Mandalay Nightlife

I enjoyed the MarionettesTheatre in Mandalay.
Mandalay is famous for this type of art performance.
Although the kind of music is something you have to get used to it, I love the history and the story behind marionettes theatre. Burmese people often use marionettes to show people the real world. But because they cannot do it straight away they use other means. Marionettes were a means of making people aware of current events, a medium for educating the people in literature, history and religion, display of lifestyles and customs. At the same time, they functioned as mouthpieces for the people in the days of royalty, tiny hands in state and social affairs. If you are open to interpret the deeper meaning behind the quite 'simple' stories this show will be very intersting to you.

Regular show: everyday from 8:30pm to 9:30 pm
Entrance Fee: 3US$ per person.
Duration : one hour for Part (1) & (2)
one and half hours for Part (1) & (2) & (3)

Dress Code: casual

Ok they are a bit corny and I am sure making a mint (they ask for a donation of US$5.00) but it is a night out and a bit different!

However, I did learn a bit about Burmese dancing and the various costumes worn by the Burmese.

You also have to admire their courage and resilience after being imprisoned and still making slight criticisms against the regime!

They also sell puppets and T shirts!

I'm not a beer drinker, but a glass of good beer on a hot Burmese night is not to be sneezed at.
The problem is that beer is comparatively expensive in Burma. Most places only serve bottles, which cost anything between 900 and 1500 kyat (the price of four curries).
The secret is to find one of the rare bars that serve draught beer. This oneserves 0.3l glasses of beer for 250 kyat (less than 30c).

03/2003

30th street in the southern part of Mandalay has plenty of bars and restaurants which open late.

You can go there to eat, have some drinks, watch sports (mainly English Football), people watch or even sing some karaoke.

Most of the bars are frequented by locals but they were welcoming whenever I went there. Just look for the green "Myanmar Beer" sign - they are lit up all along two or three blocks of this street.

It makes a nice alternative to a bland hotel bar full of tourists.

Dress Code: Reasonably neat. As in other parts of Myanmar, it's better not to wear shorts.

The bars are supposed to close at 11pm, but they were open well beyond that when I went.