Blogs from Mandalay, Mandalay Region, Burma, Asia - page 14

Ridiculous Mandalay and the Mustache Brothers Mandalay is Baman for “bloody hot place without air-conditioning”. It’s worth noting that nearly all guesthouses have air-conditioners (“as advertised”) but don’t use them because the power is out. Unlike Yangon where the power is reasonably predictable, the power in Mandalay may be off for a couple of days, then on for an hour, then off again. I got a surprise one night when I walked into my room and the aircon was working. “What’s the story?” “A government official is in town tonight.” The senior government officials must think they are pretty popular as everyone in town wants them to stay as long as possible. I asked Lu Zaw about it. Apparently, government officials make money by buying gasoline at official prices and selling it for twice the price ... read more

I'm alive!!! No Internet in Northern Myanmar. Interestingly enough there actually is no Bay in Mandalay. The Vegas Hotel is I guess made up. Lying liars and the lies they tell. (There's a casino in Vegas called Mandalay Bay) Mandalay is hot, dirty, and full of poverty. I only stayed here for 3 days, and though I enjoyed myself, I can easily say this is my least favorite city. I'd have to say the coolest things are the Four Ancient Cities, and the Walls of the Palace (not the pallace), oh and of course the Chapatis place that serves unbelievable indian food. The one thing that really bothers me or should I say effects me in this citty is all the poverty. Example: I saw this lady begging for money in front the nylon ice cream ... read more

It is an awkward night's rest on the top bunk, hopping and rocking the rails from Yangon to the old capital of Mandalay. The monk on the bottom bunk is awake. The doctor lies burrowed under his blanket, snoring. I watch out the window, the sun rise above the Shan mountains. We approach Mandalay three hours behind schedule. The doctor is irate speaking into his mobile, arranging his day and return trip that evening. Taungthaman Lake passes by outside the window. White pagodas rise above the greenery along the far bank where in the distance I can make out the century old U Bein Bridge. Outside the train station I manage to find the oldest trishaw driver and the most rundown trishaw. Every 400m we stop to fix the chain, the seat, the breaks, the chain ... read more

Upon finally reaching the big city, I somehow feel tricked; for instead of springing into the modernity that metropolises often bring, it seems that I stepped back into a bygone decade. Bus videos censor through the “love scenes,” music videos depict a would-be suitor trying desperately to wrest his young love from her parents’ ever-watchful eye for an innocent handhold, the after-dusk city streets are empty save for the occasional ice cream parlor patrons making their way home. The movie theater is showcasing an American film featuring Angelina Jolie, who might find the plump, size 12 representation of herself on the hand-painted poster marquee somewhat less than flattering - but for the Burmese ideal of an attractive woman, she probably looked like heaven. Ladies of even the most modest means, in their ubiquitous ankle-length skirts and ... read more

From the geographical point of view, we were already quite close to southern Myanmar on Kho Phi Phi, but we could not find out whether it was possible to cross the border there, since information on Myanmar is very difficult to come by. For this reason, Myanmar has been a stumbling block of our travel itinerary since the very beginning. We originally planned to start there and cross over to India, but most of Myanmar’s land borders are closed, and furthermore this changes very quickly. So we ended up in Bangkok, considering Thailand’s capital the only gateway to Myanmar. But even in the city where everything can normally be organised for you, they knew painfully little and told us that the only way to enter Myanmar was from Bangkok by plane and that you were obliged ... read more