December 24, 2003

The last capital before the British took over, Mandalay remains as the cultural center and geographical heart. We arrived this morning after a grueling overnight bus journey. Mandalay keeps important monasteries as well as the largest prison, so it covers the spectrum of Burmese society. Surprisingly it's a young city. King Mindon Min founded it in 1857 as the new capital of the Konbaung dynasty. Twenty eight years later the British invaded the 'golden city' (as Mandalay came to be known) and the city slumbered until the economic boom of the last decade. Money flows from three trades known as the red, green, and white lines - rubies, jade, and heroin. Tourism is the fourth line that contributes to Mandalay's economy.