It's not Grassland, we didn't get massage chairs and each seat couldn't fit one-and-a-half me, but it has everything that you need. Booked through Joy Hotel, 22,000 kyat got us two seats on the night bus from Inle Lake to Mandalay.
Seats are assigned, so book early to get front ones which are cushioned from the bumpy road. We booked two days ahead and got Seats 25 and 26, fourth row from the back.
The ticket indicated 6pm but we were early just to be safe. The wait at the cafe was comfortable and served the best chicken with dried chilli. Good sized chunks of chicken and cauliflower, green peppers and tomato.
The bus only got to Shwenyang Junction about 7pm.
Each passenger is given a bottle of mineral water, a small pillow and impressively a night pack with toothbrush, mini toothpaste and a wet wipe! The 12-hour ride was smooth and I managed to sleep most of it, except for the two 20-minute stops for food and toilet.
And as Lonely Planet also warns, it is really a good idea to bring a good blanket. It was freezing and raining outside, yet at some stage the driver switched on the air condition as if we were in Singapore.
Cost (US$1 = 750 kyat):
- 9,000 kyat - lunch for two at Smiling Moon. I had meatball pasta which tasted very much like sweet and sour pork
- 6,000 kyat - pick up to Shwenyang junction
- 4,000 kyat - coffee and dinner at cafe while waiting for bus
- 11,000 kyat - a seat on the Inle-Mandalay coach
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