Log in
Join travelers community
Your Profile
Logout
At 5:00 in the morning I left for the airport. The hotel's regular driver hadn't arrived yet so the doorman walked out into the dark street to look for a taxi.
Myanmar 2001 - Part Two - Bagan, Mt. Popa and Salay
Dougburnett2003-11-23 19:10:34
Displayed times (last time: )
Bagan, Monday, February 12
At 5:00 in the morning I left for the airport. The hotel's regular driver hadn't arrived yet so the doorman walked out into the dark street to look for a taxi. He had to go down to the first major intersection, but finally he found one. As I hopped in he said, "I have already paid him." The Yoma advertises they supply transportation to and from the airport and they were as good as their word.
Along the way the most interesting sight was out near Shwedagon Paya where I saw a line of barefoot monks heading out to beg for their morning meal. There must have been 50 or more of them in a straight line, young and old alike. They walked with grace and patience, each carrying his large, black begging bowl.
At the airport it was pure chaos. There are three domestic carriers in Myanmar and each had a flight leaving within minutes of each other. In addition, there was a multi-step check-in process that wasn't very clearly marked. In the end I made it onto a little 48-seat prop plane for my flight to Bagan. Soon after we took off the sun came up filling the cabin with soft, pale light.
In Bagan I paid the $10 Archaeological Zone fee and then got a taxi to my hotel, the Thande. While I was checking in the desk clerk asked to see the Archaeological Zone ticket, making sure I had one. Finally, I dropped my bag in my room and walked outside the hotel gate where I rented a horse cart for the day for $10. I had picked the Thande mainly because it was on the edge of the Archaeological Zone, close to all the major sites.
I asked my driver, Song Song, to show me to the best known payas. I figured I would get an overview today and then rent a bike to see some of the lesser known ones. Song Song hitched up his horse and we set off.
I immediately learned two things about horse transportation: first, it's
...
See photographs from:
Burma (Myanmar) Gallery
