangon. The old hotels, now government offices, including the Australian Embassy, line up the street. |
Pansodan, Merchant, Strand, and Sule Roads boast of stately government and commercial
establishments, mostly exhibiting neo-classical and art-deco designs with that
has that distinct British and Burmese feel on it.
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| The Secretariat - Once the center of administration for both British Burma and independent Myanmar, until 2006. There are plans to restore it as a Museum. |
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| The Secretariat - Once the center of administration for both British
Burma and independent Myanmar, until 2006. There are plans to restore it
as a Museum. |
The Secretariat Building, a majestic and sprawling red-bricked
building, lies abandoned after the government officials moved inland. It was
the administrative and ministerial centre of both British Burma and the
independent Myanmar until 2006. The overcast sky and it being abandoned felt
like Harry Potter’s going to appear somewhere.
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| The High Court, the old building, and a high-rise modern building behind. |
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| This isn't India, but colonial architecture here has been influenced by British India. |
A number of colonial-era buildings were influenced by British Indian architecture that emphasizes ventilation, bigger windows, domes, and all those stuff architects know, (I'm not an architect) since India was just a stones throw away from Burma.
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| The traditional longyi is still being worn in Yangon. |
Nah, I’ll let the photos speak itself.
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| I like to have a cup of tea in the chambers, sire. |
That steamy yet overcast afternoon, I leisurely walked in
the downtown with such appreciation on how the entire streetscape has been
preserved. Took some pictures as if there is no tomorrow. I even experienced
going into one of these buildings, particularly the Postal Office, to send my
post cards to my friends back in Manila.
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| The Postal Office. Who still uses Telegraph these days? |
There is this old world charm and aura that seemed
reminiscent of the British Raj in India. It felt like in some film noir or
Indiana Jones movie.
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| Toshiba and the old |
That steamy afternoon leisurely walk was interrupted with
thunder and lightning over the horizon. I forgot that it’s monsoon season here.
Then the rain poured ferociously. I skipped from one building into another,
until I reached the end of Pansodan Road where the
Yangon Heritage Trust office
was located where I took shelter and waited for my friend Thet. Good thing I
was wearing my
longyi back then.
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| One of the heritage markers placed by the Yangon City Heritage |
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| My friend Thet from the Yangon Heritage Trust and I. There was an exhibit about the city when I visited their office. |
The office is located in one of those heritage buildings in
Pansodan—living up to its name. We had a very short chat with each other, as
she is still on a break in an office hour. While it was raining hard, she then
gave me a perspective of what’s going on in Yangon.
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| One of the rehabilitated heritage buildings of Yangon |
Because of the recent opening of the country, there is a
real estate boom in the city, evident with so much construction areas and
T-cranes that littered Yangon’s skyline. Some of the old, colonial buildings
were left to rot. While several organizations have made documentations and
moves in saving these architectural, cultural, and historical gems, the pace of
rapid urban development may threaten these buildings for demolition to make way
for newer infrastructure.
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| The old Fire Station at Sule Road |
The story felt somehow familiar.
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| Myanmar is feeling the change recently. Aside from recently opening up to the world, they also held General Elections to which Aung San Suu Kyi's party ascended into power. |
Yangon was not spared by the atrocities of World War II. It
was also bombarded, but much of the buildings were left standing. Aside from
it, the closure of the country by the military junta may have stalled
development in the city, lessening the threat of demolishing these buildings in
favour of new and modern skyscrapers that now dominate most of the Asian cities
nowadays. It may have run parallel to the story of Iloilo in the Philippines
too.
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| The Publications Office near The Secretariat |
The rain has stopped, but it was still drizzling. The twilight
was fast approaching. I only have a few minutes of daylight to spare to see the
rest of the downtown. I bade my friend goodbye and thank her for giving me a
more in-depth look of its struggle.
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| The Customs House. The architecture is surely reminiscent of British heritage. |
As the sun sets over the harbour, I still took some shots of
the rush hour dusk of men straddling with their longyis and women under their
umbrellas. The city starts to light up amid the wet pavement. I felt
bitin—haven’t explored that much of the
city yet. I haven’t been to the railroad station, that barbeque stand near
Little India or Chinatown, I think. I haven’t experienced that railroad that
goes around the city, and at that time I wasn’t even able to see Shwedagon yet.
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| One of the banks in downtown Yangon |
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| One of the alleyways of the city |
My time in this city was limited. Appreciating the downtown
wasn’t enough. Looking beyond where the tourists are gave me a glimpse of
Myanmar looking forward, while anchored on its rich cultural heritage. The
struggle has just started, but personally, I have high hopes for the Yangonese
people. Looks like I have a reason to come back here again soon.
