Khiri Travel Myanmar has moved to a new office in a historically significant part of Yangon, in Bogalay Zay Street. The office is on the first floor of an 80-year old colonial building that was used as a trader's house. Khiri has kept the external colonial look with the interiors being a clever mix of modern functionality, while respecting the past by the retention of red brick walls, wooden doors and a cast iron stairway and gantry. The office is located just around from Strand Road adjacent to one of Yangon's many harbors.
The ground floor is occupied by a printing shop that has been operating for 60 years (and still uses the printing presses of that era). The Myanmar Red Cross is next door. Burmese author Shwe U Daung used to live three doors along where a commemorative plaque by the Yangon Heritage Trust will soon be displayed. Opposite the Khiri office are the printing presses of the New Light of Myanmar, the long established government daily newspaper.
Edwin Briels, Khiri Travel Myanmar General Manager, said: "When looking for a new home for Khiri Travel in Yangon I wanted a building that reflected the beauty of downtown with its heritage buildings. It also had to be a convenient location for travelers, staff and suppliers. In the end, I am very proud that we have managed to create a modern working environment in a heritage building that shows the best of Yangon's urban architecture."
The Khiri staff held a small opening party on 15 October when they moved into the office. Some 24 staff now work there, most of them in their 20s.
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Khiri Travel Myanmar Team
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"We are now planning to invite neighbors and other business associates to show how old buildings can be transformed, but still respect Yangon's wonderful urban architecture," said Briels.
The move is an extension of Khiri Travel's commitment to conserving and promoting urban heritage in the Greater Mekong Region. Khiri offers urban architecture walks and bicycle tours in destinations such as Yangon, the old streets of Phuket town, Phnom Penh, Bangkok's Chinatown and Hanoi.
Khiri Travel also promotes stays in hotels with heritage architecture such as Raffles in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 137 Pillars in Chiang Mai and La Residence, Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos.
Contact Khiri Travel for a full range of urban heritage tours and hotels in the Greater Mekong Region. Email: sales@khiri.com.
