Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Local Transport
Larger towns in Myanmar offer a variety of city buses
(ka),
bicycle rickshaws or trishaws
(
saiq-ka,
for sidecar), horse carts
(myint hlei),
ox carts, vintage taxis
(taxi),
more modern
little three-wheelers somewhat akin to Thai
tuk-tuks
(
thoun bein,
meaning 'three wheels'),
tiny four-wheeled 'blue taxi' Mazdas (
lei bein,
meaning 'four wheels') and modern Japan-
ese pick-up trucks (
lain ka,
meaning 'line car').
Small towns rely heavily on horse carts and trishaws as the main mode of local trans-
port. However, in big cities (Yangon, Mandalay, Pathein, Mawlamyine and Taunggyi) pub-
lic buses take regular routes along the main avenues for a fixed per-person rate, usually
K25 to K100.
Standard rates for taxis, trishaws and horse carts are sometimes 'boosted' for foreign-
ers. Generally a ride from the bus station to a central hotel - often a distance of 1.25
miles or more - is between K1000 and K1500. Short rides around the centre can be ar-
ranged for between K500 and K1000. You may need to bargain a bit. Sometimes first-
time offers are several times higher than the going rate.
Pick-up Trucks
Japanese-made pick-up trucks feature three rows of bench seats in the covered back.
Most pick-ups connect short-distance destinations, making many stops along the way to
pick up people or cargo. They are often packed (yet somehow never 'full' according to the
driver). Pick-ups trace some useful or necessary routes, such as from Mandalay to
Amarapura, from Myingyan to Meiktila, from Bagan to Mt Popa, and up to the Golden
Rock at Kyaiktiyo. Unlike buses, they go regularly during the day.
Fares are not necessarily cheaper than those charged for local bus trips of the same
length, and prices often go up more after dark. You can, however, pay 25% to 50% extra
for a seat up the front. It's often worth the extra expense, if you don't want to do scrunch
duty. Sometimes you may share your spot with a monk riding for free; usually you get ex-
actly what you pay for ('the whole front'), unlike in some other parts of Southeast Asia.
Pick-ups often start from the bus station (in some towns they linger under a big banyan
tree in the centre) and then, unlike many buses, make rounds through the central streets
to snare more passengers.
Tours
Many high-end hotels and tour companies offer day tours. We list sources for less-ex-
pensive, private guides.
