Mandalay, Day 1

Today was another boxed breakfast day before leaving very early for the Bagan airport to fly to Mandalay. Our first stop in Mandalay was at the Mahagandayone Monastery, a teaching Buddhist monastery with over 1,000 young monks living at it. For both breakfast and lunch, the monks line up to walk to the dining room. Photo: the monk parade.

Mandalay, Day 1

Monk Parade–MOVIE

A movie of part of the monk parade to the dining room.

Monk Parade–MOVIE

U-Pein Teak Bridge

The U–Pein teak bridge is the oldest (built around 1850) and longest (3/4 mile, 1.2 kilometers) teak bridge in the world. The bridge spans the Taungthaman Lake. Right now, there is not much water in the lake, but in summer, the water reaches almost to the top of the bridge.

 

U-Pein Teak Bridge

Soon U Ponya Shin Paya

Our next stop was at the Soon U Ponya Shin Paya at the top of Sagaing Hill, built in the early 1300s. Its terrace is covered with beautiful glass tiles.

Soon U Ponya Shin Paya

Sagaing Hill

There are 700 pagodas, temples, shrines, and monasteries on Sagaing Hill. There is a stepped pathway from the bottom of the hill to its top (part of the walkway can be seen in the photo).

Sagaing Hill

Kaungmudaw Pagoda

Our next stop was at the Kaungmudaw Pagoda, built in 1636.

Kaungmudaw Pagoda

Kaungmudaw Pagoda

The golden dome at the pagoda, which was white before the military government painted it gold.

Kaungmudaw Pagoda

Wood Carving Shop

We made a stop next at a wood carving shop, one of the crafts that Myanmar is known for.

I have put my photos of day 1 in Myanmar on a slide show:

http://www.peggysphotos.com/mandalay–day–1/

(Slide Shows, Asia–2, Myanmar, “Mandalay: Day 1”).

Wood Carving Shop

Mandalay, Day 2

This morning we took a cruise on the Irrawaddy River to the ancient city of Mingon. We left from this beach.

Mandalay, Day 2

Irrawaddy River Cruise

We had to walk this narrow gangplank to get on our boat. Two men held a pole on each end and you held onto the pole while walking on the gangplank. More than a bit scary.

Irrawaddy River Cruise

Mingun

The vendors were waiting for us to get off our boat in Mingun.

Mingun

Mingun

A cow taxi was also waiting but we didn’t take one.

Mingun

Mingun Temple

The Mingun Temple was started by King Bodawphaya in 1790 but never completed as an astrologer foresaw the king’s dealth as soon as it was. The temple was hit by a major earthquake in 1839 and still bears major cracks in the temple from it as they were never repaired.

 
Mingun Temple

Mingun Bell

Near the temple was the Mingun Bell. The 90–ton bell is the world’s largest ringing bell. King Bodawpaya had it cast to go with his Mingun Temple.

I have put my photos of the first part of our day on a slideshow:

 http://www.peggysphotos.com/mandalay–day–2a/

(Slide Shows, Asia–2, Myanmar, “Mandalay, Day 2A).

 

Mingun Bell

Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

We next went up a hill to the Mya Thein Tan Pagoda, built by King Bodawpaya’s grandson in memory of his first consort Princess Hsinbyune who died in childbirth.

Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

At the pagoda, a woman smoking a cigar, a classic Myanmar photo.

Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

Mandalay

Back on the beach in Mandalay.

Mandalay

Mandalay

Women were both washing clothes and their hair in the river.

Mandalay

Shwenandow Monastery

After having lunch in Mandalay, we visited the Shwenandow Monastery which was originally part of the Royal Palace and built in 1880. It is one of the best representatives of a Burmese teak temple.

Shwenandow Monastery

Kuthodaw Pagoda

Our next stop was at the Kuthodaw Pagoda. Here there are 729 marble slabs, housed in these white shrines and which are inscribed with Buddhist teachings. It is called “the world’s largest book.”

Kuthodaw Pagoda

Sutaugpyai Pagoda

We were to take the elevator farther up the hill to the Sutaungpyai Pagoda to view the sunset. However, the elevator wasn’t working and it was a hard 20–minute walk up the hill. I stayed below as did some of my tour mates. The ones who made the climb said it was so overcast that there wasn’t any view. Tonight, there was a special dinner by Gate 1, with 11 dishes, one of them duck. After a too full day of sightseeing, half of the tour didn’t go to the special dinner, me included. A sign that we were being worked way too hard.

I have put my last photos of Day 2 in Mandalay on a slideshow:

http://www.peggysphotos.com/mandalay–day–2b/

(Slide Shows, Asia–2, Myanmar, “Mandalay: Day 2B”).

Sutaugpyai Pagoda

Pyin Oo Lwin

On our third day in Manadalay, we drove up in the mountains to Pyin Oo Lwin. The British moved their adminstration from Ragoon (now Yangon) to Pyin Oo Lwin in the summer to escape the Ragoon heat. Photo of the Purcell Clock Tower, built in 1939 by the British.

Pyin Oo Lwin

Pyin Oo Lwin Market

We walked through the market in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Pyin Oo Lwin Market

Horse Carts

From the market, we took horse carts to our next destination.

Horse Carts

Candacraig

Our next destination was to view Candacraig, a hotel built in 1904. George Orwell stayed here when he was in Burma.

Candacraig

Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens

Our last stop in Pyin Oo Lwin was at the beautiful Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens.

I have put my photos of our trip to Pyin Oo Lwin on a slideshow:

http://www.peggysphotos.com/pyin–oo–lwin/

(Slide Shows, Asia–2, Myanmar, “Pyin Oo Lwin”).

Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens