Myanmar (Burma)

Breakfast in Taungoo

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“More pancake? ”

My mouth filled with the last honey drizzled morsel of my first, what could do but nod to our host, swallow, and declare, “Just one more.”?

Late the previous afternoon, without any English, our bus driver managed to convey that the  guest house we’d booked was at the end of this side road.

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A fact confirmed by Google Maps. The conductor unloaded our bags as trucks and trishaws and tractors, motorbikes and cyclists streamed past the bus. I wondered what exactly we had come to.

In the fierce afternoon heat we trudged past this pile of rubbish, pulling our packs behind us,

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and I wondered, too, about those dogs—mostly,  they ignored us.

At the end of the lane and around a corner we were relieved to find the aptly named Myanmar Beauty Guest House.

The next morning I enjoyed the first of my pancakes already aware of certain signs this would likely be the first time  I returned to New Zealand from a trip to SE Asia somewhat, okay maybe a lot, heavier than when I left. (It was!)

On the occasion of this, the most outstanding breakfast of our journey, I was steadfast in my determination to pay no attention to those signs. It was a rest day. I was planning on doing as close to nothing as possible. Pancakes were the perfect beginning.

But, that decision to have a second was the wrong call; the very wrong call.

It was nothing to do with the preparation or the cooking. That couldn’t be faulted. Perhaps, you’re thinking it was my digestion, that it had been disturbed by the sight of the rubbish pile the day before. But no, it wasn’t any of that. A week into our trip and I’d learned to ignore such things, mostly.

What I didn’t know was that along with the secnd pancake I was about to be served plate after plate of Burmese breakfast delicacies.

I thought we had reached the limit when I snapped this shot.

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But no, still more plates were delivered to our table.  I was too busy eating by then to take another photo.

There were plates of plums, bananas, mandarins, star fruit, papaya, rice cake cooked with coconut, rice cakes cooked with banana (my ruination–I loved the tangy sweetness of that particular combination), rice cakes with nuts, fried bread, samosas and more besides.

It. Was. All. For. Us. The other  guests had breakfasted long before and left on adventures to the elephant camps, or to cycle around town, or travelled on to their next destination.

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As I did my best with the breakfast the voice of a traveller we’d met at dinner the night before rang in my ears: “Wait for breakfast,” he said. He looked the perpetually hungry type—rather like someone else I know. “It’s the first time in my life,” he explained, “I declined the toast.”

I didn’t need that toast, either.

The Lonely Planet says of our Myanmar Beauty Guest House:

The staff are super, as is the the wildly local breakfast with samosa, sticky rice and exotic fruits.

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The staff  were keen for us to enjoy our stay. They watched eagerly for signs of appreciation as we ate, offered as much coffee as we wanted. And, later, helped us find the perfect spot to dry our washing.

There’s no doubt, it was the best breakfast of our entire four week visit to Myanmar. It set me up perfectly for a day lounging on the verandah.

Interesting facts:
Traditional Burmese meals consist of many small plates. It’s perfectly okay to choose your favourites. You’re not expected to eat it all!! Unless you want to, of course

Taungoo, population  approx 122,000 was the capital of Burma about 500 years ago. In recent years it has been the site of some attacks from Karen resistance fighters.

You can hire bikes from the guest house. You can also make advance bookings to visit the nearby Elephant Camps. I’ll be honest: I was serious in my resting. I really did spend the entire day reading on the verandah.

Have you ever tried Burmese food?
Tell me, which is  your favourite tropical fruit?

 

Categories: Myanmar (Burma), Off-shore Adventures

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30 replies »

  1. Pingback: Me and the motorbike taxi – Jill's Scene

  7. Jill, I am so hungry now (and I just finished breakfast). I love pancakes! All the other stuff looked very good, but I chuckled when I read “…and another pancake” because I’d be so happy to receive that.

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  11. Thanks for sharing breakfast and introducing me to the staff. I like that kind of food and could just imagine the whole experience. Your travels are experience the life and people of a country. Pauline and I like places just like Myanmar Beauty Guest House. Enjoy Jill And John saver every moment.

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      • Thanks so much for your kind comment, Jill! Guavas are very common in South America. There are red, and white guavas. The skin of the fruit is green. They can be very sweet, and they have a strong smell. Thanks so much! Take care! 🙂 X

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