Somdet Myanamr report

	HOT INFO On The Road
	Somdet & his Friends
Journey to Myanmar

Date:	:	6-13 February 2000
Exchange Rate	:	323-324 Kyats per 1 US$ or F.E.C.
Airport Tax	:	10 US$ or F.E.C.
Visa	:	720 Baht at the Embassy in Bangkok (from 1 February will cost 800 Baht)

Itinerary :

6-2-2000	Arrive Yangon in late morning Afternoon - Visit ShweDagon
7-2-2000	Morning - Visit Thanlyin (Syriam) Afternoon - Depart for Mandalay by Train No.17 UP at 3.15 p.m.
8-2-2000	Early Morning - Arrive Mandalay Morning - Visit Mingun by boat Afternoon - Visit sights in Mandalay including sunset over the Mandalay hill by hired blue taxi
9-2-2000	Whole Day - Visit Sagaing/Awa/Amarapura/U Bein Bridge by hired blue taxi
10-2-2000	Early Morning - Depart for Bagan by hired car Afternoon - Visit Mounth POPA Late Afternoon - Arrive Bagan Evening - Watching the sunset at Shwe-san-daw Paya
11-2-2000	Morning - Visit famous temples in Bagan by horse-cart Afternoon - Depart for Thazi by hired car to catch the train no. 18 DN at 6.50 p.m. to Yangon.
12-2-2000	At Leisure - Union Day (Shops are closed) Night - Visit China Town
13-2-2000	Morning - Visit Bago by hired taxi Afternoon - Depart for Bangkok

Accommodations :

Yangon	Kandawgyi Palace hotel (our friend arranged for us/very comfortable and luxurious) Tel : 095-1-249255-9
Mandalay	Garden Hotel Tel : 02-27657/25184 13 US$ for an A/C double room with fridge with TV with Bathtub and breakfast, -Spacious room and clean. We were put on the 4th floor which needed lots of energy to climb up but quiet. No elevator and Stairway is under renovation at the time we visited. They can arrange breakfast in a package if requested. -very helpful staff
Bagan	Innwa Guest House, Nyaung OO, Tel : 062-70125/70126, 8 US$ for an A/C double room with attached bathroom and breakfast -rooms are clean and near the market next to Shwe Li Guest house and staff are very helpful

Transportation :

Train
Expensive (50 US$ from Yangon to Mandalay for a seat in the upper sleeper car with A/C, Each room has 4 beds with small room for storage and a small fridge and a toilet) very dirty/saw one or two rats running on the floor on the train to Yangon.
From Yangon to Mandalay A/C in our room did not work, therefore, they reduced 2 US$ each (had to talk to the company's staff and they tried to change for us with the locals in other room since the foreigner paid more than the locals(I think the locals paid only 1695 Kyats for the same ticket as it appeared on the tickets) but failed to get ones then they return 2US$ each to us). However, the weather was very cool so A/C wasn't necessary.
Our return tickets were from Mandalay but we got on the train at Thazi (50 US$ for a seat and this time no problem with the A/C) At Thazi there is a waiting room for foreigners, it charges 1 US$ to use it and is worth it since there were so many people at the station. We did have dinner at the restaurant inside the waiting room (therefore, we did not have to pay for the use of the waiting room) but the food was not good.

Boat trip from Mandalay to Mingun
200 Kyats per person for a tourist boat. The boat left at 9.00 a.m. (check with the hotel's staff for the timing, they informed us that the boat would depart at 8.30 a.m. but in fact left at around 9.00 a.m. I think they waited for more passengers) and returned from Mingun to Mandalay at 1.00 p.m. otherwise you have to find another boat.

Hired blue taxi in Mandalay
Sights in Mandalay-1500 Kyats for 5-6 hours for .
From the foot to the top of Mandalay hill at 200 Kyats per person.Paid extra for a truck
Sagaing/Awa/Amarapura/U Bein Bridge-3500 Kyats for the whole day to visit plus 5 Kyats for boat ride crossing the river to Awa historical site.
Awa historical site- 600 Kyats for horse cart for 4 persons (They initially requested us to pay 800 Kyats for 4 persons while the official rate is 500 Kyats per cart.)
from Mandalay to Bagan: Hired car with a visit to Mt. POPA and from Bagan to Thazi A Nissan saloon car which was quite comfortable for the 4 of us at 80 US$.(Mandalay to Bagan at 50 US$ and from Bagan to Thazi at 30 US$.)
Horse cart in Bagan-1500 Kyats for visit to various sights in Bagan (5-6 hours)
Boat across the river to Yele Paya in Kyauktan-400 Kyats for a boat for 4 persons(return)
Taxi from Yangon to Bago and return with visit to various sights in Bago
5000 Kyats for 5-6 hours

Admission fees :

Shwe Dagon Pagoda	5 US$
Mingun	3 US$
Mahamuni Temple	4 US$
ShweNandaw Kyaung+Atumashi Kyaung	5 US$
Mandalay Hill	3 US$
Puppet show at Garden Villa Theater	1000 Kyats
Kaungmudaw Pagoda	3 US$
Awa Site	4 US$
Bagan site	10 US$
Bago 2 US$ for each charged Pagoda or 6 US$ to all charged pagodas 4 US$ extra for the Palace (we did not enter for the palace)
Bogyoke Park at Kandawgyi lake	20 Kyats
Yele Paya in Kyauktan	donation for 1 US$/person

Impressions :

1.Sunset at Mandalay hill
2.Morning cruise from Mandalay to Mingun
3.Sunset over Bagan at Shwe-san-daw Paya
4.Sunset at U Bein Bridge

Budhism Devotees :

Bring a lot of incense sticks, candles and gold leaves for praying to Lord Buddha.

Copy Right Somdet Susomboon Bangkok, Thailand, 19 February 2000