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BAGAN

SHOPPING

BAGAN & CENTRAL MYANMAR

SHOPPING

BAGAN & CENTRAL MYANMAR

NYAUNG U

Shwe Ya Su BEER STATION $$
(Yarkinnthar Hotel Rd; dishes K1500-3000; h7am-
10.30pm) Since this place started selling
draught Myanmar Beer (look for the illu-
minated sign outside), it’s become quite the
local hangout. It’s a pleasant spot to revive
with twinkling fairy lights hanging from the
trees and tasty barbecued-pork snacks.

Beach Bagan Restaurant & Bar PAN-ASIAN $$
(12 Youne Tan Yat; dishes K4000-8000; h8am-9pm)
Signs lead past backstreets from the Nyaung
U market to this slick, breezy spot with
plenty of parking space for tour buses that
may or may not come. The restaurant over-
looking the river has wicker chairs and off ers
Thai, Chinese and Myanmar dishes. Try the
roof-top bar for a sunset cocktail (K3000); all
drinks are 10% off from 4pm to 6pm.

 7 Shopping

There’s also a good selection of souvenirs at
the Thanakha Gallery and at shops along
Restaurant Row.

Mani-Sithu Market MARKET
(h6am-5pm Mon-Sat) Near the roundabout at
the east end of the main road, this market
off ers a colourful display of fruit, vegetables,
fl owers, fi sh and textiles and is best visited
early in the day to see it at its liveliest. You’ll
fi nd many traveller-oriented goods (wood-

carvings, T-shirts, antique pieces) at its

northern end.

8 Information

Ever Sky Information Service (%60895; 5 Thi-

ripyitsaya; h7. 3 0 a m - 9. 3 0 p m) O n t h e r e s t a u r a n t

strip, this friendly place has travel and transport

information and a used bookshop. Staff can get

share taxis (to Mt Popa, Kalaw, Salay, around

Bagan) for the cheapest rates you’ll find.

Internet (Thanakar Complex, Yarkinnthar Hotel

Rd; K600 per hr; h9am-9pm)

Post office (Anawrahta Rd; h9.30am-7pm)

Telephone Stands around town follow the same

set prices: it’s $5 per minute to call Europe or

Australia and $6 to call North America.

8 Getting There & Away

See Mt Popa and Salay Getting There & Away

sections for transport details to those nearby

attractions.

Air

The Nyaung U Airport is about 2 miles southeast

of the market. Airlines connect Bagan daily with

Mandalay ($38 to $40; 30 minutes), Heho ($60

to $62; 40 minutes) and Yangon ($82 to $85; 70

minutes).

Travel agencies sell tickets a bit cheaper than

airline offi ces. Try Seven Diamond (%60883;

Main Rd) or Sun Far (%60901) in front of the

Golden Myanmar Guest House.

TRANSPORT OPTIONS TO BAGAN

The following table provides a quick comparison of the various ways of getting to Nyaung

U from Yangon and Mandalay

TO/FROM YANGON DURATION COST FREQUENCY

Air 70min $82-85 6-8 fl ights daily

Boat 6 days $18-36 weekly

Bus 11hr K15,000 daily

Car 10hr $80 n/a

Train 16hr $30-50 daily

TO/FROM MANDALAY DURATION COST FREQUENCY

Air 30min $38-40 6 daily

Boat (slow) 2 days $10 2 weekly

Boat (fast) 11hr $36 2-4 times weekly

Boat (luxury cruise) 2 days $280 weekly

Bus 7-8hr K6500 2 daily

Car 7hr $80 n/a

Train 8hr $5-10 daily