Mawlamyaing (or Moulmein) is the historical capital of the Mon State and with about 250.000 inhabitants one of the largest cities in Myanmar. The name comes from the legend of Mot-Mua-Lum (“destroyed eye”) which tells of a Mon king who had a third eye that was in the middle of his forehead and which had the power to see what was happening in the surrounding kingdoms. The ruler of a neighbouring kingdom gave him his daughter for marriage, but she maliciously destroyed the all-seeing third eye.
Mawlamyaing’s central market, Zaygyi, is a rambling area on the western side of South Bogyoke Lan, just north of the main pedestrian jetty for Mottama. This market specializes in dry goods, from inexpensive ‘bale’ clothes to house wares. Much of the merchandise includes items that have ‘fallen off the boat’ on the way from Singapore to Yangon, such as untaxed cigarettes and liquor., is a rambling area on the western side of South Bogyoke Lan, just north of the main pedestrian jetty for Mottama. This market specializes in dry goods, from inexpensive ‘bale’ clothes to house wares. Much of the merchandise includes items that have ‘fallen off the boat’ on the way from Singapore to Yangon, such as untaxed cigarettes and liquor.
Gaungse Kyun (Shampoo Island): This picturesque little isle off Mawlamyaing’s north-western end is named so, because during the Ava period the yearly royal hair washing ceremony customarily used water taken from a spring on this island. The visitors can hire a boat to get to the island and visit Sandawshin Paya, a silver zedi said to contain hair relics, and a nearby Buddhist meditation centre.