Hotel By The Red Canal Mandalay

Mandalay was a great city for antique shopping. It is as illegal to take Antiques out of Burma as it is to sell them. We found our favorite Antique shop on a back alley in Burmese Shri Lankan's garage. He had everything for British Swards to Hill Tribe Head dresses and 17th century monetary doors. Never mind how he got them. As I was searching through the treasures Brian and the Burmese Shri Lankan where making small talk. He asked Brian where got his watch it looked like the one he saw in a ...

Mandalay was the last royal capital and was founded about the same time Macy's was opened in New York City - as in not that long ago. Until it became a crossroads for traffic from China, it was a quaint and dusty place. It's the second biggest city in the Country now, still quaint, and still a bit dusty. For such a large city it's a great place with rickshaws, trishaws, and bikes far outnumbering cars and trucks. Rush hour is a massive stream of two wheeled social scene. Our most excellent ho...

Took a 9.30am Yangon Airways flight from Yangon domestic terminal for Mandalay. It reminded me of Bangalore airport 10 years ago without the makeover. But the staff were really helpful and the coffee bar nor bad even though the prices, by local standards, were insane. 2000 Kyat/$2 for a coffee. We were concerned at the thought of flying Yangon Airways as none of Burma's airlines meet international safety certification but we needn't have worried. The plane was fairly new and the crew highly p...

Met up with Sai Moon, a guide who I'd first met on Trip Advisor. Great to finally put a face to an email address. He introduced us to Tun Tun who was going to be our guide for the next two days. We started at the Shwe Nandaw Kyaung monastary which is the only remaining structure from the old royal palace. Then drove up Mandalay Hill. Damned site easier in a car I have to say but the view somehow isn't worth it. See it if you have car anyway but don't go out of your way. Then the Royal Palace ...

Tun Tun suggested that we might like to gate crash a wedding reception that morning on our way to Saigaing and Ava. Stopped at an outdoor reception where a friend of his in the travel business was getting married. Burmese wedding etiquette is quite simple. You tell your neighbors 7 doors each side that you're getting married and then you are. You have party and then at noon you're husband and wife, assuming the dowry has been paid. One of the lovely things was the food. I was expecting symbol...

HE SAID: We knew that Mandalay Hill was one of the main places for tourists to visit. Everyone that comes to Mandalay knows that the hill is the place to be at sunset. Everyone except us seemed to know that it's best to taxi to the top as opposed to walk. The walk wouldn't have been so bad if we were allowed to wear shoes and socks. This problem is that this place is filthy. One of the most dirty places I have ever been to and especially walked on barefoot. Dirt is layers thick, dust is every...