Yangon to Mandalay

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Day 8-Wednesday-January 20 This morning we checked out of the Sule Shangri-La Hotel and boarded the buses for the drive to the airport and our flight to Mandalay. We were told that the person who owns the AmaWaterways line also owns the Mann Yadanarpon Airlines. We arrived at the Mandalay International Airport and were bused to the AmaPura where the ship was docked at the Gawun Jetty on the Ayeyarwady River. This spelling of the river is correct...but it is also shown as Irrawaddy. After we got settled in our suite, we watched from our deck as a number of women were carrying the luggage on their heads down the many steps from the road where the buses were parked. Also we watched as several women were doing their laundry in the river and putting it on the stones of the bank to dry in the sun. At 6:00 we got our briefing, safety drill and were introduced to members of the staff. At 7:00 we enjoyed our welcome dinner. Following dinner, we departed the dock and started our journey down the river for our first stop, Mingun.

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Photos

Local Yangon bus
They do pack them in!

"I love Myanmar"
That's what Annette's new purse says.

Arriving in Mandalay
Our flight disembarks at the Mandalay Airport.

The AmaPura
This is our boat (taken at a later date). It has 28 suites (56 passengers) and was built in 2014. It is 188 feet long and has a crew of 30.

Our suite
Number 304

Welcome aboard!
We received a rose upon boarding.

Our bath and slider
The sliding door goes out to our small deck.

Women bringing our bags.
These ladies are carrying the bags on their heads from the buses down the many stairs to the boat, which will then be delivered to our suites.

Laundry day
All of this laundry was just washed in the river right behind our boat and placed on the stones to dry in the sun.

Colorful patchwork
A closer look at the drying laundry.

Scrub-a-dub
Three ladies in a tub.

Top deck
Relax in the sun or shade.

Dining room
Our first welcome dinner on board.

The Lounge
This big room is on the top deck. It has a bar and is where we meet for presentations or relaxing inside. Today we met here for our safety drill and information.