On the second floor, a cafe is reminiscent of Thompson's house with its polished tropical woods. A shimmering gamut of fabrics line adjoining walls. Silk clothing and upscale home items of tooled leather are on this floor as well. From Bangkok, my shopping instincts led me to Yangon, the Myanmar capital. Which, for shoppers, is a godsend.
Prices are dirt cheap while vendibles are worth their weight in gold.
The funny money can then be translated into local currency or used to pay for goods and services on a US dollar basis. If you are travelling in a group, this requirement is waived. Since most everything must be paid with cash, it's best to get the highest exchange. Last month the official kyat to dollar rate hovered around K100 while people on the street were offering at least two and a half times that amount. Although the black market is frowned upon, it is seldom regulated.