Mandalay & Around - Myanmar (Burma) - page 483

Near either end of U-Bein Bridge there are eateries and food stalls where you can buy
noodles, tea and roasted crab.
Renaissance Cafe BURMESE, THAI
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( [e-mail] ; 3 Salain; set meals K7500-13,000) Partly a showcase for the
company's attractive modern rattan furniture and tableware, this charming restaurant is
the smartest in Amarapura and offers a variety of multi-dish Thai, Burmese or European
meals; your guide or driver eats for free. Almost next door the 'lost-in-the-jungle'
Amarapura Restaurant looks delightful but food quality is less reliable.
Getting There & Away
Crammed-full pick-up 8 from 84th St at 29th St in Mandalay (K500, 45 minutes) passes
along the main Sagaing road. For U-Bein Bridge, get off just after it crosses the railway
and walk east or take a horse cart (K2000).
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Inwa (Ava)
Since 1364, Inwa (Ava) has taken four turns as royal capital. Indeed, upper Burma was
often referred to as the 'Kingdom of Ava', even well after the royal court finally aban-
doned Inwa for Amarapura in 1841. Despite its rich history, the site today is a remark-
ably rural backwater sparsely dotted with ruins, monastic buildings and stupas. It's a
world away from the city bustle of Mandalay. For many visitors, exploring by horse cart
is part of the charm, though cycling around allows more flexibility, village stops and hu-
man interactions.
The Mandalay 'combo ticket' ( Click here ) is theoretically required to visit Inwa, but
it's only checked for those entering Bagaya Kyaung and Maha Aungmye Bonzan.