Decided on a short walk among the truck park that is the ayrawaddy river bank to see if we could find the ferry terminal we leave from tomorrow.
We found a very rudimentary one but there are degrees of rudimentary and ours was rudimentary just not that rudimentary.
Had a plan of action for the day but first was to find some more lomitol just in case... Sussed there was a pharmacy near the Mandalay city hotel so caught a cab ... Well rode in the back of a utility ... there ... That pub was off a very busy and noisy street but seemed quite an oasis.
Found a pharmacy slot shop with an army of staff, one of whom quickly dispensed us some similar tho not the same named medicine.
As the must see of Mandalay -- the palace -- was just up the road we decided to walk. In the building heat of the morning we got to a bridge and gate of the moat only to discover foreigners weren't permitted entry at that point.. In fact the only one we could get into palace was at complete opposite side ... About five kilometers away. Gina did not fancy the motorbike taxis on offer so it was a rickshaw each and a very leisurely ride.. Pay at the gate and another kilometer or so to get to the palace itself.
Given the standard of display ten dollars entry might have been a bit steep. Much of the buildings are timber and much of them were burnt in 40's or thereabouts ... They have rebuilt most of what was once there not sure about the authenticity of the corrugated iron roofs but our entry fee might help.
We were leaving and haggling with a taxi this time a ute with no seats in the back when a couple of boys we found out were from Korea were also looking for a lift.... After much banter we arrived at a price to get to nearby restaurant ... The sun being over the yard arm on a hot morning beer beckoned, but fried starling and gizzards and liver on the small eats menus did not.
Thirst quenched it was back to the well worn tourist trail..... This time a proper car cab and negotiated a price to take in gold leaf making, marble carving and back to a big market in mid city. We got another free visit to a wooden and embroidery handcraft factory. Encountered a tour group at the gold and completed the full list in time for Gina to do shopping spree at Zegyo market picking up not one but two new tops for a price.
Another seatless utility tax back to the hotel via some very poor and extremely unhygienic streets. Four or five kettles of boiling water warmed the hot water enough for a reasonably comfortable bath, then we repaired to the rooftop bar and restaurant for a couple of cocktails with the sun somewhere behind a rain cloud disappearing over the Ayrawaddy. Wait staff were busy taking tables in and out of the terrace because of the rain threat, but eventually give up putting a big table inside us squeezed next to the be and another couple eating from from the bar.
A pleasant couple of local very mild curries and another bottle of the Myanmar wine this time white finished an early evening ready for a very early start on the slow boat to Bagan.
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