Mandalay, Myanmar
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
We were up at 4:30am this morning and out taxi was booked for 4:45 to take us to the Jetty.
We made it but unfortunately the taxi didn't!
Were were starting to stress a bit as the boat left at 5:30am and by 5:10 it still hadn't arrived so we managed to rouse a lady from the hotel and she took us to the jetty in her car. We made it on time and managed to hop on the boat before it left. Phew!
When they say jetty though, they mean a muddy river bank. Luckily it hadn't been raining as it would have been really slippery and we would have been filthy.
The ferry could carry about 100 people or maybe a few more but today there were just 9 of us on it
Leaving Bagan at 5:30am
. Us plus a French couple, another English couple and an American and his 2 sons. We all practically had a deck to ourselves.
At 9 we were served breakfast (included in the very expensive ticket price of $34 US each!).
It was dreadful. we had hoped it would be a bit better than a boiled egg and 2 dry bits of toast as we had paid so much but no - nothing else on offer.
The journey was pretty uneventful. The scenery didn't change from one hour to the next and although we looked for the Irrawaddy dolphins, it seems they were elsewhere today.
Lunch came and it was disgusting. Noodles with cabbage & carrot in it and a fried egg on top. We have had this and it's been tasty but not today. It was very poor. No drinks included either.
The only good thing we can say for the journey was that Jody managed to finish a great big book she had been carrying around with her and Bryan managed to get lots of admin done.
Sunrise on the Irawaddy
Sunset came and went too. It was very pretty and just as we were drawing near to Mandalay and went under a great big bridge.
The jetty in Mandalay was another river bank so again we were pleased it hadn't been raining.
As always, there were a group of taxis waiting to transport the travellers off the boat and we jumped in the back of one with the French couple to share the cost. Funny we hadn't spoken the whole trip now here we all were chatting away in the back of a truck!
We were really glad to reach our hotel and have a hot shower and some food.
Today has reminded us that not all travelling is fun and fantastic pictures but it's days like this that make us appreciate all the other days so much more - :-)
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