THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 472

Destinations Hopin (3 daily; 5hr); Mandalay (4 daily; 16-22hr); Naba (3 daily; 9hr 30min);
Shwebo (3 daily; 19hr).
Information The YMCA produces a photocopied map of Myitkyina and its outskirts.
GETTING AROUND
By motorbike taxi A motorbike taxi around town will cost K500-1000, while a trip up to
the area around Manau Park is K2000 and the journey to the airport K3000. The drivers wait
at designated spots on the streets, marked “Taxi”.
By cyclo-rickshaw A cyclo-rickshaw around downtown Myitkyina will cost K500.
By bike and motorbike The YMCA rents out bicycles for K2000/day and motorbikes for a
fairly steep K15,000/day.
Tours The staff at the YMCA can arrange day-trips by motorbike to the sights around My-
itkyina with one of their English-speaking staff for around K20,000/day - pretty decent,
considering the cost of renting a motorbike alone. Snowland Tours ( 074 23499, snow-
landmyanmar.com ; on Aung San Rd can arrange tours further afield in Kachin State.
ACCOMMODATION
Central Myitkyina is stuffed with cheap accommodation, little of which is open to foreign
travellers - nowhere with “guesthouse” in its name will allow you to stay.
Hotel Madira Yuzana Rd 074 29455, [e-mail] . Although its loc-
ation (2km northwest of the railway station towards the airport) is a little inconvenient, the
clean, bright rooms here are a cut above its tow n-c entre competition, with international TV
channels and minibars. Variable wi-fi available. $65
NanthidaRiversideHotel ZawJunRd 07422362. Overlookingtheriver,thisold-school,
state-owned hotel is in a slightly awkward location at the northern end of Zaw Jun Rd, just
south of Hsu Taung Pye. Avoid the dingy bungalows, and opt instead for on e of the spacious
rooms in the main building with high ceilings, bathtubs and river views. $45
New Light 70 Zaygyi St 074 23576, [e-mail] . The cheapest
white-tiled rooms here are small and neat with shared bathrooms and cheerful Chinese-style
decoration, while their pricier (K40,000) counterparts have slightly ragg ed en-s uite bath-
rooms. Not to be confused with the New Light Guesthouse near the YMCA . K20,000
Palm Springs Resort 7/8 Sitarpu Quarter 074 22938, palmspringresort.com.mm .
Around 4km north of town, this luxury hotel has wonderfully comfortable rooms set in bun-
galows around nicely landscaped garde ns, a tiny infinity pool overlooking the river, as well
as substantial government connections. $120
United 38 Thitsa St 074 22085, [e-mail] . Rooms here are
clean and pleasant, and the slightly more expensive ones ($45) have balconies facing the