Mandalay & Around - Myanmar (Burma) - page 478

Aung-Aung (

09 4026 48306) Friendly, helpful driver.

Ko Zaw ( 09 4025 12327; [e-mail] ) Thoughtful, English-speaking
motobike taxi driver.

Zimi ( 09 4315 9591) Daughter of Moustache Brother Lu Maw, Zimi is probably the
only female motorcycle taxi driver in Mandalay.

PICK-UPS
The public transport system uses pick-up trucks that make regular lengthy stops, rarely
leaving till jammed full. Route numbers are displayed above the cab in Burmese script.
Different coloured boards sometimes denote variant routings.
From 25th/83rd diagonally opposite Nylon Hotel:
» (1), (5), (19) via 78th St, south to the train station, east on 30th, then 5 and 19 head east
on 19th while 1 heads north up 62nd
» (16) to the base of Mandalay Hill; blue sign goes via train station
From 84th St at 29th St:
» (8) passes Mahamuni Paya en route to Amarapura
» (10) to the Highway bus station

TRISHAW
Traditionally the main form of city transport, pedal trishaws are now relatively rare ex-
cept around the markets. Fares include city centre to base of Mandalay Hill for K4000 re-
turn and all-day hire from around K10,000.
English-speaking drivers include eloquent Ko Re ( [e-mail] ) and Mr
'Take it Easy' ( [e-mail] ; 27th St, 80/81).

AROUND MANDALAY
For many visitors, the historic sites around Mandalay trump anything in the city itself.
Iconic attractions include U-Bein Bridge in Amarapura, Sagaing's temple-studded hills
and horse-cart rides around the rural ruins of Inwa.
Entry to Inwa's two main sites and Amarapura's Bagaya Kyaung are included in Man-
dalay's K10,000 'combo' ticket. A separate K3000 ticket for Mingun and Sagaing is
patchily enforced. No one checks for tickets at the other sites.
A popular option is to combine Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa into a full-day trip by
motorcycle taxi (K15,000) or taxi (K30,000 to K50,000).
For most taxi drivers and the J&T Minibus Tour ( 09 4253 13392;
[e-mail] ; 69 33rd St, 71/72; per person/car K17,000/40,000) , 'Inwa' means drop-