Mandalay To Monywa

bsacbob

Administrator (Retired)
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Chiang Rai
Bikes
Honda CRM-AR 250, Honda CRF 250-L, Suzuki V Strom XT 650 Honda XR250 Baja BMW F650GS
Early flight out of Chiang Rai to meet up with Nick in BKK for the flight to Mandalay, pretty painless flight and we soon arrived in the mayhem that is Mandalay. This trip will be broken down in daily parts for others to reference more easily and also because I shot lots of pictures, so picture alert to all who don't like pictures there will lot's of them, Nick, on the other hand, shot around 6 the whole trip.

GPX files will be posted for each day.

Ok so here we go this is our route, we wanted to get off the highway as soon as we could and explore some villages less seen by others, the change was immediate from hoards of cars and tuk-tuks to cattle drawn carts. As you can see the elevation gain was almost zero, it will change over the coming days.

Screenshot 2020-03-05 at 13.26.59.png

You can see the detour we made in an effort to avoid traffic.

Screenshot 2020-03-05 at 13.37.35.png

Flying Air Asia, smooth flight

1 - 1.jpg

Nick can sleep on a broomstick.

1 - 2.jpg

Coming onto Mandalay.

1 - 3.jpg

Checked into the Smart Hotel nice big rooms and rooftop bar and restaurant, near Ned Kelly's. N21.97969° E96.08964°

1 - 4.jpg


1 - 5.jpg


1 - 7.jpg

As we walked over to the hire shop the faces of the locals always happy and smiling, this would set a benchmark for the whole trip.

1 - 8.jpg

Carrying stuff on your head is the done thing, but only the ladies.

1 - 9.jpg

We reached Mandalay Motorbike Rentals Mandalay Motorbike Rental and Tours (Facebook Mandalay Motorbike) shop and chatted with Zach the hospitable owner and operator, we had planned to use a couple of CRF's but after discussion, we had a change of plan and opted to the Yamaha TZ 125 which would be our workhorse for the coming weeks, it turned out to be a wise choice for 99% of the trip.

1 - 11.jpg

Almost like a KLX 150.

1 - 12.jpg

As we talked we laughed as these guys tried to shoehorn the package into the tuk-tuk, little by little it went in.

1 - 13.jpg

Ever smiling Zach

1 - 14.jpg

In need of food and beverage Zach suggested the Golden Spider nearby and some nice cold ABC stout (one of many) as we chilled at watched the world go by.

1 - 15.jpg

Golden Spider N21.97412° E96.08224°

1 - 16.jpg

Tea shops are a mainstay for the male Myanmar population, most also have beer and small snacks are served as part of the experience.

1 - 17.jpg

Traffic in Mandalay is crazy, but somehow it works, the horn is the key here unlike Thailand.

1 - 18.jpg

220 baht for this afternoon delight.

1 - 19.jpg

Later that evening in search of some Indian food, this place was very good and ridiculously cheap.

1 - 20.jpg


1 - 21.jpg

What a nice piece of kit.

1 - 22.jpg

Street food everywhere and delicious too.

1 - 23.jpg

Retired to the hotel for a nightcap.

1 - 24.jpg

Morning breaks and the nuns are everywhere on the twice-daily food collections, most are from poor families who can no longer feed them or victims of abuse.



Back to the shop and the bikes prepped up and ready to roll.

1 - 26.jpg

Riding in the traffic in Mandalay a bit like Bangkok although rules do not apply.

1 - 27.jpg

A short hold up at one of the many rail crossings leaving the city.

1 - 28.jpg


1 - 29.jpg

Crossing the Irrawaddy for the first time the water level is very low.

1 - 30.jpg

Like a different world now, time standing still for most of these people trying to scratch out a living.

1 - 31.jpg

Pretty flat but reminiscent of Cambodia in many ways, very sandy and signs it turns to a swamp in the rainy season.

1 - 32.jpg

Rocks waiting for the road team to arrive to start the backbreaking job of grading them.

1 - 33.jpg

1 - 34.jpg

We soon caught up with the train heading to Swebo.

1 - 35.jpg


1 - 36.jpg

open sewer running down the main roadway.

1 - 37.jpg

Previously i had pinpointed a track that ran through some marshland, this lady looked more than puzzled where the hell we were going.

1 - 38.jpg

Nice single track looked promising.

1 - 39.jpg

But soon it turned into the wilderness and forced to turn back.

1 - 40.jpg


1 - 41.jpg

All the villages in this area had several oxen for pulling the carts, fertiliser was pltyful.

1 - 42.jpg


1 - 43.jpg


1 - 44.jpg


1 - 45.jpg


1 - 46.jpg


1 - 47.jpg

An old stupa, obviously of no importance to the locals.

1 - 48.jpg


1 - 49.jpg

No chainsaws fro these guys.

1 - 51.jpg

Although all the villages are poor elaborate stupas could be seen everywhere and all very well kept.

1 - 52.jpg

1 - 53.jpg


1 - 54.jpg


1 - 55.jpg


1 - 56.jpg

Traffic jam.

1 - 57.jpg

We came across these old ladies making clay water jugs, the type we would see all around by the roadside to quench the thirst of travellers.

1 - 58.jpg

Pretty primitive but it works.

1 - 59.jpg

No kiln, the pots left to sun dry.

1 - 60.jpg

The village well, the only water source.

1 - 61.jpg


1 - 62.jpg



1 - 63.jpg


1 - 64.jpg

Another collection of Stupa's complete with a procession of monks making merit food offerings.

1 - 65.jpg

1 - 72.jpg

1 - 73.jpg

1 - 74.jpg




1 - 66.jpg


1 - 67.jpg


1 - 68.jpg


1 - 69.jpg


1 - 70.jpg

Small teams of road workers laying a new surface.

1 - 71.jpg

1 - 75.jpg

We reached a small village of Tapayin Kwe and a small river and searched for a way across.

1 - 76.jpg


1 - 77.jpg


1 - 78.jpg

One of the hundreds of water stations along the roadway, we wondered who was commissioned to fill these water jars.

1 - 79.jpg

One of the few motorcycles we saw, this chap of his way to market with a bunch of chickens to go.

1 - 80.jpg

After trying several locations the locals told us the shallowest point was almost waist-deep, too early to drowned a bike so we headed to the hwy.

1 - 81.jpg

Getting hot we stopped at a small shop, bewildered people soon warmed to us and admired our bikes.

1 - 82.jpg

This had seen many years of service.

1 - 83.jpg

Ahead a breakwater and small bridge

1 - 84.jpg

The locals getting together to stop erosion with the help of some Gabion baskets.

1 - 85.jpg

The bridge looked less than inviting, the hwy was only a km away, note the garbage everywhere it's obviously a huge problem in Myanmar how to deal with plastic rubbish.

1 - 87.jpg

Paid by the head methinks, room for maybe one or two more.

1 - 88.jpg

Our first point of interest the huge Buddha's at Lay Kyun Sat Kyar N22.08022° E95.28938°

1 - 89.jpg

towering on the horizon they are huge.

1 - 90.jpg

Hundreds of smaller Buddha's around the site donated by people from all over the world.

1 - 91.jpg

You can apparently walk inside all of these if you're up to the climb.

1 - 92.jpg


1 - 93.jpg

Massive reclining Buddha, later we would see one under construction ten times the size of this one.

1 - 94.jpg


1 - 95.jpg


1 - 96.jpg

Not sure what this lady was doing she was chanting into a bottle for ages, any info on this practice would be appreciated.

1 - 97.jpg

Of course gift shops galore.

1 - 98.jpg

This shot gives some scale to the Buddha.

1 - 100.jpg

The tallest one getting a facelift by some brave workers.

1 - 101.jpg


1 - 102.jpg

Ice cream and why not, it was delicious.

1 - 103.jpg

Yet another huge recumbent Buddha

1 - 104.jpg


1 - 105.jpg


1 - 106.jpg

Leaving the site we passed this, not sure if it is for a funeral or wedding.

1 - 107.jpg

Sambuddha Kat Kyaw Pagoda

1 - 108.jpg


1 - 109.jpg

Arriving in the bustling town of Monywa

1 - 110.jpg

Spotted a small ferry set up, this would be our way out in the morning.

1 - 111.jpg

Not sure how this abandoned ferry got up here, it was 30 metres or more above the waterline, but served and a great play area and shelter for the poor folk.

1 - 112.jpg


1 - 113.jpg


1 - 114.jpg


1 - 115.jpg

Checked into the Shwe Taung Tarn @ $13 a night close to the market and restaurants N22.11578° E95.12828°

1 - 116.jpg


1 - 118.jpg

We strolled around the market as darkness fell, not a tourist in sight and smiles all round, perfect.

1 - 119.jpg


1 - 120.jpg


1 - 121.jpg


1 - 122.jpg


1 - 123.jpg

Fast food looked very out of place here.

1 - 124.jpg


1 - 125.jpg


1 - 126.jpg

1 - 127.jpg


1 - 128.jpg


1 - 129.jpg


1 - 130.jpg


1 - 131.jpg

1 - 132.jpg


1 - 133.jpg

1 - 134.jpg


1 - 135.jpg

Dedicated mechanic working by torchlight.

1 - 136.jpg

Found this place on the crossroads next tot he hotel, what a feast washed down with a few beers, what a day and what a start to the trip.

1 - 137.jpg

The bill coming to a hefty 320 baht.

1 - 138.jpg
 
Last edited:

Attachments

  • Mandalay to Monywa 2020-02-14.GPX
    591.1 KB · Views: 204
Great evocative photos!! Seems like change is still patchy and more concentrated in the towns... Zac's place looks the same - but bigger range of bikes!. Monywa seems easier than the first time I went there - got my own special Special Branch minders that time :D. Have they gotten rid of the mozzies in the hotel?
Excellent idea to try the back roads - too many tourist don't! But that's the great thing about being a motorcyclist, eh?? :)
Makes me feel like heading there again.
 
Last edited:
Great evocative photos!! Seems like change is still patchy and more concentrated in the towns... Zac's place looks the same - but bigger range of bikes!. Monywa seems easier than the first time I went there - got my own special Special Branch minders that time :D. Have they gotten rid of the mozzies in the hotel?
Excellent idea to try the back roads - too many tourist don't! But that's the great thing about being a motorcyclist, eh?? :)
Makes me feel like heading there again.

Agreed the back roads is where it's at.
 
Back
Top Bottom