6th January 2015 Mandalay-MYANMAR (BURMA)

6th January  Mandalay-MYANMAR (BURMA)

We’re on the Road to Mandalay (as the song goes)

The morning we spent getting a  bit of shopping and a walk around the market before our "wheels" arrived to take us to the airport as we  say goodbye to Kalaw.

 Dried and salted fish - Urrgghhhhh oh and flies

(Above) a pulse and nut trader on his mobile phone - 3 years ago, a SIM card would cost about $2000 but now they are $1.50 as the government raises its taxation incomes from other means.

After exploring the local market in Kalaw this morning where Mandy added to her longi (funny frocks to blokes) collection with 3 cheeky little cotton numbers we had run up in the back of the market (as you do…) we headed off on the next leg of our travels.

Mandy getting her Longi sorted and her little boy wandering who on earth we all were (above)

Back to Heho airport for our next exciting flight with Air Bagan (don’t check the safety record before you board…bad move). Janette found the Duty Free area and added to her extensive wine collection a bottle of best Myanmar paint stripper complete with tasting session!

The choice of wines was extensive !!

On the way to Mandalay - different airline .  Just done check the safety record.  Mandalay is one of the few places that changed its name after the military take over

Arrived in Mandalay late afternoon to a new guide and a new driver and to a very pretty little hotel which is a teak mansion by the Red Canal to the usual charming Myanmar welcome (damp hand towels and a ginger and lemongrass drink and a line up of staff and porters and then requisitioned a taxi to head out into deepest Mandalay for dinner.  You can book a taxi and they will wait until you have had your dinner and take you home all for about $15.

Rudyard Kipling wrote about the road to Mandalay but it was a river and not a road but the river Irrawaddy.  "A Road Less Travelled" also is based on this famous city.

All of Indochina has chilies in the food to varying strengths.  The food in every country has been fantastic and Myanmar is no different

The people in every part of the country have been so friendly to us and in Myanmar, few have seen westerners before 2010. Many have still not seen westerners which is why everybody stares at us here.

We changed some money for local. You can use brand new US dollars or local "Kyats".  This pile of cash about 2" thick is about £200 but it does not fit in wallet!!