Mandalay – the U Bein pedestrian bridge

Spanning a length of 1.2 kilometers (almost a mile) across the shallow Taungthaman Lake, the U Bein bridge has the distinction of being the world’s longest bridge built entirely of teak. It was built in the mid-nineteenth century, and most of its roughly one thousand teak posts are the original ones, all that is left of the wood from a former royal palace nearby. The bridge is surprisingly heavily used, and not just by tourists.

  

 

It’s a good thing they were thoughtful enough to provide those benches. They’re a good place for a person to rest while waiting for their lagging, picture-taking wife.

The surrounding lake is also interesting, providing places for worship, fishing, and, er, other lakeside activities.