As was the customary way of commuting in Myanmar, upon our arrival at the bus terminal, we boarded a Japanese pickup truck they called a "lain-ka" (line car) that would deliver us to our respective hotels and hostels. Having already found my seat in the spacious twelve-seater back of the truck along with four other Western travelers, the driver pointed a finger at me and recited aloud, "You will be the first." I reckoned Hotel by the Red Canal—my accommodation in Mandalay—would be the first destination along the route. I nodded my head as I looked forward to taking a short rest before meeting in person a Filipina expat I had met through Tinder.
Enjoying the Quiet and Colonial Ambiance of Hotel by the Red Canal
A Solo Traveler's Fancy Retreat
As we rolled down the dusty and busy streets of Mandalay, I stretched my feet and relished the space provided by the truck, as opposed to the compressed minibus I had taken for six hours from Bagan. A few turns later, our truck made a complete halt, and the driver’s companion got out and told me, "This is your place, Red Canal." I heard the two couples make a sound of "oohs and ahhhs." The elderly man said to me, "That looks impressive, mate. I wish we were staying there." I smiled at the four of them and waved goodbye.
I felt weird appearing to them as a solo Asian traveler who could afford such a fancy place. Well, I could not. However, the kind management of the Red Canal was generous enough to gift me a complimentary three-night stay. It was one of those travel-blogger perks I enjoyed once in a while.
Stepping Into a Colonial Heritage
Upon entering, I was instantly greeted by the jovial hospitality of the Burmese people, to which I was starting to get used to. Smiles abounded as the doorman asked if he could carry my backpack. "It’s okay," I told him. Stepping inside the small courtyard and the garden, I quickly saw the pool on my left and the impressive three-story colonial mansion to my right.
After checking in and showing me to my room, Hotel by the Red Canal’s Front Office Manager, May Thu Win, toured me around the property, which sat literally across a narrow canal that led to a moat surrounding the Mandalay Palace. She narrated the hotel's history, and I learned that prior to its inception as a hotel, the property had functioned as the Chinese Consulate before it was acquired by an Indian businessman who made a series of renovations to turn it into a boutique hotel.
Cultural Enclaves: The Rakhine Room
Hotel by the Red Canal boasted twenty-five customized rooms divided into four categories: the Chin, Shan, Kachin, and the Rakhine room that was assigned to me. Each room came with special features such as the outdoor shower area for the Kachin, the wide balcony of the Chin, the garden view of the Shan, and the wide brass bed of the Rakhine.
The intimate setting of Hotel by the Red Canal did not escape me, as I felt like a resident of an enormous household where fellow guests and the hotel’s staff appeared as part of a collective family. Wooden-based furniture and antique aesthetics dominated the interior, giving it a more throwback vibe fit for a place like Mandalay, which was known as an ancient city by virtue of being Myanmar’s "last royal city."
Modern Amenities in a Historic Setting
On the second floor was situated the veranda for afternoon tea, where the hotel provided free snacks and unlimited coffee and tea. Further down the hallway was a small gym where I worked out for a couple of hours during my entire stay at Red Canal.
On the third floor was where the business E-hub was located. There, guests could use a laptop to make online bookings and research travel plans or just read a book. Outdoors, just below the swimming pool, a door led to the underground Prana Spa, which was made of materials used in typical Myanmar villages.
Authentic Flavors and Cultural Evenings
Beside the pool was where the in-house restaurant Spice Garden was situated. Included in many 'Where-to-Eat-in-Mandalay' listicles, Spice Garden served authentic Northern and Southern Indian dishes as well as a sumptuous fusion of Indian-Burmese cuisines. For three mornings, the delicious breakfast buffet served as my much-needed fuel for exploring the sights all over Mandalay.
Every evening when the clock struck 6:00 PM, a poolside cocktail social was set up, complete with a cultural musical show and candlelit walkways. There, guests could enjoy free drinks and snacks, but more importantly, a chance to get to know one another. On my second night there, I met a few other guests, and we talked about our collective Myanmar experiences and exchanged a few travel tips, with me offering some Philippine travel information.
A Fitting Send-Off
Overall, I really enjoyed staying at Hotel by the Red Canal not just because they had sponsored me, but for the reason that everyone was so accommodating; as I observed them, I noticed how they exhibited the same demeanor toward other guests. Up to the last minute, they made sure I got onto the bus heading back to Bagan, and as I stepped out of the property, I waved at the staff huddled at the front gate and bade them goodbye. Their smiles made a fitting send-off for my satisfied wandering soul back to Bagan and, unfortunately, toward the tail-end of my return trip to Myanmar.
Hotel by the Red Canal Profile
