Mother's World Hotel - Mandalay, Burma

Mother's World Hotel - Mandalay, Burma

$27 for double room with A/C and breakfast (February, 2013)

Mother's World will do in a pinch, but you'd be better off searching elsewhere if you are looking for amenities, customer service, or clean sheets. The rooms are dingy (think 1965), the included breakfast is unappetizing, the location is just okay, and the non-English speaking staff is friendly, but unable to offer much assistance for things like booking busses or pointing you in the direction of a lunch spot. They get 2 Happy Travelers because a few of the staff were friendly enough to (somewhat) make up for the lack of character at this spot. 

We give Mother's World...2 Happy Travelers!

Marie Min Vegetarian Restaurant - Mandalay, Burma

Marie Min Vegetarian Restaurant - Mandalay, Burma

This is a great option for lunch or dinner (can't vouch for breakfast, but I'm sure it's good as well). The food is clean and safe to eat - they use boiled water in their preparation - and they have perfected items you'll find on many Burma menus; guacamole, tomato salad, chocolate/peanut butter/banana milkshakes. The owners and staff are eager to please, and the rooftop location is charming. The owner's son has just married a Thai girl and they opened a Thai restaurant across the lane, Rainforest, and you can expect the same customer service, ambiance, and reliably good, clean food from them as well.

We give Marie Min...4 Happy Travelers!

Rainforest Thai Restaurant - Mandalay, Burma

Rainforest Thai Restaurant - Mandalay, Burma

Rainforest will definitely be a popular place for tourists now that it's open, and I'm guessing it will have it's own mention in Lonely Planet in the next edition. The food is good (and clean, thanks to boiled water preparation), the staff is fun and always smiling and laughing, the setting is cozy and appealing, and they have FREE WIFI! The owner of Rainforest is the daughter-in-law of the owners at Marie Min Vegetarian Restaurant, located across the lane. Both are good choices!

We give Rainforest...4 Happy Travelers!

Moe Set - Trekking Guide - Kaukme, Burma

Moe Set - Trekking Guide - Kaukme, Burma

15000Kyat/day for lodging, guide and all meals

Moe Set may be one of the kindest and purest people you'll ever meet. It was an absolutely pleasure spending 3 days with him, even when we were hot, sore and tired and facing another hill to climb. He's new to the trekking business (he previously studied philosophy at a university in Mandalay and has plans to return), but he's well-liked in the villages and was attentive to our needs throughout the trek, offering us snacks when we needed a boost, encouraging us when we were tired, and suggesting a slower pace when we reached our limits. More than that, he truly loves Burma and his people and has so much to share about his culture, which he happily does. He has big aspirations for his future and really wants to improve the lives of the Shan villagers. This is evident as he speaks passionately about the political and economic issues facing the region, brings extra snacks in his backpack to give to the children of the poorer families, and teaches an impromptu lesson at a village school when a teacher is absent. He really is the kind of person who inspires everyone around him to live more considerately and deliberately. If you are interested in giving your money or time to help in one of the villages, Moe Set is a great guy to ask - he's tapped into the needs of the community and will help direct the funds or point you in the right direction.

asiaboy.myanmar@gmail.com
09-403725869

We give Moe Set...5 Happy Travelers!