Mandalay Tourist Traps

When we visited the Mahamuni paya, we were immediately accosted by a very friendly "monk", who grabbed us and took us to the front of the queue to see the procession of young people participating in some coming of age ceremony, and my husband was taken up to place some gold leaf on the Buddha image I was disallowed to go near.

After the unsolicited "tour" was completed, he asked if we would like to give him a "donation" for the temple. I had seen a sewn in mesh purse until his robe at some point, which quite full of notes, obviously indicating that he was not an authentic monk.

Unique Suggestions: I asked him where the nearest donation box was located, and that I was more than happy to place some money in that if he showed me the way. He did not insist, and was more than "happy" to oblige. We left a donation in the box.

Fun Alternatives: There is no sinister harm or danger in this "trap", just the principle factor!

Proved to be an expensive experience. I suspect that we not only subsidised the Kiwi's long trip to his country home, and his wife's imminent accommodation cost at the recommended hotel. I didn't see it coming.

After landing in Mandalay, we were approached by a Kiwi expat while we waited for our luggage. Mundane chatter later, he suggested that we share a cab to Mandalay. He also recommended a hotel, telling us that, although he was going home to his farm, his wife was arriving at Mandalay later that day. So, we set off for the 40km trip to Mandalay - believing that the fare was US$15 for the trip. When we arrived at the hotel, were told that the fare was PER PERSON, and were pressured to cough up US$30, which was refused, and downgraded to US$12 each.

We subsequently found out that the fare is actually a flat US$15. He clearly knew what was going on, and, I gather, we virtually paid his taxi fare to his property. I guess paying someone US$1 per day is exploitation - which he was quite happy to brag about. We were snagged and landed.

Well somehow we did not have to pay fees around Mandalay but we did not escape paying the fees for Sagaing and Mingun.

Our taxi driver paid for them on the road up to Sagaing Hill just after the bridge. I guess there was no other way around.

We had to pay in US dollars and they wanted to see our passports and wanted to know our nationality. We didn't have our passports but husband and brother could remember theirs. I couldn't but it did not seem to matter.

Alright - I should not have done this but I did! We visited the Mahamuni pagoda and it was raining very heavily. At the pagoda although I did not know it at the time a number of orphan boys spend their time there! One of the boys posed for me and I gave him a lolly- the next thing I was surrounded! Obviously, I did not have enough to give everyone a lolly! I tried :(

Beware - there are some very distressing beggars at this pagoda!

Unique Suggestions: Either ignore the obvious beggars or make sure you have at least twenty items of food!
(Some people would argue that this only encourages begging - I have yet to make my mind up- next time I think I would not encourage the boys).

4 more images

En este pais donde el budismo tiene tanta importancia y que esta lleno de templos y monasterios, en los que por respeto a sus costumbres tienes que entrar descalzo , el betel es un "enemigo" al que tienes que ir sorteando a cada paso
(Ver foto)

On this country where the Biuddhism is so important and that is full of temples and monasteries where due to their habits you must go in with the bare feet, betel is an enemy that you must avoid on each step
(See photo)

There are amateur tour guides at many tourist attractions in Mandalay. Basically they strike up a conversation with you and before you know it, they are explaining the history of every nook and cranny whether you want to know or not. Afterwards, you'll be asked for a 'present'. Mandalay Hill is a hotspot for this because it is difficult to escape - there is only one way up and the tout knows this. They will follow you and keep talking.

Unique Suggestions: Go to each place intending to get the services of a guide and budget, say, $5 for a short tour.

Fun Alternatives: Say immediately that you don't want a guide. This worked well. We couldn't afford guides because we were running low on cash. The lack of credit card acceptance was taking its toll!

We took a taxi from Mandalay to Amarapura and the driver asked us if we'd mind stopping for a minute or two while he picked something up from a friend. "Sure", we said, "no problem" and off we went. It was on the way of course. Surprise, surprise, his friend just happened to be a souvenir vendor ;-) I had to laugh - it's the oldest trick in the book.

Unique Suggestions: I had a look around the store and watched some of the craftsmen for a little while but I never bought anything. I was having a few cash budgeting problems at the time in credit card-shy Myanmar and statues and embroidery just weren't in my budget. There were no hard feelings and no hard sell though so it's all good. I guess the moral of the story is to keep in mind that you might be led on a little side trip if you go somewhere by taxi.

We went to an Indian vegetarian restaurant, which is mentioned in the Mandalay section in the Lonely Planet Burma book.

Please, please don't bother, this is rip off city. They've put their prices up, the food is average-poor and it's full of other people reading the Lonely Planet book. Not very lonely at all in fact!

Fun Alternatives: There's far better authentic Burmese vegetarian food, at 1/10 of the price, on the main road, by the turning for this restuarant.