Touring Mandalay

Reckless motorcycles drivers, excessive heat, firecrackers and cheap delicious Indian food is what comes to mind when I think about Mandalay, Myanmar. Being our final stop before flying back to Thailand we wanted to soak up all this city and country had to offer before taking off. 

While walking around sweating buckets we we’re approached by a local tour guide who provided tours to all the major sites on the back of his motorbike. While we usually would do this on our own, the price was decent enough and we wouldn’t have to worry about finding these locations ourselves. To this day I’m still amazed that I’m actually alive to tell you about this adventure. 

We were picked up and before long we were both holding on for dear life. I’m pretty sure this guy dreams about being a dare devil as I’ve never been more scared in my life. It’s one thing to drive like crazy, but it’s another when you live in a city as busy and crazy as Mandalay. Weaving in and out of other motorcycles, bicyclist, cows and naked babies on the dirt roads didn’t seem to slow this guy down a bit. All this was escalated with fireworks being shot onto the road and no working headlight to guide us. 

While we saw many lovely temples, the religious highlight was a temple made completely of beautiful teak wood. We also visited the 1.2km U Bein Bridge where local fisherman wade in the water catching fish for their families. Another highlight was all the delicious Indian food we consumed with our driver. Taking us to one of his favorite places we gorged on food which still makes my mouth water today.