Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Shwe Linmin Paya
C1
8
Shwe Sin Tai
A3
Eating
9
Renaissance Cafe
B2
Sights
U-Bein Bridge
WOODEN FOOTBRIDGE
The world's longest teak footbridge gently curves 1300yd across shallow
Taungthaman
Lake
, creating one of Myanmar's most photographed sites. In the dry season it feels sur-
really high and mostly crosses seasonal vegetable gardens.
But after the summer rains, the whole area becomes a big lake and water laps just below
the floor planks. Just a few of the 1086 poles on which it stands have been replaced by
concrete supports.
A great time to visit the bridge is just after sunrise when hundreds of villagers and
monks commute back and forth across it. The light is often best around an hour before
sunset, but by then there will be a large number of tourists and trinket sellers. A popular
visiting tactic is to walk across the bridge then return by paddle-boat (K5000) as the sun
is setting. However, as boats are usually only available at the bridge's western end
(where tour buses arrive), you'll need to make return pick-up arrangements before you
walk across. Or simply ask your taxi/motorbike driver to drop you at the eastern end.
Maha Ganayon Kyaung
BUDDHIST MONASTERY
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Just west of U-Bein Bridge, this sprawling monastery is a pleasantly meditative
place for most of the day. But at about 11am, busloads of tourists arrive to gawp while
the whole monastery sits down to eat, their silence pierced by the endless rattle of camera
shutters. Worth avoiding.
Shwe Sin Tai
SILK WORKSHOP
MAP
GOOGLE MAP