How to Explore Mandalay? Let Me Tell You

It's my 8th day in Myanmar, and I haven't seen a single tourist. The tourism industry seems to have temporarily collapsed, making travel less convenient. This post will take you deep into Mandalay! Accommodation 🌟 Mingalar Mandalay Hotel – ¥450/night (the best hotel in Myanmar, truly luxurious). This time, I skipped hostels. Mandalay's hotels are weird—I asked 4 hotels, and while locals pay 80,000 kyat, they instantly triple the price (250,000 kyat, about ¥400) for foreigners. So I just went for the best! Transport 🚗 Use Grab to book "three-wheelers" (tuk-tuks)—half the price of cars, though a bit hot. But hey, you're in Southeast Asia—no sauna, no fun, right? Food 🍴 Kutkai Beef King – The best meal I've had so far! How to Explore Mandalay? First—hire a private car! Hotels take a cut, so don’t book through them. Just find a friendly tuk-tuk driver and negotiate directly. They already know the usual tourist spots. My driver was amazing—I’ll miss him! 120,000 kyat/day, and he even took me to eat authentic Burmese food and enjoy afternoon tea for just ¥4! 😅 Must-Visit Spots: 1️⃣ Monk Meal Almsgiving (Thousand Monk Meal) Maha Ganayon Monastery – Meal starts at 10 AM. Drivers usually pick you up at 9 AM. I was lucky to befriend the manager and even got to eat with them! 2️⃣ Hsinbyume Pagoda (Mingun Pagoda) Not in Mandalay city, but safe now (there were militia months ago). Local "photo teams" will follow and take pictures for you—just tip them a few bucks. Super friendly! (Pro tip: Skip buying flowers.) 3️⃣ Inwa Ancient City 💖 My Top Recommendation! Walk through the authentic village—extremely photogenic! Two spots require a 15,000 kyat ticket, but honestly, skip it—the best views are free along the way. 4️⃣ U Bein Bridge 🌅 Best Sunset Spot! After visiting the above three places, it’ll be around 5:30 PM. Sunset in Myanmar is at 6:30 PM. Walk the bridge back and forth (takes ~1 hour). Packed with locals (and lots of beautiful girls!). Extra Notes: Mandalay Palace? Meh. Visit if you have extra time. I’m now on a 5-hour bus to Bagan and wrote this guide to kill time. I rarely post travel tips—check out my photography instead! DM me if you have questions—I even have my driver’s contact! 📞 #Mandalay #Bagan #Myanmar #MyJourney #HiddenGems