Page 254 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

252 INLE LAKE AND THE EAST NYAUNGSHWE
Nantha
• 1km south of town
It’s well worth the short walk south to the small village of Nantha, a charming place
that provides an Inle Lake vibe without the need to leave dry land – stilt-housing,
friendly locals and a rural atmosphere whose tranquil air is broken only by the regular
put-putting of boat engines. Look hard enough and you’ll find a tiny teahouse and
small shop; far easier to spot is the huge Buddha statue sitting at the village’s north end.
6
Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung
Around 2km north of Nyaungshwe on the road to Shwenyaung • Daily 6am–6pm • Free
It’s well worth making the short excursion from Nyaungshwe to visit the pretty Shwe
Yaunghwe Kyaung monastery, centred on a gorgeous old teak hall whose distinctive
oval windows seem to have been designed specifically to frame shots of the monks
meditating within. Look out too for the small shrine behind, with antique tiled floors
and richly red-painted walls dotted with hundreds of tiny Buddhas set in niches.
Unfortunately, the whole place can get overrun with coach parties – best to visit early
or late in the day.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE NYAUNGSHWE
BY PLANE overnight buses to Bagan and Yangon; express services to
Transport to/from town A taxi to or from Heho airport, the latter are run by JJ (c/o Sun Goddess Travel & Tour, near
around 35km northeast of Kalaw, costs around K20,000 the French Touch restaurant; 6am; K27,000) and nearby Thit
and takes an hour (given the number of tourists heading to Sar Oo (6.30pm; K20,000).
Nyaungshwe, it should be possible to find other people To Kalaw The short hop to Kalaw can be surprisingly tricky
with whom to share the fare, at least when arriving). By unless you can find a free seat on a long-distance bus (or
public transport you’ll have to walk (or take a taxi) 2km are prepared to pay the full fare to its final destination). The
south to the main road, find something heading east only other option is to catch a pick-up to Shwenyaung and
towards Taunggyi, get off at Shwenyaung, then catch a then try to flag down a passing bus or pick-up on the main
pick-up (K1000) the rest of the way. road (and you may have to change again at Aungban).
Tickets Plane tickets can be arranged through most Given all this, you might decide just to hire a taxi for the
of the tour and trekking operators around town, entire journey (see below).
including specialist flight agent Win Air Ticketing and To Loikaw There’s a once-daily bus at 9am to Loikaw via
Travel Services on Yone Gyi Rd (T081 209 920, Aungban.
Ewintravel9@gmail.com). To Pindaya Heading to Pindaya, you’ll first need to take a
Destinations Kengtung (3 weekly, plus additional services taxi (K10,000) or pick-up (K1000) to Shwenyaung (30min),
via Yangon; 35min); Lashio (6 weekly; 50min); Mandalay then hope you can get a seat on a passing bus, minibus or
(5 daily; 35min); Nyaung U, for Bagan (1–2 daily; 40min); pick-up to Aungban (1hr 30min), where you’ll need to
Tachileik (1 daily; 1hr). change onto another pick-up for the final 1hr leg of the
journey to Pindaya (1hr; K3000).
BY BUS, MINIBUS AND PICKUP To Taunggyi Pick-ups to Taunggyi depart when full from
Many buses bypass Nyaungshwe, dropping passengers the stand on Yone Gyi Rd west of the market.
off at Shwenyaung, 12km to the north, where the Destinations: Bagan (5 daily; 8hr); Loikaw (1 daily; 7hr);
Nyaungshwe road turns off from the main Taunggyi Mandalay (5 daily; 7–8hr); Yangon (8 daily; 12hr).
highway. From Shwenyaung it’s 30min to Nyaungshwe
by pick-up (K1000) or taxi (K10,000). Even if you’ve been BY TAXI
booked on a service direct from Nyaungshwe it’s possible Count on around K35,000 one-way to Kalaw, K40,000 to
that you’ll have to change vehicles at Shwenyaung. Pindaya, and at least K50,000 to combine the two.
Leaving Nyaungshwe, it’s generally easiest to buy a
ticket through your hotel, although there are also BY TRAIN
numerous tour agents around town selling tickets (May There’s a once-daily train between Shwenyaung and
Bus Ticket Centre, opposite the northwest corner of the Thazi (11hr 30min), which passes Kalaw (3hr 30min) on
market, is one reliable place). the way – it’s exceptionally scenic, and exceptionally hard
To Bagan and Yangon There’s a choice of daytime and on your bottom.