Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s vast purpose-built capital, is known to most as the city of emptiness: empty highways, empty hotels, empty identikit parliament chambers.
The new National Museum, which opened in July last year, is no exception.
On a recent morning, there were few visitors wandering the 35-acre site in Ottharathiri Township.
There’s plenty to browse, though, from fossils dating back to Myanmar’s pre-historic era to ancient pots and exhibitions dedicated to traditional arts.
Typically for a Myanmar museum, little explanation is given.
Four more exhibits will open before the end of the month.
There’s an entire room full of diplomatic gifts given to the nation’s rulers – most recently President Thein Sein.
There are a lot of uninspired plaques, like these from the US Chamber of Commerce, left, and the President of FIFA.
But also artifacts of some historical value, including this typewriter, used by Dr Maung Maung, who was briefly the 7th president of Myanmar, then Burma, for less than a month during the student uprising of August and September 1988.
Like most things in the museum, it’s an interesting relic of a time gone by. With a bit more explanation, it would be even more so.
Entrance to the museum costs K5,000 for foreigners and K500 for Myanmar citizens. Opening hours are 9am until 4:30pm.
All photos by Aung Naing Soe.
