Slow Boat to Mandalay

We boarded the Shwe Keinnery ferry in total darkness at 5:30 am at the Nyaung U dock in the Bagan area of Myanmar. We headed slowly but surely up the Irrawaddy all the way to Mandalay taking in a huge variety of sights along the way. We disembarked in Manadalay long after sunset in darkness by walking a narrow plank six feet above the roiling black water. No rail, no nothing. You just had to go for it. Mandalay, here we come!

This seems to be a small local ferry.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We stopped at this spot to let off a few people. They just nose right up the shore and toss a plank over.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Looks like it's laundry day.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Passing a working boat.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Hi!
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Another cruise boat. I think this one belongs to Princess Royal Cruises.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
This is one of the smaller Irrawaddy cruise boats.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Princess Royal Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Princess Royal.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Princess Royal Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Passengers relaxing on the Irrawaddy Princess II.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy Princess Irrawaddy Princess II Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Goodbye Irrawaddy Princess II.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy Princess Irrawaddy Princess II Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
A gold dredge at work.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Gold Dredging GoldDredging Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Gold-dredging on the Irrawaddy.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Gold Dredging GoldDredging Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
A couple in a typical boat.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Put-put-put.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Bathing on the stern.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Another bamboo raft. This one seems to have a whole village on it.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
You see a lot of typical rural life as you chug up the river.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Birds!
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
No gas money?
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Barge and stupa.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The river is alive with commerce and activity.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Tony looking into the late afternoon sun, it's cooling off now.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar People Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Tony Marchetti Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We're passing a boat loaded with something.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The boat is loaded with terra cotta water jugs.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We pass the boat as the sun is setting.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
As we get closer to Mandalay the river gets even busier.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Birds pass at sunset on the Irrawaddy as we approach The Inwa Bridge.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Sunset and the Inwa Bridge on the Irrawaddy.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Sunset and the Inwa Bridge on the Irrawaddy with small boat.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The last light of the day. We continued along in darkeness for a good hour or more after sunset. We pulled up the the muddy bank in Mandalay and had to walk a narrow plank above the swirling water to get to shore.
Asia Ayeyarwady River Bagan Burma Irrawaddy River Mandalay Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Myanmar Places Ships and Boats Shwe Keinnery Shwe Keinnery Ferry Southeast Asia Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com

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Slow Boat to Mandalay