With such an alluring name, Mandalay, you can be forgiven for expecting gilted buildings, leafy avenues, and beautiful structure. What you see instead is a sprawling city with drab buildings and a streets with little soul.
However, a few steps from the main road leads you to discover the Mandalay that in a sense, is what it is— a village disguised as a city.
A.D1 Hotel where I am staying is right next to the outdoor market so it was great fun to simply walk around and feel the pulsating life of ordinary Burmese.
The main road is just a few hundred meters and getting there you get to see vendors selling all sorts of food and produce. Here’s a stall selling some sweets.
All the things you need to be a good Buddhist are found in a small street. How about some paper money for offerings?
Here’s a temple at the end of my street.
I would have loved to experience riding one of these pick-ups but with no Burmese language skills, what would have otherwise been a simple affair could turn comically complicated.
So I stuck to motorbike taxis.
However, leaving the Mandalay Marionette Theater one evening, there was only a tri’-shaw around. It was slow and cold but a nice way to get around. No, this isn’t the one I took. Looks like this, though.
Viola! There are numerous working atms in Mandalay. I tried one with my Visa card and it dispensed the cash I wanted.
There’s a mall too!
Should you need to take home a marble buddha, there is an entire street for that.
If you take your time, you will discover interesting architecture.
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