MYANMAR – Irrawaddy Cruise - FEB 2016

 

MYANMAR – Irrawaddy Cruise - FEB 2016

Myanmar Feb 2016

Irrawaddy Cruise

29 Feb 2016

 

For the whole of last week, we saw so many Pagodas in Bagan and Lake Inle. The sheer numbers and magnitude of so many majestic and elegant pagodas was overwhelming. It was an awesome achievement for the builders in Bagan over a thousand years ago.

It was time to go to Mandalay, our last city of our Myanmar holiday.  We had chosen to sail on the Irrawaddy River Cruise to Mandalay. The Irrawaddy Cruise from Rangoon up north is famous for the romantic setting especially during the colonial days.

The ship departed Nyuang U Jetty at 5.30am in the morning. We left the hotel in the dark and arrived an hour before. We were really shocked there was no proper berthing pier. Instead, we had to walk precariously across makeshift planks to embark the ship. Our luggages were carried by human porters.

Boarding the ferry

Sunrise over Irrawaddy

Pakokku Bridge over Bagan

There are many small islands in the river and many small fishing boats.

It was an eleven hours cruise. We saw so much along this economically important beautiful river, observed the livelihood and settlement ashore and along the waterway,. There is no end to sights of stupas. Watching the morning sunrise was a refreshing start of this journey.

Onboard the Malikha 2 Ferry

Seen from the ferry

Other ships on the River

Sagaing Bridge

Yadanabon Bridge

As the cruise approached Mandalay, the waterway became more crowded and the shore also more populated. Pagodas started to dot the skyline.

Disembarking the ship in makeshift gangway. Our lugguges were carried out porters.

                                                                                 

On the way to Shwe Ingyinn Hotel in Yangoon