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Getting Around in Pyin Oo Lwin
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Maps are being prepared. For the moment, the 1944 map with an up to date legend gives a good perspective. For Ticketing, see also the Shopping Directory Air Although an airport has (2005) been built at Anisakahn, there is no civilian air service yet to Pyin Oo Lwin. The nearest airport, with connections to Yangon, He Ho, Bagan, Chiang Mai and other destinations, is Mandalay International Airport. It's a 90 minute drive away. Taxis If you're going any distance, there's little alternative to the Toyota Taxi. Foreigners generally have to pay a premium, plus extra for the front seat. Four passengers is the limit, and four sharing get a better deal than four individuals. Try to find a driver with some relevant language skills, and you'll benefit hugely from local knowledge and ideas. Around $7 each, compared with $35 if you hire a private taxi. There are several taxi stations (known as 'taxi gates', locally), at the main market, four or five by the centre of town traffic lights, and three or four opposite the Shan market. They are all happy to do one day tours as well as longer journeys in the Hsipaw, Lashio direction. Hotels usually have 'friendly' taxis on call, though visitors might wish to ask around since prices will vary. Your hotel will probably use one of these taxi companies: Shwe Mann May (Mandalay, Lashio, Musé), near YMCA, Shan market. (21575, 21442 Soe Moe Aung, Bogkoke Street (Centre of town), (21500. From Mandalay: (0260950 Win Yadana, Bogyoke Street (Centre of town), (22490. From Mandalay: (0235548. From Lashio: (082-23070, 23980 Buses Most inter-city express buses do follow a timetable, but to reach more local destinations you will need to get some local knowledge in order to judge the departure time and place. Good air-conditioned buses leave Pyin Oo Lwin frequently for an overnight journey to Yangon at very reasonable prices. There are also direct bus services from Yangon to Lashio which passes through Pyin Oo Lwin daily. Bookings and tickets next to Mona Lisa Guest House, near the DSA roundabout, (085-22425, and Mandalar Bus tickets are available next to Liqueur Corner, by the market. The bus station is a little out of town in the New Town. Trains It's possible to get tickets from the railway station to up-country destinations, and down to Mandalay. The timetable is fairly good. Time to Mandalay is about 5 hours. The world-famous Gokteik Viaduct is about an hour and a half's journey by train from Pyin Oo Lwin - not for the faint-hearted, though! The train timetable can now be found here. Hilux Cheap, noisy, slow, cramped, uncomfortable but social. About a dollar and between 2 and 3 hours from Mandalay. You can hear the ticket collectors shouting for passengers at the Hilux stand near the Purcell Tower and opposite the Myoma Cinema: 'Man'lay, Man'lay!' Jeep Not very romantic these days, and not as cheap as formerly. However, unless you are a strong cyclist, a Jeep from beside the main market will take you practically anywhere. Many of them come from the direction of Anisakahn, and so are ideal for exploring the falls and the pineapple fields there. Bicycle Dahlia Motel, Royal Park View Hotel and Grace Hotel all offer bicycle hire at reasonable rates. Other hotels, too, though their models may be 1950 Chinese rather than 1960 Raleigh. Foot Except on the very rare very hot day, Pyin Oo Lwin and the surrounding villages can easily be explored on foot. For anything more than the town itself, however, you will need a guide. The lanes in the areas near the town centre are very rewarding for the curious and those interested in the history of the region. Please also visit the Pyin Oo Lwin Guestbook to record your comments
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