We have used several modes of transport while in Myanmar and generally have been impressed. The VIP buses are very comfortable and night or day they are on time (ish) and very clean.

Today we stepped off the tourist trail and used a local shared taxi to get from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin. We were picked up at 9.15am and the taxi driver kindly spent the next hour showing us the other side of Mandalay while he filled his taxi - first with parcels and letters from several parts of the city. He then had to find two more people (yes they only put 4 people in a shared taxi!!) So when we had 4.5 (babies don’t count as a whole person) Off we went, hell for leather but on the right side of the road which is the right - sadly that is also the side of the car his steering wheel is on. This goes back to when Myanmar was Burma and they were “British” and drove on the left side of the road. They changed which side they drove on - but not which side they had the steering wheel. I love this country. Oh yes the VIP buses had their steering wheels on the left.

Arrived in Pyin Oo Lwin and one of the first things we saw was a miniture stage coach - they were used as taxis here and there are still a few around. Apparently Americans love them and are buying them up to ship back to the USA.