Help with our time in Mandalay, please

Old Jul 30th, 2015, 07:43 AM
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Help with our time in Mandalay, please

Yes, we are returning for a third trip to Myanmar. I have long wanted to take a Pandaw cruise in northern Burma, and we were able to schedule this cruise (Chindwin river, Monwya to Homalin) during our time in SEA Asia in November. We are very excited about this cruise!

We have been to Mandalay on our last trip and did the usual Ancient cities: Ava/Inwa, Amarapura and Sagaing. We also spent some time in the city, visiting the Mahamuni Buddha and such. We also took a day trip to Pyin U Lwin. We loved Sagaing, and would have liked more time there, so we expect to spend a day there this time.

A few questions: Are there other places near Mandalay that you really liked? Any wonderful temples in the area that we missed?

And a logistical question: Last time we flew into Mandalay, there were no taxis at the airport. We were glad we had booked a transfer. Any of you who have been there recently, are taxis more readily available now? Or should we book a transfer with our hotel or our agent?

Thanks, everyone!
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Old Jul 30th, 2015, 08:14 AM
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I forgot to mention that we have just two full days in Mandalay, so we are looking for some recommendations for one day.
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Old Jul 30th, 2015, 12:56 PM
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This wouldn't fill a whole day, but looked very interesting.

Sri Krisha Hindu temple | Mandalay | Myanmar - OzOutback
ozoutback.com.au/Myanmar/mandalay/slides/2006123013.html
Dec 30, 2006 - The Sri Krisha Hindu temple in southern Indian style on 81st Street in the centre of Mandalay.
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Old Jul 30th, 2015, 01:04 PM
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Thanks, It looks interesting. I wonder what the history is. I googled it, but didn't find anything. I'll do some more research.

I'd be fine just finding a few things we'd like to see.
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 02:19 PM
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Can I suggest you contact Soe Soe who has this week been appointed DE for Mandalay Region on Tripadvisor.
You can PM via the forum link-he and his family are local guides and his information can be very valuable.
SS
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 05:59 PM
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SS, I'd be very intersted in your thoughts.

I'm not on TA (nor Facebook, nor LinkedIn... so no PM function.

If I get to the point where I might want a guide in the area, I can post again and give you a way to contact me.
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 09:57 PM
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You can still browse and use the Search facility on TA without being a member. Zillions of people do that, and it can be v.v.usual, you often find out answers to questions that you hadn't even thought of.

I pick up the odd tip on Fodors, but that information is outweighed by the sheer volume of stuff available on TA, and a lot of it is very recent, very relevant stuff. It's a simple case of being patient, and being able to sift out the chaff and read between the lines.
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 10:05 PM
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Mandalay Airport Guide, including taxis...

http://www.mandalayairport.com/manda...ransportation/
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 11:09 PM
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I see Soe Soe has already been in touch via Thorntree so you are in the loop.He will not try to sell you his services as a guide,just personal recommendations of what to do.
SS
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Old Aug 3rd, 2015, 05:35 AM
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SS, yes, Soe Soe's post is very helpful. I think we will spend one day in that area, one day in Sagaing. Thanks for the recommendation. Have you used him as a guide?

LL I'm well aware that I can browse the information and disinformation on TA, but I prefer not to. I find TA terminally annoying.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2015, 07:45 AM
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There's plenty of disinformation and outdated information on Fodor's and Thorntree too.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 02:31 PM
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"I find TA terminally annoying."
I would tend to agree,many forums for Destinations have been ruined and I find TA dogma nearly as bad as Thorntree.
However I do feel the Myanmar forum is one of the better and it is swept regularly to keep it that way. We even put up with dear old Monty.The traffic is now 10 times more than Thorntree-a reverse of 5 years ago so there must be some good in there...
I have not personally used Soe Soe but I know many have been very pleased with him
SS
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 03:04 PM
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Interesting. When I signed back into Thorntree after a couple years absence, I was surprised at how slow the Myanmar forum is.

I have corresponded with Soe Soe, but he is not available in November, so he referred me to his son. After some correspondence, I have engaged his son for an all-day visit to KyaukSe and the surrounding area.

BTW, I emailed Santa Maria as soon as we had confirmation of our Pandaw cruise to request hotel reservations in Mandalay and Yangon. The next morning, I had a response from them that we were all booked. It pays to have a relationship with an agent in Myanmar!
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 03:07 AM
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"interesting. When I signed back into Thorntree after a couple years absence, I was surprised at how slow the Myanmar forum is"

Many regulars have migrated to TA and post regularly. I think the days of the comment "Thorntree is for those who want save money,Tripadvisor is for those who want to spend money and Foders is for those who have too much money to spend" is well and truly over with many levels of traveler seeking advice where they can get it.

Good to hear Santa Maria are still performing well,as you know they are on my recommended Agents short list.
SS
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Old Aug 9th, 2015, 10:06 PM
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I would love to warmly welcome all the visitors interested in traveling to Myanmar.
Please don't hesitate to ask me for your happy travel around Myanmar. It's my pleasure to help you all.

Mingalarbar
Kind and Best Regards,
Soe Soe from Mandalay
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 04:39 AM
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Dear Kathie,
We are planning our first trip to Burma this December and you seem to be a wealth of information! I would love to ask you a couple of questions.
We have 12 days total, from Dec 21 to Jan 1 (we are arriving late on the 20th, and leaving at midnight on the 1st). The idea was to do:
Dec 21 - Yangon
Dec 22-25 - Inle
Dec 25-27 - Bagan
Dec 28-Jan 1 - Mrauk U
Do you think it is worth it to squeeze in Mrauk U? Or would it be better to take more time for Inle and Bagan? Also in Yangon? Can we take less time in Mrauk U perhaps? How about Ngwe Saung Beach?
Finally, I know you have recommended to book flights and hotels through Santa Maria, do you think that booking flights on http://oway.com.mm is not reliable?
Thank you so much for any help you can give!
Have a great new trip to Burma!
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 07:52 AM
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Micael, I've heard mixed reviews of oway - some people had a good experience, some not. I recommend that you use a local agent - doesn't have to be Santa Maria - if you are even thinking about Mrauk U you need an agent, IMO. If you use a local agent, you will have someone who will rebook you if your flight gets cancelled, or will notify you if the flight time changes.

Here is the problem with your itinerary - you have forgotten that a it takes time to get from place to place... in the case of Mrauk U, at least a whole day each way.

So you arrive in Yangon on Dec 20, then fly to Inle on Dec 22. So you have a day in Yangon. By the time you get to your hotel at Inle, it will be afternoon. So you have Dec 23 & 24 at Inle, fly to Bagan on the 25. You can get in a sunset viewing of the temples that day, the have the 26th and 27th in Bagan. On the 28th, you had the delusion you could get to Mrauk U... very unlikely. I could walk through what it takes to get to Mrauk U, but it would take too much time. In any case, you don't have time for Mrauk U this trip. Save it for next time. If you want to go to a beach, you could do that after Bagan. Plan to get to Yangon the day before you flight to see a few things, since you will have had almost no time there. Or, alternatively, add a bit of time to both Inle and Bagan. If you want to go to a beach at that time of the year, you will likely need an agent to get you a place to stay. You might be able to find a place on your own, but I expect most places were sold out months ago. Agents have allocations of rooms, so you may be able to get a room through an agent.

Note that each time you change locations, it will take up half a day to a full day - or in the case of Mrauk U, maybe a day and a half. Figure from the time you check out of lodgings in one place until you get checked in at the next.

I'd be glad to answer more questions if you have some, but please start a thread of your own so that others will see your questions as well.
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 09:55 AM
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When I was there in May I didn't see any taxis, the place was deserted... So I would plan on a transfer again!
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 10:48 AM
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Hi Lucy, we did decide to have your agent arrange a transfer for us from the Mandalay airport to our hotel. I think we are set for this upcoming trip!
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 02:58 PM
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Dear Kathie,
Thank you for your thorough response. Yes, I was considering transfers. For Mrauk U, in fact, I was thinking of flying back to Yangon the evening of Dec 27 and leaving to Sittwe the morning of the 28th, coming back to Yangon the 31st or the 1st. But maybe that means that we don't have enough time in the other places... it would be (transfers aside) 2 1/2 days in Inle, 2 days in Bagan, 2 or 3 days (depending if we are coming back on the 31st or 1st) in Mrauk U, 1 or 2 days in Yangon.
I will disregard the beach... another time. Too rushed? If you think it is too rushed, we could take Mrauk U out and add one day to each of the other 3 destinations. What do you think?
I will also start a new thread, thank you for the suggestion!
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