Travel trip; Mandalay-Hspiaw-Mogkok-Mandalay-Bagan

[phuketrichard]

OK; quick up date from Mandalay, ( 10 pm curfew in Place but no troubles and it only affected 3-4 streets near our hotel. Locals said it has been overblown.

Mandalay is not that expensive, food sucks except for the middle class rests that serve Burmese food ( as much as you can eat for about $4. WE rented 125 honda dream Chinese copies for $10/day and headed east to Hspiaw where we then rode up into the Shan sate ( restricted area) and the town of Namhsan. <deleted> fantastic scenery!!

Back down to Hspiaw an headed back towards Mandalay BUT took the turn off at Kyaukme . Destination- the closed city of Mogkok (city of Rubies) the ride was amazing even though half of it was done in the rain. Worst roads i have traveled in SE Asia ( and that includes Laos, Cambodia, all over Thailand, even Nepal and India) Made it to Mogkok and than found no one would rent us a room as we did not have official permission.

Ended up at the Butterfly resort set on a hill top over looking the city for ONLY $75. a $200 place in Thailand.

Headed back to Mandalay and were stopped and asked where we where coming from and how we got there. As it’s a closed area for foreigners without advance permission and a guide.

Next day I took the 6-30 am express ferry boat to Bagan ( $43 included breakfast an lunch) Local boat is $14 but 15 hours , ours was only 10 1/2

2 days/3 nights ( great room for $20/night) in Bagan and took the train back ( upper class $2.90) for a 9 hour ride. Plenty of tourist oriented shops, hotels/gh’s restaurants that all seem to serve Chinese, India, Thai, Burmese and it all is eatable but nothing to write home about. Even found a Neapli/Tibeatian rests.

Plus a GREAT bakery. Prices ranged from $2-5 .meal on par with Cambodia but not the quality you would get in Thailand.

There are a few options fof getting around to see the pagodas, Bicycles ( if ur a masochists) for $1/day, Ebikes for $8/day, horsecarts ( my choice ) for $20 an doff course tours bus’s and taxis.

Internet is what was in Phuket 12 years ago yet everyone has smart phones even thou sim cards are $150 each!!

short end of it,

[SeaVisionBurma]

Thanks for sharing, some good info there.

I'll move this topic into the Myanmar Travel section.

[craigt3365]

Great trip report. Thanks! I hope to be there in November or so.

[phuketrichard]

I have already started the ball rolling to get back up to Mogok in nov LEGALLY this time.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/8115-after-10-years-mogok-set-to-open-up.html

[craigt3365]

Great article. Looks like it's not too hard nor expensive to get there legally. But only one hotel! 5555

[phuketrichard]

actually there are two;

one downtown ( which would NOT allow us to stay as we did not have the permission letter) $40/night and a beautiful resort outside of town where they allowed us to stay

http://www.ananda-travel.com/UK/hotel_mogok_golden_butterfly_myanmar.htm ( we stayed inn the superior room)

Well worth the $75/night for the view alone.

there are also various gh spread around town ( that also refused us)

[craigt3365]

That's a beautiful hotel! I love the trek they describe to the monastery. I bet that's fantastic.

Their website says September is a great time to travel as the monsoons are over. I question that. What do you guys think? They also say November is a very busy time. Maybe October would be good?

[Mahseer]

Kicking an old thread back to lfe for information on Mogok and surrounding area. I have a chance to visit middle of January after attending the Naga new year and wondering what there is out there aside from the mines.

Thanks

[phuketrichard]

First, the ride up is fantastic.

Mogok was established in the 13th century and has been famed for its rubies for more than 500 years

its a great old town and a ww2 cemetery

you could visit the daily gem market an than visit some of the old pagodas and temples around town.

really nice people as well

You do need advance permission and this is the least expensive tours i have seen.

http://www.myanmarupperland.com/ruby-land/

A plus is visiting a place most people that travel to Myanmar never visit ( if they have even heard of it) an u will most likely not see another white face up there.

At their prices u will not be staying at the resort i stayed at but at the ONLY other hotel ( where they would not allow us to stay as we had no permits) allowed to accept tourists

The rate was $40 for a double with breakfast

[Mahseer]

I would be travelling with the lad who is organising the Naga festival trip in Lahe who I know very well. He raised the option of Mogok and can handle any permit issues so all being well I will get there.

Did you consider returning via Chaung Gyi and decliined for any reason?

thanks for answering.