Mandalay—where today becomes antique overnight…if in doubt when purchasing antiquities of teak and marble in South East Asia, chances are they came from Mandalay.
Skilled craftsmen proudly display both new and “old” sets of their delicate carvings and larger than life marble masterpieces. Inside you can find the pristine works of art and outside, pilled high and exposed to the elements are new works in various stages of the “antiquing” process, soon to be “relics” for sale.
Most memorable however was the short drive out of town passing as we went the moat surrounding the old palace grounds—now military headquarters—and the unforgettable signage.
With the city behind us we boarded a wooden canoe shared among friends: a monk and a sad looking man with his bike. Within seconds we were cross the river and loading into our miniature horse-drawn Cinderella-esque caleche. As we cut along the dirt road that separated the rice paddies from the rows of sweet corn we soaked in all the rural farming sights and the true antiquities that make Mandalay and it’s surrounding areas so special.
… It wouldn’t be a trip to Mandalay without doing the long walk, boat ride and sunset photo-op capturing a monk and bicycle crossing the famed U Bein teak bridge.
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