AboutNancy B Expertise One of my all-time favorites. I`ve been there more than 10 times (for at least a month each time), done the tourist loop five times and travelled to several permit-only areas. Aside from the Yangon, Bago, Inle, Kalaw, Mandalay, Pagan, Pyay route, I`ve travelled twice to Sittwe, Mrauk-U and the Chin areas and then down to Ramree Island, Ngapali and Pathein. Been on the wonderful boat from Bhamo to Mandalay and sojourned in the south a bit past Moulmein. Most recently I trekked in the northern Kachin state, camped and stayed with the Rawang tribe, for 2 weeks on the way to Phonekan Razi to see the Himalayas from the east. I`ve taken nearly every mode of transport--trains, planes, buses, boats, bikes, oxcarts, trekking on foot. I can answer logistical questions about airfare, hotels, restaurants, trekking, trains, restricted/open areas and, especially, cultural/religious sites and their significance.
Experience The world is a fascinating place and nothing reveals this more thoroughly than exploring faraway lands. I've got a penchant for the exotic, a friendly face and a true curiousity about the people, art and life.
I am going to Myanmar for 8 days as part of my South East Asia trip. The question I'd like to ask is about hotels/guest houses. All across the net I read lots of stories about decent guest houses for prices as low as $5 per night, however I can not find any further information about them.
Could you recommend me any such hotels in Bagan and Mandalay. And also, do I need to do any bookings or can I just walk in and expect them to have a room. And in case they don't - just head for the next one. In case I have to - how do I do that?
Also few other questions:
1) Do you know anything about ferries from Bagan to Mandalay and do they run on daily basis (in April)?
2) I will be taking a train from Mandalay to Yangon. Will I be able to buy tickets just in station two days in advance?
Regards,
G
Answer Hi, G,
Most $5 hotels don't have websites . . . but in Yangon I'd recommend the Beautyland downtown. Or May Shan near Sule Pagoda. Personally, I find other cheap places in the 20s in Chinatown to be firetraps. In Mandalay, the popular AD1 is right in the market (which is great) but is noisy and dirty. I have yet to stay in a cheap hotel I can recommend in Mandalay (though you must go to the reasonable restaurant Pakkoku Daw Malay . . . or Aye Myit Thar). And yes, for these hotels, you can usually just walk in. If you have to choose another one, you can look in the Lonely Planet guide for suggestions.
Ferries from Mandalay TO Bagan usually run daily, and I believe they are just as frequent running the other way. This portion of the river is usually no problem (unlike the Yangon-Pagan run) at most times of year. The road is different and less relaxing but interesting and you can stop in fascinating Pakkoku. But the boat (near Mandalay) lets you have a marvelous view of my beloved Sagaing across the river.
Train tickets, generally no problem, but you can always get them (to be sure) when you first arrive in Yangon for the Mandalay TO Yangon run). You might want to because if you coincide with Asian New Year festivities, it may get busy.
