Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/569741
EVER SINCE AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST IN 2010 AND GLOBAL SUPERPOWERS ENTERED DISCUSSIONS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS, MYANMAR'S STAR HAS BEEN ASCENDING AND YANGON HAS ROCKETED TO THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S "MUST GO NOW" LISTS. C ombining a beguiling mix of British colonialism and Myanmar tradition, this captivating South- east Asian destination, as yet unsullied by the trappings of breakneck economic development, has plenty to offer well-heeled frontier travellers. COVETED LODGINGS As entry restrictions were relaxed and inbound travel soared, so has the develop- ment of hotels and resorts, however the city's best accommodation options are those that have led Yangon's hotel scene for decades. Orient Express—now rebranded as Bel- mond—acquired the Governor's Residence Yangon in 2006. Originally renovated to its former glory in 1997 by Patrick Robert, a French artist and designer, accommoda- tion here recalls the nostalgia of the British colonial period. In the Governor's Rooms, teak canopy beds bordered by silk-pan- elled walls and doors overlook leafy treetops. In the gardens below, breakfast is served on the wraparound balcony, which overlooks the cool fish pools shielded by red parasols from the already oppressive heat of the day. Rooms at the Strand Hotel also rank among the city's most coveted places. Built by British entrepreneur John Dar- wood in 1901 and later acquired by the Sarkies brothers, the Strand was one of the region's most luxurious lodgings during Burma's colonial heyday. Its guest book includes the signatures of George Orwell, UNLIKE ANY LAND YOU'VE EVER KNOWN BY GEMMA PRICE DREAMSCAPES FALL 2015 12 A hot-air balloon excursion offers an expansive view of the plain of temples in Bagan. Courtesy of Bagan Lodge