Mandalay & Around - Myanmar (Burma) - page 477

Getting Around

TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
Much of the one-hour drive into town from Mandalay Airport is through fields and
scrubland swaying with mango trees and palmyra palms and liberally dotted with gilded
pagodas. If you're arriving in Myanmar for the first time it's a great first taste.
There are free shuttle buses for Air Asia customers (9am from 79th St, 26/28) and
Golden Myanmar customers (5.30am from Sedona Hotel, picking up at Hotel Mandalay
5.45am). Otherwise there's no airport bus.
Several taxi companies with booths in the arrivals area offer shared taxis at K12,000/
4000 per vehicle/seat. These include Shwe Myanmar ( 02-72325; 34th St, 79/80) , Great
Taxi ( 02-32534) , Bardo ( 02-24561) and Seven Diamond Express MAP
GOOGLE MAP ( 02-22365; 32nd St, 82/83) . Even if you choose the K4000 'shared' op-
tion you'll still be collected/dropped at your hotel as long as it's reasonably central.
Coming from town, book one day ahead if possible. Cheaper guesthouses will order you
an airport car for about the same price as a shared taxi, but big hotels ask far more. Taxis
on the street typically want double, as they'll find it hard to get a return ride.

BICYCLE & MOTORCYCLE RENTAL
On foot, Mandalay's vast size can rapidly become overwhelming. If you're not intimid-
ated by the traffic, renting a bicycle or moped can be a great solution. Several rental
agents in the central backpacker area charge K1500/10,000 per day for bicycles/motor-
bikes including long-established Mr Jerry MAP GOOGLE MAP (83rd St, 25/26;
8am-8pm) plus Mann Restaurant MAP GOOGLE MAP (83rd St, 25/26) , Mr Bean MAP
GOOGLE MAP (83rd St, 24/25) and Morris's Bikes (25th St, 82/83) . Several hotels rent
bicycles, too. Cyclists are advised to carry a head torch at night.
To go further afield, expat-run Mandalay Motorcycle MAP

( 09

GOOGLE MAP

4440 22182; www.mandalaymotorbike.com ; 32nd St, 79/80; city/trail bike per day K12,000/
40,000) has 125cc and 150cc trail bikes. The office is only staffed by appointment and
supply is limited so call ahead to book a bike. And do discuss route plans before you
head out, as some routes are out of bounds or need permits.

MOTORCYCLE TAXI
Motorcycle taxis lurk near hotels and on many a city corner. Expect to pay K1000 for a
short hop, K1500 across the centre, and K10,000 all-day hire within Mandalay (or
K15,000 including Amarapura, Inwa and Sagaing). These drivers speak decent English: