Again we are stopped. Like the previous stops, it was only a moment, just enough time for the assistant to pay the toll for the next section of road. Then we’re off again, flying down the bumpy roads of the Mandalay province in Myanmar. I was given the hard choice between an expensive and long boat trip or a cheaper, faster bus trip. For budget and conveniences sake OK provide a shuttle service between Bagan and Mandalay City. To make the deal sweeter, they even picked us up from our hotel in Nyaung U, Bagan with cold water and fresh hand wipes at the ready.
With constant stops to pay road tolls, this shuttle could be progressing to a longer than advised journey. I gaze out the window to soak in the array of new sites to see. The road is constantly shared by an interlocking of cars, cattle, people and potholes. As we edge closer to the toll booth (a few locals by a boom gate), a narrow single-laned bridge comes into view with cars lining up to cross. Shared with the railway the bridge, it seems the only link to the other side. A daring motorbike scoots down the river bank and proceeds to cross the river. It makes it to the other side, safe and toll free, whilst we have not even made our way halfway across.
Before I know it we have stopped in a bus station in the middle of nowhere for a food and bathroom stop. With clean toilets and an array of local street food available, all passengers (locals and westerners) hop off the bus with delight. Ten minutes later we climb aboard and continue on the road to Mandalay. With the driver knowing the roads better than the back of his hand, we make steady progress and have another bathroom/food stop on the way.
One last toll booth. This one an official booth to enter the city of Mandalay. We enter the wide open streets filled with swarms of motorbikes. The shuttle bus weaves through the traffic, and our driver drops us off at the door of our pre-booked hotel. Door to door the journey took five hours, care free.
Happy to leave the confined space of the shuttle bus, I soak in the polluted city air made worse by peak hour traffic. I don’t feel the need to stretch my legs as I had plenty of leg room in the front seat, so I wander into the lobby with the OK staff taking care of my luggage. (The only disadvantage to booking the front seat was that there was nowhere to store personal belongs such as water bottles.)
This affordable and convenient transport option from Bagan to Mandalay City leaves several times each day. Check with your reception staff to find out the latest timetable. With only 16 seats and a service used by locals, ensure you book as soon as possible or you may miss out.
All opinions are subjective to the writers personal travel experience. The writer travelled at her own expense.