You’ll find a lot of options for getting around in Myanmar, but only the most expensive offer any comfort. Most are crowded at best, like the pickup truck above on the streets of Mandalay, and downright painful at worst. I was stupid lucky enough to try just about all of them during my time in Myanmar and you can read about all the fun I had in the series of posts detailing my journey to Indawgyi Lake.
Traveling around Burma was such fun, especially as some of the time was spent in the back of trucks or on crowded buses. A great place to travel around all the same.
While I did have a lot of fun traveling around Myanmar, I don’t know if I’d use the word ‘fun’ to describe ALL of my experiences with Burmese transportation. That said, I did love siting on the roofs of those trucks–it was usually the least crowded seat and the best for taking photos. At least until it started to rain.
Having just ridden in a tuk-tuk in India I can sympathize with what you are saying. These inexpensive vehicles get great gas mileage but they aren’t built for comfort.
No kidding. The tuk tuks in India felt cramped with two people; and yet, you’ll see whole Indian families plus their dog, a goat and a few chickens squeezed onto one.
These transports are quite something. What – you don’t like tuk tuks. No way. I love them.
I don’t mind tuk tuks; it’s the drivers I don’t like. Of course many of them are probably perfectly nice people, but those drivers don’t generally pick up foreigners. We get the scammers.
When I first arrived in India, I took the train from the airport to New Delhi Station, where the tuk tuk drivers were offering me rides to Paharganj for 500 Rupees. Of course I had looked at a map beforehand and knew that Paharganj is just across the street from the station, but I imagine many visitors don’t know this and end up paying several hundred Rupees to go on a long circular ride that ends up across the street.
You haven’t seen Indian crowded public transport, it’s insane!
You’re right, India is the worst I’ve seen, but I don’t have any good pictures of Indian public transport.