day 13: bbq street in chinatown

For 3,700 kyat (approximately US$5), we had five barbecued kebabs and soft drinks.

We could not resist such a good deal so we came back for more tonight.

This time, we had:

• Pork rib
• Chicken wings
• Broccoli
• Potato
• Quail's egg
• Cola and Orange soda

We shared the table with a Japanese couple who kept offering us little snacks they bought from the passing hawkers, such as nuts and samosas.

Cost (US$1 = 750 kyat):

• 700 kyat - snacks for the bus ride
• 2,300 kyat - fried bee hoon and coffee at highway rest stop
• 5,500 kyat - taxi from bus interchange to Central Yangon
• 3,700 kyat - BBQ dinner in Chinatown
• 500 kyat - rickshaw rides

day 12: best burger in bagan and some say burma

It is a small restaurant with seven or so tables, with a few simple Burmese deco hung on the interior walls and a sign 'Weather Spoon' outside. What caught my attention was the colourful sign at the corner with 'Burgers' listed among several other types of food they serve.

We have had american food at a number of restaurants in the past few days, but nothing was really satisfying. I decided to give it another shot and ordered the 'Weather Spoon's Burger'.

It turned out to be superlicious!! The bun was nicely toasted and between was a juicy home-made minced beef patty, complete with tomato, onions and bacon. It was accompanied with crispy fries, the best I have had on the entire trip!

The restaurant founder, owner and chef is Win Tun, a young gentleman who was a hot-air balloon driver turned chef. It was in Bristol UK - when he was training to be a hot-air balloon driver - where he learnt to make beer battered fish and chips, the burger and other food.

He spent all that he had and opened Weatherspoon Restaurant in September 2011. Business in the first two months was not great but is picking up now.

It was so good, Bun and I went back on the same day for dinner. And when we got there, we saw two other tables with the same customers who were there for lunch. Returning customers - a true testimony of good food, besides our licked-clean empty plates.

Cost (US$1 = 750 kyat):

• 9,000 kyat - We had the Weather Spoon Burger with fries, Thai chicken with rice, lime and ginger drink, warm chocolate cake and a complimentary coffee in celebration of the upcoming Independence Day
• 6,200 kyat - For dinner, we had Carbonara and Fish and Chips

day 10: relaxing day by the 'beach'

As I am recovering from my flu, Bun didn't think it was a good idea to cycle into Old Bagan, which is approximately seven kilometers away.

We decided to take a day off and just chill. And we found the perfect place to have a nice slow lunch.

Just three minutes walk from the market is The Beach Bar and Restaurant. Overlooking the shallow stretch of the river, there were locals doing their laundry and sunning their clothes.

It was one of our most expensive meals, and the restaurant charges 10 per cent government tax and 10 per cent service charge, but we were completely satisfied when we walked out.

Seems like a great place for drink at sunset. If not for my flu, I would have taken advantage of the affordable cocktails. At less than S$10, the margaritas were really tempting!

They have the best restrooms I have seen so far in my entire trip, complete with beautiful wood framed mirrors.

Cost (US$1 = 750 kyat):

• 11,200 kyat - grilled chicken and pork fried rice lunch for two

day 3: wanton noodles

Not exactly like what we have in Singapore, but the fried wanton is almost as good as our famous Fei Fei Wanton Mee along Joo Chiat Place.

999 Shan Noodle is one of the eateries recommended by Lonely Planet. It's easy to see why with its clean interior and tasty familiar food.

At 1000 kyat to 1500 kyat per main, it is our cheapest meal in Yangon so far.

Service is exceptional. Bun ordered a dried pork rice which didn't turn out to be the same delicious dish we saw the guy at the next table eating. We returned the plate with a grin, pointing at the next table, and they generously served us the right dish.

I would have polished off all ten fried wanton if Bun had not stopped me.

Cost (US$1 = 750 kyat):

• 2380 kyat - durian ice cream and other groceries from 360 degree supermarket
• 4300 kyat - lunch at 999 Shan Noodle
• 1500 kyat - taxi ride to train station
• US$22 - one night at White House

day 1: three star service by jetstar

Having doubled our airfare to S$660 due to the flight change, we were pleasantly surprised by budget carrier Jetstar.

This is not the first time I've flown Jetstar but it is my virgin coach-share budget flight. 3K585 was a coach share with Myanmar Airlines (MAI).

Besides the traditionally dressed MAI stewardess standing by the entrance of the aircraft, the biggest surprise was the inflight meal!

Budget carriers are known to charge for every thing you consume, from S$3 hot coffee, S$5 sugar free ice tea, to S$10 piping hot Japanese curry with rice.

Today, Bun and I was treated to a full service of either chicken with rice or seafood with bee hoon, complete with (cold) bun and butter, pasta salad to start, jelly dessert and coffee or tea.

If we had known, we wouldn't have gobbled down the hot Mee Siam from Wang Cafe at Terminal One.

Cost:

• S$10.30 Mee Siam and Toast breakfast from Wang
• S$7.80 Watsons disposable undies because the ones we bought were too small
• S$10.80 taxi from home to airport

minus 48 days: The Itinerary

After having a sizable following on my Europe-in-37-days blog last year, it didn't take long for me to create this. It won't be easy to beat that, but I'll work just as hard to capture the best of Myanmar.

Research suggests that the happiest time of a vacation is at the time of planning. That is true at least for me.

Seven hours over Spizza pizza and a seasoned Lonely Planet on my lap, I have our rough itinerary laid out:

Day 1: Arrive in Yangon and walk around downtown

Day 2: Visit the magnificent Shwedagon Paya

Day 3: Take a 12-hour train ride to Thazi

Day 4: Take another 9-hour scenic train ride to Inle Lake

Day 5: Explore Inle Lake

Day 6: Trek or relax at hot spring

Day 7: Relax on a long bus ride to Mandalay

Day 8: Check out Mandalay city and her BBQ restaurants

Day 9: Go back in time in ancient cities around Mandalay

Day 10: Ride down the river to Bagan

Day 11: Hire a horse cart for the day and comb through Bagan

Day 12: Rent a bicycle and have a picnic

Day 13: Wear my beach hat on my way to Ngwe Saung Beach via Yangon

Day 14: Shades, bikini and magarita, and I'm all set for the day

Day 15: Head back to Yangon

Day 16: Pout all day complaining I don't want to go back

Day 17: Get dragged onto the plane back to Singapore

Many loved the expenses summary in my travel blog, so here's what I've spent so far.

Cost:

• S$54 Lonely Planet
• S$299 Return air ticket on Jetstar, includes $15 for 20kg checked in baggage allowance
• S$38 Spizza Isabella pizza and hot wings