Dear steemit friends,
Today I want to bring you with me to one of Myanmar’s most photographed sites, a placed called U Bein Bridge.
U Bein Bridge is a 1.2 kilometre-long woode bridge . And it is said to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.
In 1857, when the capital moved from nearby Amarapura to Mandalay( former royal capital ), the local mayor (named U Bein) salvaged wood from pieces of the dismantled teak palace and reconstructed it into this magnificent bridge.
The best time to visit the bridge is during sunrise and sunset.But it's popular with local and tourists, the place can be very crowded.
As you can see , there are lines of tourist buses and cars. You could take a boat to tour around the lake. I have heard great experiences from people who has taken the boat. But sad to see lots of trashes and garbages around the place.
During the summer time, the water level can become significantly decrease as the temperature get really hot at this region.
And the green fields on the bank of the river during rainy season. If you could spot , there are dead trees around the middle of the lake, which make it a popular photo spot.
You can see, a few villages still living around the lake.
And the birdge is not just a photo spot or place to catch the light, it's also main use for local villagers to commute everyday, to go to work or school. So it's a great place to watch people doing their daily routine.
Like any part of the country, you will see a pagoda nearby.
Since the bridge is old, some parts are already worn out and falling apart, so watch your steps.
This is me and my sister at the base of the bridge. We visited around December and it get quite chilly in the evening.
Overall, I highly recommend to stop by at this place if you are visiting Myanmar.
How to reach to U Bein Bridge?
To get to U Bein Bridge, you will have to take a car from Mandalay. It’s about 11 km from old capital, Mandalay .It take about 20 minutes to drive there .