A 2-hour train ride that cost 200 kyats?
This is how the locals travel places surrounding the city centre – an experience you can easily enjoy if you have some time in Yangon.
As the name suggests, the train route goes in a circle so within 2 hours, you’ll be able to drop off where you board.
Two hours may sound long but there are many sceneries that will keep you occupied like drinking tea, having snacks or just enjoy the breeze as the train passes by a stretch of paddy fields.
The easiest station to board the circular train is at Yangon Central Railway Station.
Facing the main building, turn left where there is a flight of stairs that will lead you to the correct railway track for the circular train. At track 7, a ticket vendor is sitting behind a table selling the tickets before you head down the stairs to board the train.
The ride started bumpily, the seats and floor are dirty but no time for that because the walking vendors will then have already started to offer you food. If you are early, you can get a cuppa or a local salad prepared on the spot. Southeast Asian fruits such as rambutan, lime, mangosteen, pineapple, sweet Indian green apple are very common.
My favourite snack is boiled quail eggs!
You can also see many selling cigarettes and their favourite betel nut.
The train will pass by many markets where locals will board with stacks of fresh produce or sometimes livestock! Go in the morning for more active markets along the train route so you get a more exotic experience.
After the bustling markets, you will go through a period of a quiet neighbourhood where a stretch of paddy fields appear in front of you. A breathtaking and peaceful moment.
Burmese loves taking off their shoes – I secretly enjoyed doing that as well.
Truly a ride of plain happiness.
