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Mawlamyine Travel Guide
At first glance, Mawlamyine may seem like a forgotten city, with its crumbling colonial buildings and morose mood that seeps through every nook and cranny. Myanmar's third largest city however features a lot more than what meets the eye: it is home to the Mon people, their rich culture and deep Buddhist faith. Walking around the streets allows one to take the nostalgic attitude that the Mawlamyine exudes. Located at the southeastern stretch of the country, the city became the capital of British Burma during the first years of its conquest in the 19th century. Mawlamyine's (also called Moulmein) charm was so intriguing that it served as the inspiration to English author George Orwell's 1936 memoir, Shooting an Elephant.
The city offers a number of attractions that give tourists a sense of the local Mon culture. An ideal place to start is by going to the Mon Cultural Museum found in the northeastern side of town. The two-storey gallery displays a hefty collection of Mon artifacts such as ceramics, tools, and wooden sculptures. A better way to learn of townsfolk's fervent adherence to Buddha's teachings is by visiting the numerous payas (temples) that surround the city, the largest being the Mahamuni to the north and the tallest and most visible being Kyaikthanlan. These grandiose shrines embody the effort the locals exert to glorify Buddha. Having a number of Chinese and Muslim inhabitants, Mawlamyine also has majestic mosques, as the Kaladan Mosque and the Sunni Jamai Mosque with their turquoise exteriors.
Shopping is a good way to spend time in the city, and get to know the local people. Zeigyo (central market), is the most popular and famous for its inexpensive dry goods and other wares, as well as the items that have "fallen off the boat" on their way from Singapore.
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