How to spend S$101 (you big spender, you) in a day   by Serene Lim     MORE than just the title of a Robbie Williams song, Mandalay's lingering beauty was mediated upon in Rudyard Kipling's poem more than a century earlier - even if the latter never actually visited it. These days, the second largest city in Myanmar is better known for being a centre for Chinese businesses.   Mandalay has grown increasingly bustling with crazy, migraine-inducing traffic in some areas. But the city's cultural sites and religious way of life remain fascinating draws for travellers bound for the path less taken. SERENE LIM       Visit to Mandalay Hill: S$18.67   The monastery-speckled hill rises 236.5m above sea level and an early hike is the best time to see city and temples below shrouded in morning mist. A trishaw can be hired for as little as US$5 (S$6.22) to bring you around and the government imposes a fee of US$10 to visit its famous attractions.       Drive to Amarapura: S$21.99   Once a separate town 11km away, Amarapura is now considered part of Mandalay due to the city's rapid growth. Amarapura, or the City Of Immortality, is a photobug's dream, with its 200-year old U-Bein Bridge - the world's longest teak bridge - ruined palaces and temples teeming with young monks. You can actually walk and cycle to Amarapura from Mandalay's city centre but the less tiring option is hiring a cab for about 15,000 kyats.       Dinner at Green Elephant Restaurant: S$24.89   With cash to spare, splurge on a hearty Burmese meal at Green Elephant (www.greenelephant-restaurants.com) and sample signature dishes like air-dried venison and pork curry. Prices are significantly more expensive than at the local eateries and can come up to US$20 per person, but after a whole day of roughing it out, you can at least take pleasure in the mostly excellent food in a pretty garden setting.   Express ferry trip to Bagan: S$31.11   You cannot leave Myanmar without seeing the awe-inspiring Bagan temples. Be sure to leave aside US$25 for your early morning express ferry ride to Bagan the next day. The journey takes almost five hours. If you've got plenty of time to spare, there's always the 14-hour slow boat ride, where you can take your time to soak in the sights and sounds.       Total: S$94.66   Prices and conversion rates accurate as of press time. For timely, accurate exchange rates for the kyat, log on to www.myanmar2day.com.             This article was featured in Today April 21, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Travel/EDC110421-0000341/Travel-101-,,,-Mandalay