Sunday 13th November - A 0500 wake up and off at 0600 was not the best way to start the day but the drive through a quiet Yangon gave a different view of the city. One thing that stands out is the total lack of scooters and motorcycles. Why? Well the Government banned them.
The domestic terminal was a buzz - largely with tourists, as this is the main tourist season as the weather is dry and cool. Myanmar boasts three airlines in addition to the national flag carrier - Air Bagan, Mandalay Airlines and Air Yangon - all of which seem to have connections with the junta which i guess is hardly surprising. It was like travelling back in time as as a result of the embargo Air Bagan has no computerised check-in relying on a printout and a seat map with sticky labels. The tickets are of the hand written carbon copy type.
Our guide Zin met us and we headed on the hour long drive from the airport towards town. Our first stop was the Maha Ganayon kyaung which is a large monastery with monks of all ages. Somewhat bizzarely the main attraction is the monks eating at 1100 when they line up to collect their food from the communal kitchen watched by many camera touting tourists. Mind you the kitchen was an interesting sight.
A short walk took us to the U Bein bridge - a pedestrian bridge of 1.2 kms built on teak piles over Lake Taungthaman - through a village and past the monastery school. The bridge itself took us to another village and past it the Kyautawgyi Paya built in 1847.
Then on to our home for two nights the Hotel by the Red Canal. it had been a struggle getting this one booked and it is full of tour groups. despite being abit off the beaten track in Mandalay it was a nice hotel. But just a short rest and then we were off again this time to catch the sunset from Mandalay Hill althouigh no outing is complete without at least one temple. Tonight we managed two - the first was an initial stop at the Shwenandaw Kyaung which is the only remaining part of the old teak wooden Mandalay Palace which was destroyed by fire following bombing in 1945. It is truly an amazing sight and it self was once gilded.
Next stop was also interesting the Kuthodaw Paya which contains the 15 books of the Sacred Tripitaka all engraved on stone slabs each housed in its own stone building.
The domestic terminal was a buzz - largely with tourists, as this is the main tourist season as the weather is dry and cool. Myanmar boasts three airlines in addition to the national flag carrier - Air Bagan, Mandalay Airlines and Air Yangon - all of which seem to have connections with the junta which i guess is hardly surprising. It was like travelling back in time as as a result of the embargo Air Bagan has no computerised check-in relying on a printout and a seat map with sticky labels. The tickets are of the hand written carbon copy type.
Our guide Zin met us and we headed on the hour long drive from the airport towards town. Our first stop was the Maha Ganayon kyaung which is a large monastery with monks of all ages. Somewhat bizzarely the main attraction is the monks eating at 1100 when they line up to collect their food from the communal kitchen watched by many camera touting tourists. Mind you the kitchen was an interesting sight.
A short walk took us to the U Bein bridge - a pedestrian bridge of 1.2 kms built on teak piles over Lake Taungthaman - through a village and past the monastery school. The bridge itself took us to another village and past it the Kyautawgyi Paya built in 1847.
Then on to our home for two nights the Hotel by the Red Canal. it had been a struggle getting this one booked and it is full of tour groups. despite being abit off the beaten track in Mandalay it was a nice hotel. But just a short rest and then we were off again this time to catch the sunset from Mandalay Hill althouigh no outing is complete without at least one temple. Tonight we managed two - the first was an initial stop at the Shwenandaw Kyaung which is the only remaining part of the old teak wooden Mandalay Palace which was destroyed by fire following bombing in 1945. It is truly an amazing sight and it self was once gilded.
Next stop was also interesting the Kuthodaw Paya which contains the 15 books of the Sacred Tripitaka all engraved on stone slabs each housed in its own stone building.