Ok, so you see the map of Myanmar, do some fancy estimation, and figure that from Mandalay to Bagan is around 150 km or 175 km maximum. Then the boss tells you it will be about a 7-8 hour bus ride, since we can't take the boat this time of year. It's suppose to be the drier season, but there's flooding, I have no clue ... anyway.
So, we take the brand new "Yangon-Mandalay Expressway". The ironic thing is, express isn't really the proper word. Yes, it's new, yes it is pretty much perfectly flat, but the fastest you can go on a modern bus is around 36 km/hour. You're wondering, how does the idiot know this without peering over the driver's shoulder. Well, there are markers on the highway, every 100 metres, and it took around 10 seconds at full throttle. So, do the math, and you get around 36. The best part is, we take the cut-off heading west off the main part of the road, and we slow down to around 20 km/hour or so ..... there should be a volleyball tournament around here, the bumps were amazing.
The good news is, we arrived after 6 hours or so, and we're staying in a real swanky looking place. Tomorrow we conquer as many temples and stumpas that our day allows. There's only around 3000, as the entire area is a national archeological park. The really good part is that it is really cooled down due to the rain. It barely rains at all here, so instead of 40+ Celsius, it may be low thirties instead. Fingers crossed ... it's so frustrating when you are in a dream like landscape and the elements are always conspiring against you.
Tomorrow, we MAY just win. Basil Fawlty would be proud, of couse, only if he was here.
Day Two is kinda a free day to see the other stuff we don't see tomorrow. Most likely by horse-buggy and peasant tour guide. I'll take the rains for that day ... ha ha ha ha.
Starting to rain again. The positive conspiracy is about to continue.
So, we take the brand new "Yangon-Mandalay Expressway". The ironic thing is, express isn't really the proper word. Yes, it's new, yes it is pretty much perfectly flat, but the fastest you can go on a modern bus is around 36 km/hour. You're wondering, how does the idiot know this without peering over the driver's shoulder. Well, there are markers on the highway, every 100 metres, and it took around 10 seconds at full throttle. So, do the math, and you get around 36. The best part is, we take the cut-off heading west off the main part of the road, and we slow down to around 20 km/hour or so ..... there should be a volleyball tournament around here, the bumps were amazing.
The good news is, we arrived after 6 hours or so, and we're staying in a real swanky looking place. Tomorrow we conquer as many temples and stumpas that our day allows. There's only around 3000, as the entire area is a national archeological park. The really good part is that it is really cooled down due to the rain. It barely rains at all here, so instead of 40+ Celsius, it may be low thirties instead. Fingers crossed ... it's so frustrating when you are in a dream like landscape and the elements are always conspiring against you.
Tomorrow, we MAY just win. Basil Fawlty would be proud, of couse, only if he was here.
Day Two is kinda a free day to see the other stuff we don't see tomorrow. Most likely by horse-buggy and peasant tour guide. I'll take the rains for that day ... ha ha ha ha.
Starting to rain again. The positive conspiracy is about to continue.
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