Kathie

We are now in Mandalay, having flown to Yangon and catching the next flight to Mandalay. We are settled in at the Rupar Mandalr, a lovely place. Located just outside of Mandalay, it has just 16 rooms..The rooms are spacious and very attractive with teak floors and walls - oh, and ceilings, too I notice.

I was actually able to access my aol mail, so there are fewer internet blockages than two years ago.

We have free wireless intenet here at the hotel, but it is glacially slow.

Tomorrow we are visiting the ancient cities.

I will post as I am able.

Hanuman

Hi Kathie,

Is the GM of the Rupar a Thai woman? Glad you like the hotel and I hope that they still have evening classical dances for the guess.

I see Hilary Clinton will be joining you. Kindly say hi to her for me!

Craig

Yes, Hillary will be in Myanmar next month - the first visit by a US Secretary of State in more than 50 years.

rhkkmk

we that is the end of myanmar...

rhkkmk

well

live42day

Glad to hear there is internet in Burma. Hope to hear about your travels as you go. Is the weather warm?

hawaiiantraveler

Just catching up on the internet and hoping you and Cheryl are doing fine. In know C will take lots of pics and hope this trip will be the one you dreamed of as a child. Linda sends her love and kisses.

Aloha!

Kathie

These are exciting times in Burma. ASSK and the NLD have agreed to rejoin politics. The changes just since our trip two years ago are pretty amazing.

The GM here is, I believe, A Mynamar man, though the person in charge of the front office is a woman. Yes, they do still have musical/classical dance/puppet shows each evening. The rooms, as I mentioned are lovely, the service is excellent and so is the food. I highly recommend this place.

A long day today - we visited the three ancient cities. I feared the U Bien bridge would be a disappointment after all I'd read from those who loved it. Wrong. We had a wonderful time there. Cheryl took a zillion photos, just loved it.

We have a great driver "Joe" who might have been Jules driver as well.

Tomorrow we have a day trip to Pyin U Lwin.

The weather has been perfect - nice and warm, not too hot. And better yet, it's snowing in Seattle.

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes.

Peter and Linda, I hope you are having a great time in Japan!

Hanuman

Thanks for letting me know Kathie as the GM when we were there was a Thai woman.

PS.. Ask the owner for a special on Burmese ruby!

deb52

I'm heading there with a tour in January so very interested in your comments. What is the process for changing money or do they accept USD?

Kathie

Hanuman, I understand the owner mad ehis millions in Jade...

Deb, Buy a copy of the new Lonely Planet when it comes out in Dec - there is so much you need to know. Small purchases, meals in local restaurants you'll use kyat. You must have pristine dollars for use or exchange. Some things must be paid in US dollars - admission fees, flights, hotels, charges at hotels.

There are now official bank exchanges at three airports - Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan. Use these.

live42day

Thanks Kathie

pattyroth

I am so glad to hear you liked U Bein Bridge!!! We loved it. Did you take a boat? Loving having your immediate thoughts!

rhkkmk

glad to hear it is going well.. we are loving the new areas od india we are visiting: udaipur and jodhour thus far---so different

Kathie

Patty, yes, we took a boat - that's what you need for great photos. Cheryl pointed out that I exaggerated when I said she took a zillion photos at the bridge - really, only 407. (!!)

Bob, glad to hear you are having a good trip. More India is in our future.

Back from a very pleasant day trip to Pyin U Lwin. Enjoyed th garden, the market, and did a bit of shopping. An easier day than yesterday.

smacdvanbc

Hi Kathie. It's great to get your on the ground reports. I appreciate your taking the time to post.

I have 3.5 days in Mandalay. I note that you have reported that your day visiting Sagaing, Inwa, and Amarapura was a very long one. If I were to split visits to these sites over two days, how would you split it and how much time for each place? Thanks....and continued good travels.

Stephen

Kathie

Stephen, we could have spent a whole day in Sagaing, and I would do so if I came back again. We saw only a few of the many interesting sights there, the the place was really lovely. Inwa was our least favorite, perhaps because there is no flexability in which sights to see. In Amarapura, we intentionally skipped watching the monks eat, visiting the monastery briefly. We visited a couple of temples and the silk-weaving workshop. The biggest attraction was the U Bien Bridge - allow a couple of hours at the end of the day.

Kathie

Hanuman, I had a chat with the man I thought was the GM tonight (I don't ask for titles like Bob does - lol). The Current GM is a woman, not the Thai woman when you were here. I forgot to ask whether the owner made his fortune in rubies or jade. I'd take a discount on either one.

Hanuman

Thanks for inquiring for me Kathie. Reading your report make me want to hop on a plane and join you guys! However, we are having a good time in Chiang Mai and enjoying our resort here very much.

Hope the weather there is as good as it is here. Have a blast and see you in Bangkok!

shelleyk

Hi Kathie-Glad you are having a good time and that things are going smoothly. I have a couple of questions regarding your ancient cities trip set up by SM. What time did you leave the hotel and what time did you return to the hotel? Did you use a guide provided by SM or a guidebook, and if a guidebook only, did you set your own itinerary and just give the list to the driver or did you let the driver set the itinerary and pace?