My next big purchase, another chair...

Top floor of Yuzana plaza. Most of it they make to order, and if you don't mind waiting a few days they'll do whatever colour/size you want. If you want Teak, wander around Tamwe (near Tamwe Plaza), most of them all charge the same price and sometimes the bigger flashier places with the nicer stuff are actually cheaper (believe it or not!).

Office chair; I'm planted on my arse most of the day! Teak stuff doesn't appeal to me!

Yeah it's weird isn't it that some of the bigger and flashier places are cheaper; really is pot luck here sometimes!

Most of the buildings in yangon dig water under ground.

Office chair; I'm planted on my arse most of the day! Teak stuff doesn't appeal to me!

Yeah it's weird isn't it that some of the bigger and flashier places are cheaper; really is pot luck here sometimes!

They do normal sort of lounge/living room furniture at Yuzana plaza as well, it's not all office stuff. They make it here and the designs are not much to go on but they're reasonably comfortable, they're also cheap (Ks2.3 lakh for two armchairs and a 2 seater sofa my wife tells me). You can buy expensive imported stuff at 9 mile (almost opposite Ocean supermarket), but you'll be paying a $1,000 for a comfortable 'armchair'! Imported from Italy as I recall, but nice stuff quality wise.

Your water bill will come when the YCDC bill collector can be bothered to come and collect it! Expect to pay around Ks2,000 to 3,000/month.

Since I'm moving to another apartment in a week or so, that bill will not be my problem.

Besides, having done a filter test on the qualitiy of the water, I'm pretty sure that it is being pumped from thew river, some 200 metres away. I tied a white towel over my water inlet pipe and switched on the pump. After 4 minutes, I had to switch off because no more water could pass through the towel, due to the amount of filth and sediment. There is a little rust, but most is just dirt....

As dirty after a shower as you were before! Might get expensive if you have to buy bottled to have a bath

About ten years ago you could get over a thousand Kyats for a $ on the black market, on one of my visits even over 1200, if my memory serves me right.

Now you get 820 in the bank, and the black market has all about vanished.

At the same time most things have become much more expensive in Kyat terms, meaning even mor so in $$ terms.

Can anybody explain how the Burmese government accomplished that, without a black market re - appearing??

Prices as of 15/2/2013

A 1L bottle of water =300 for a large bottle=

A cup of green tea =Free might be wrong i never drink it=

A bottle of beer (Myanmar brand) =Shop 1500=Bar 2000/2500=Club 4000=Park Royal 7500(Highend)=

A simple meal from a street vendor =1000/1500 (I wouldnt eat from the street this is little cafe down town)=4000 ish for mid range restaurant

A packet of cigarettes (local brand) =500/1000=

A single non-A/C room in a guesthouse=Dont know=

About ten years ago you could get over a thousand Kyats for a $ on the black market, on one of my visits even over 1200, if my memory serves me right.

Now you get 820 in the bank, and the black market has all about vanished.

At the same time most things have become much more expensive in Kyat terms, meaning even mor so in $$ terms.

Can anybody explain how the Burmese government accomplished that, without a black market re - appearing??

Black market is still there.

Not sure if its "Black Market" but get asked about 5 times around Traders. Never stop to ask there rates,might do next time just to see.