Mandalay & Around - Myanmar (Burma) - page 447

Pedalling Mandalay's web of shaded lanes you'll pass many unvisited monasteries
and have ample chances for encounters and real-life insights. This is just one pos-
sible route.
Turning off bustling 86th St can feel as if you've entered a village. If 23rd St is
flooded beyond the redbrick-towered Christ Cathedral substitute the street a
block further south (24th St). Briefly follow 87th St, then opposite the spired, pink
St Michael's Catholic Church turn west, zigzagging through residential alleys
to 88th St.
West of the T-junction 25th St sports a few remnant timber and bamboo-weave
homes and one of Mandalay's jaggery workshops . Visit grand Eindawya
Paya then veer west off shady 89th St just before a crocodile bridge represent-
ing Ngamoe Yeik, the servant of tragic Burmese-chronicle hero Min Nandar.
Take the narrow east-west lane between wooden and colonial-style monastery
residences. After Khin Makantaik wind past Asumtaik and Sakutaik
monasteries and spot a house-workshop that creates rice-puff snacks in big
sweet-smelling woks. Where 91st St makes a dogleg, a mosaic colonnade leads in-
to Chanthaya Paya , where the most precious buddha image supposedly dates
back to the reign of Indian emperor Ashoka. Chanthaya's golden stupa looks par-
ticularly photogenic in afternoon light. The best viewpoints are across a long
teak footbridge which could be touted as Mandalay's own mini U-Bein Bridge were
it not for the smell of rubbish.
Sweep around the impressively colourful Jin Taw Yan Chinese Temple
emerging onto Strand Rd where the Ayeyarwady River offers a series of boat
berths, with fascinating cargo bustle beyond 26th St. Enjoy the riverside scenes
with a meal and show at

Mya Nandar , or a chilled beer at Cafe YMH or a

rooftop cocktail at

Ayarwaddy River View Hotel .

Activities
Behind the zoo, the outdoor, Olympic-sized Yatanaban Swimming Pool MAP
GOOGLE MAP (admission K2000; 6am-6pm) is OK, but don't use the diving board or
you'll pike yourself into a stagnant fountain puddle. For a fee nonguests can use attract-
ive outdoor pools at hotels Mandalay City ($5), Mandalay Swan (guest/nonguest free/$5;
7am-8pm) and Mandalay Hill Resort ($15).

Asia Centre Driving Range GOLF
MAP GOOGLE MAP