Lets get it out of the way right now. I'm on the road to Mandalay. There you go I said it. Even though Rudyard Kipling wrote it he did not go to Mandalay. The only place in Burma that he went was Moulmein, down south near Hpa an where I was a couple of weeks ago.
The taxi ride here was OK and he delivered me to the door. If I had taken the bus I would have had to pay more for a taxi from the bus station so it really was a good deal. The driver was delivering milk as well and the esky's he had it in were leaking so my pack got soaking wet again so I have to empty it and try to dry it out. Lucky it is fine and sunny here today, I think in the mid 30's. I even got burnt walking around.
Mandalay is really just another big city with not much to see and do. Today I walked miles and was hoping to see the major sites. I kinda did. I saw the Mandalay Palace but didn't go in cos it was $10 and all that money goes to the government. There is nothing old in there, everything was either burnt or bombed and has been rebuilt in the 90's. just past the palace is Mandalay hill but I was too stuffed to climb it. I did manage to find the gold pounders. They make gold leaf here. They roll it very fine then cut it into squares and put it between bamboo paper and stack up a couple of hundred and pound the **** out of it with a sledge hammer. Then they cut it into squares and do it again. Then again. I think about 3 or 4 times before it is gold leaf. That was pretty interesting.
I was looking for a couple of pagoda's but couldn't find them, there are heaps here but no names in English so not sure. I will prolly go out again tonight and have a look but I have to be up at 4.30 tomorrow to go to U Bein bridge to see the monks.
I think I have found a boat to Nyaung U for Saturday so that fits in well with my plans to go down the Ayeyarwady by boat to Bagan.

Last night I went out for dinner and looked up the road and saw one of the pagoda's I was trying to find the other day. Seriously it is about 30 or 40 meters up the road. Now I know you are sick of looking at pagoda's but there are a couple left to show you and I have to fill in my day somehow.
The one up the road, Eindawya Paya is where the Buddhist's and the poms had a blue. The poms refused to take their shoes off so the monks threw them out. The poms tried them and jailed a few of them, one for life. There is the gold stupa and it is surrounded by a huge path and then buildings that look like meeting halls. It is a massive monastic school and the living spaces and other services cover at least 6 or 7 city blocks
From there I followed part of the LP push bike tour. I only went for part of it then left and headed south for another pagoda. I thought I was lost again, but I knew I was headed in the right direction. Eventually I came on a sign and turned right and follow the monks.
Shwe In Bin Kyaung is the coolest pagoda I have been to so far. It was built in 1895 by 2 Chinese jade traders and is all teak. It is surrounded by a village where the monks live. The place is amazing with all the carved wood everywhere and there were more monks in the area than I have seen the whole time I have been here.
I headed to the jade market. The place is kaos. People everywhere buying and selling jade. There is 100s of 1000s of kyat change hands here everyday. it is just a seething mass of people and you end having to push and shove to get through. I enjoyed watching the old blokes cutting the stones and felt sorry for the young boys who rub for hours on wet and dry paper to get them smooth then finally on bamboo to get the high shine.
I forgot to tell you. The other day I found Mandalay Donuts. Just near the train station and I believe you can get 2 chocolate donuts for 80cents. No prizes for guessing where I went for lunch again today.
Last stop Mahamuni Paya. This one is famous because you can put gold leaf on the Buddha image. Well men can women aren't allowed. There is so much gold leaf there must be tonnes of it. The entry is about 200mtr and full of shops either side, that's BOTH entrances. Even though it is shopping they still expect you to take off shoes.
At all the pagoda's there is a bell with a piece of bamboo. You hit the bell with the bamboo to ring it and it lets the buddha know you are there. Anyone can do it. Well I have been doing it at all the pagoda's and you should see the looks I get. Like they are thinking "what does the old white guy think he is doing?" but they cant do anything about it. I love it.