5 DAYS : MANDALAY ( BAGAN - INLE )

5 DAYS: MANDALAY (BAGAN - INLE)

February 4-8, 2017

When thinking of Burma, what comes to mind first?...

... labor history Thanaka Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon Bagan Strange food from our home There is probably no tourist spot that will attract it to be in the place you want as much as it is, right?

Discover the hidden gems of Mandalay, Myanmar, and let it inspire you to add this captivating destination to your travel bucket list.

This time, it's just the two of us... as usual.

Link to YouTube video

Approximate total cost at the end.

Bangkok - Mandalay

Traveling to Burma can be done in several ways, but the most time-saving option is likely to be by plane.

I have chosen MYANMAR AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL (14:30 - 16:05).

If you have the opportunity to travel to a particular country, consider trying the national airline.

We need to catch our flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai citizens can enter Myanmar without a visa for tourism purposes for a maximum of 14 days.

We purchased a SIM card at the airport from TELENOR, which has a logo similar to the blue one we have at home. It cost 15 USD and provided 5GB of internet for the Mandalay-Inle route.

Our plan is to take a car to Inle Lake after arriving in Mandalay.

You can inquire about car rentals at the airport information center and pay there.

The bus departs at 7:30 PM and arrives in Inle Lake around 4:00 AM. The fare is 15 USD. The bus is the same size as a bus in Thailand, but it is more like a minivan.

The seats are slightly wider.

A photo of a person sitting next to a bus, taken surreptitiously.

We managed to get the last two seats, which means the back seat is now our luggage space. The spot where the guy in the blue shirt is standing is where we were sitting.

Okay, let's move on.

While waiting for the bus, we took a stroll around the bus station to grab some dinner.

This is our restaurant… Honestly, we couldn't eat much. The rice was like fried rice with peanuts sprinkled on top, and it was very oily. However, there were some side dishes that were still edible.

We arrived in Inle at around four in the morning. It was very cold, around 12 degrees Celsius according to my phone.

A tourist entry fee of 10 USD per person is required.

The original plan was to watch the sunset and then rent a motorbike to explore the village. However, we had to find a room to stay in order to provide...

Warm

Upon exiting the vehicle, an individual approached and inquired about the availability of a taxi (although it was actually a tuk-tuk). They then proceeded to ask if the passenger required a hotel.

I have hotels for you at 18 USD and 23 USD.

We opted for the 18 USD double bed room with ensuite bathroom, hot water, and WIFI at FRIDAY INN.

Around 8 am, we woke up and had breakfast. Then, we booked tickets to Bagan from the hotel counter.

13,000 Ks per person. The bus departs at 20:00. It is the same bus as before.

We then asked him to contact a boat for a tour of Inle Lake for 25,000 Ks, which could accommodate around 4 people, but we were only 2.

The hotel owner kindly offered us a complimentary ride to the pier.

Our boat is about this size.

The boat captain, or rather, the ship's captain, spent approximately 7 hours with me.

This is roughly what happened along the way.

The air around 9 am was pleasantly cool. Blankets were provided on the boat.

The cool breeze that brushes against our faces makes us forget that the sun is still shining brightly.

Don't forget your sunscreen.

This is a fisherman from here.

Have you ever seen a floating vegetable garden? It must be the highlight of this place. It's huge!

The method involves gathering a thick layer of floating plants, such as water hyacinth, and then covering them with soil. Vegetables can then be planted on top.

The majority of time spent is on local arts and crafts, such as silverware and lotus fiber fabrics, the occasional floating market, and lunch (which has a long wait).

This is real lotus fiber silk... It is made from real lotus fibers... It is more expensive than silk.

Some of these scales are still in use today.

There is also a betel nut shop.

"Want an orange? ... Auntie didn't say that."

We continued our journey, passing by several weirs along the way, until we reached the SHWE INN TAIN PAGODA.

View on the way to SHWE INN TAIN PAGODA

The walkway here is quite beautiful, with many pairs of pillars. However, there are also many souvenir shops.

This translates to: "There is a camera fee of 500 Ks here."

Enjoy lunch at a lakeside tourist restaurant (if possible, find a local restaurant to eat at yourself, as tourist restaurants are relatively expensive and time-consuming).

We then stopped by the "Jumping Cat" temple.

On the way back, there were still some to be seen.

We then took a boat back to the pier, settled our expenses, and hailed a tuk-tuk for 3000 Ks per person.

After returning to the accommodation to shower, charge my phone and camera, I waited for the car to pick me up and take me to the bus stop for Bagan.

The car that picked us up was slightly late.

The place where we waited for the bus to Bagan.

According to the Lonely Planet Myanmar guidebook, the following are recommended places to visit:

1. CULTURE MUSEUM

2. MINGALA MARKET

3. YADANA MAN AUNG PAYA

We probably won't make it there .... haha

To be continued: INLE - BAGAN

After approximately three hours on the bus, it stopped for a break. The air outside was extremely cold, truly frigid. Once everyone had disembarked, the driver closed the door, just as he had done when we boarded in Mandalay. This left us standing outside in the biting cold. (If you're traveling during the winter, be sure to pack warm clothing, as the nighttime bus journeys can be very chilly.)

Upon entry, a tourist fee of 20 USD per person is required. The taxi will take you to the payment location; there is no need to worry about this.

After a twenty-minute drive, we arrived at the SHWE SAN DAW Pagoda, our designated sunrise viewing spot. We reached the site around 4:30 AM, making us the first to arrive. Due to the early hour, we decided to wait in the car for a while, hoping for other visitors to join us on the pagoda.

The sun rises around six o'clock in the morning.

The balloon will arrive shortly.

It's all here.

Floating along.

Around eight o'clock, we returned to our accommodation, showered, had breakfast, and took a nap. We arranged for a driver to pick us up around noon to take us sightseeing to pagodas and other points of interest, including the sunset. The cost was 35,000 Ks.

If you have about two days to explore Old Bagan, renting an E-BIKE for 7,000 Ks (one charge lasts 5 hours) is a cost-effective option. It can accommodate two people, and I regret not having the opportunity to try it myself.

We visited a great many places, perhaps as many as ten.

I cannot recall the name of this temple, but... the highlight is viewing the top of the pagoda from a small pond beside it.

This is my lunch. It tastes pretty good.

According to the LONELY PLANET guidebook, some of the most noteworthy pagodas include:

1. Ananda Pahto

2. Dhammayangyi Pahto

3. Shwesandaw Paya, also known as Buledi (Sunset - Sunrise)

4. Upali Thein

5. Shwezigon Pagoda

6. Sulamani Pahto

7. Abeyadana Pahto

Many pagodas here are currently undergoing restoration due to the significant damage they sustained during the recent major earthquake.

Wherever we went, we were surrounded by bamboo groves encircling the pagoda.

We then went to watch the sunset at Bulethi.

Tonight, we are staying at SHEW NA DI GUEST HOUSE for 30 USD. The room can accommodate 3 people and has a shared bathroom. Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a convenient location are included. The guesthouse is close to the pagoda, morning market, and restaurants.

We woke up around 4:30 AM and rented an E-BIKE for 4000 Ks to watch the sunrise at Bulethi again. There are two pagodas next to each other. I think the big one in the back is better for watching the sunset, and the small one in the front is better for watching the sunrise. The small one has fewer seats and is a bit more difficult to climb.

This morning, I didn't take many pictures… I was too busy watching the sunrise.

We arrived around 7:00 AM to drive to the local morning market.

After wandering around for a while, I had to return to the hotel to wait for a car to take me to the bus station in Mandalay.

The bus departs from Bagan at 8:30 AM and arrives in Mandalay around 1:00 PM. It takes approximately 6 hours to reach the hotel, arriving around 3:00 PM.

The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service from the bus station, eliminating the need for additional transportation costs.

After washing our faces and packing our belongings, we hired a taxi for 35,000 Ks to explore the area.

We visited approximately three or four temples, with an entrance fee of around 10,000 Ks. This fee granted us access to multiple temples.

Teakwood Temple ...

U Bein Bridge, the world's longest teakwood bridge.

After watching the sunset, the driver took us to another temple to pray, but as usual, I didn't take any pictures.

The driver was instructed to exchange an additional 1,200 baht.

We had dinner at the hotel that evening.

Mandalay offers a variety of interesting places to visit, including:

1. Kuthodaw Pagoda

2. Mahamuni Buddha Temple

3. Shwenandaw Monastery

4. Kuthodaw Pagoda

5. U-Bieng Bridge

6. The Royal Palace of Mandalay

Taxis can be contacted from the MANDALAY - BANGKOK hotel.

The next morning, we had to wake up early again, around 4:30 am, to watch the sunrise at Mandalay Hill. The entrance fee was 1000 Ks/PP.

The morning air here is not as cool as in Bagan or Inle, but it is just right.

After retrieving our luggage from the hotel, we enjoyed a breakfast before visiting the Mahamuni Buddha temple in Mandalay.

It is believed that rubbing a specific part of the statue will alleviate pain in the corresponding part of your body.

Entry to this temple requires long pants. If you do not have them, you can rent a sarong for 500 kyats.

The translation of the sentence "รูปจนรูปปั้นมันกันเลยทีเดียว" from Thai to English is:

"The statue is so realistic that it looks like a real person."

The taxi will then take you to the airport around nine in the morning. ...

We spent 35,000 Ks on transportation.

For approximate costs

Flight cost 4750

Exchanged 8100 baht, divided into 100 USD (must be new bills only!!!)

The rest is in cash.

Exchange an additional 600 baht per person at that location.

The majority of our expenses were incurred on travel, fees, and accommodation.

For those who have difficulty eating, instant noodles or ready-to-eat meals might be a good option.

I have 13 USD left.

It was an incredible journey... two nights in a hotel + half a day, and two more nights sleeping on the bus.

Waking up early every day... The weather is cold, but I didn't bring any cold protection.

Additional Information

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I apologize if the information is incorrect.

Thank you.