We took the MGRG Express on the Ayeyarwady River from Bagan to Mandalay. The 12 hour boat ride ($42 each) was pretty comfortable, except for leaving very early morning at 5am. There were about 20 other backpackers on the boat and we spent most of the morning chatting away as the sun rose. We could see the balloons over Bagan in the distance as we left. By about 10am it got pretty hot and we sat in the covered shady area, which was still pretty warm.
We passed by fishermen in their small wooden boats, lots of small villages each with their own golden temples. I took a lot of very similar pictures.
Lunch was pretty good, a choice of rice or noodle stir fry. We also were served a breakfast, and tea/coffee and bottled water throughout the trip. It was better than what I was expecting.
Approaching Mandalay we passed by Sagaing and Inwa, filled with temples and giant Buddhas on both sides of the river. It was a grand entrance to the city.
Our hotel in Mandalay (The Home Hotel) arranged for pickup from the jetty, and sure enough there was a driver with a nice "Eric D'Souza" sign waiting.
We cleaned up and headed out to a Thai restaurant for dinner. Mandalay's pretty cosmopolitan with a large selection of regional restaurants. It should be good eating here :)
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