We reached Mandalay in the early hours of New Year's Eve. The hostel we arrived at wasn't up to mine and Charlie's standard, we know what your all thinking, we are usually not choosy when it comes to this sort of thing. But, there were a LOT of mosquitoes, and no mosquito net. Restless, we search for another hostel, through the streets of Mandalay where the night is owned by packs of dogs. We find another hostel but cannot check in until later that morning.
Before dawn wakes the city, we decide to get a moped taxi (which we later realised the driver was in no state to be driving and we came to the conclusion we would have felt safer with one of us driving with two on the back) to U-Bein bridge, the worlds oldest and longest teak wood bridge. We arrive just in time for sunrise. One that you imagine only exists in postcards. We watch on as the Monks make their way across the bridge to collect their daily offering from the shops and restaurants.
On one of the side streets adjacent to the bridge, we find a tea shop where we stop to refuel, this entailed vegetarian samosas, egg filled pancake with chickpeas and a cup of fresh black tea with condensed milk. The return journey meant hanging off the back of a local 'bus' that situated us not too far from our nice, clean mosquito free hostel.
That night we went to a local bar and celebrated New Years with friends, ring of fire, Myanmar rum and some good old fashioned chundering.
Needless the say the day after we were feeling very fragile. With no plan, aside from finding out where to book an Eco friendly tour we had heard about, we found what looked like a good place to eat. After food Charlie an I thought it a nice idea to go to the cinema, something that is turning into somewhat of a tradition when we go away together. Penguins 3-D, of course.
The following morning we had booked the Eco friendly tour for the 5 of us to go on. You remember I said we found 'what we thought was a good place to eat'.....turns out it wasn't. The night prior Alex was sick, closely followed by Charlie the next morning.
Reluctantly, we decided to go on the tour anyway. Mr pancake was our guide for the next couple of days, the first stop Mingun, where we could catch a rare glimpse of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. In a convoy of fisherman boats we paddled along the river in search of these rarities. After a few sightings close to the boats and half our crew not feeling too fresh we headed back to land. After lunch I was victim number 3. Sick off the side of the truck. With Charlie and I out for the count we made tracks for the monastery where we would be staying that night. After an hour of a painful, dusty ride we arrive, there isn't much else me and Charlie can do but crash out on the floor (which are also our beds). We have come to learn that in Asia, you either feast or famine. The latter in full force in this instance.
The next morning, feeling slightly better, (even if the monastery was in party mode the night before with people coming and going out of the room) we were lead to a donation stage, where there was a festival of colour, food, dance and a killer sound system. After awkwardly having our pictures taken several times, we were lead upstairs to a room where we had the opportunity to speak to the head monk of this particular monastery.
After that we visited a pottery village close by where these autodidact women showcased their skills. Charlie tried her hand at showcasing her own skills, proving, that this was not as easy as this woman made it look....picture soon to follow. A monk from a different monastery was kind enough to show us around his home, affectionately calling us his sons and daughters. Allowing us to rummage through his vintage book collection and finally offering us some, (although we should never look a gift horse in the mouth) very out of date food.
With our time at the monastery coming to an end we gathered our things, exhibit our thanks and goodbyes and set off in the tuk tuk back to Mandalay.

Back in Mandalay we caught the last bus up to Pyin Oo Lwin still feeling dishevelled but determined. 3 hours and a smoky overheated engine being drowned in water later, we arrive at our next destination.