A Land of Thousand Temples: Part III

Our hostel in Yangon was chosen not only for the price, but also because of the owner's promptness replying to emails. She was also very helpful and accomodating. Our arrival in Yangon was early in the afternoon, so we had enough time to rest a bit before dinner. Shennoon's House proved to be very nice, cosy and clean. It was just a rented old place remodeled to fit the need for a small guesthouse. Shennoon, the owner, is still very young, single and very pleasant. If ever we want to visit Yangon next time, we will not hesitate staying there again.

The major temple in Yangon, Schwedagon Paya.

The swarm of people visiting Schwedagon Paya on the Full Moon. Other people in farther areas of the country visit temples nearer them, but most prefer visiting this main big temple in Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar. Heavy rains and slippery temple stairs didn't sway the people from leaving home.

 When you are in Bagan, everything around you will be temples, as far as your eyes can see.  This is trully the land of thousand temples.

 Bagan is said to be already being reviewed for the UNESCO Heritage Sites. Despite being approved officially, it is already there in the hearts of the people and tourists who have been to the place, I am included.

Cattles also roam freely in and around the temple sites. Other patches are being cultivated with domestic crops like corn and beans. Those big trees are mostly of the Casia species.

This is the main river, Ayeyawady River, used for transport of goods and services around Myanmar.

Bupaya Temple. Near the bank of the Ayeyawady River, was an old temple claimed to be built in the 3rd century. What is seen now is a complete reconstrucion after the 1975 earthquake that demolished the original.

These woods are Muraya species growing in Central Myanmar, used for making thanaka (spelled thanakha) creams. It is normally applied as circular paste on faces of women and children, but sometimes also for the whole body. It has a mild scent and can give cooling sensation and protect the skin from sunburn.

 
At the left is the stone where the bark is smudged to make the cream paste. At the right is an example of the thanaka on the face. She is not a Burmese woman but my friend companion during our visit. She wants to experience the feelings of a Burmese woman, at least on the face.

My next post will be on Bagan lacquerwares, that survived the centuries.

Revival Post Myanmar Still: Part II

Oh it's been almost half a year! And where have i been during those months! I didn't realize it's been that long, i've never visited this site since the Part I post for Myanmar. I feel owing a lot to you, or i shouldn't have put Part I on the last post. Now i am obliged to put Part II, otherwise that will be left hanging. OK i will try my best to recall those moments i am in Bagan, Myanmar! O hope my memory will still serve me well.

Our trip to Bagan took the whole night on a big airconditioned bus. There were 2 stops for the passengers:  to have dinner, and another one at dawn for another light meal. Of course i was so curious of so many things being in another country, with old traditions and culture. It was so cold inside the bus that a jacket and a scarf is a must for humans like us! We had to sleep somehow, i guess i got a total of at least 2 hours. It was not enough, but that has to be, there was no choice.

Our first pagoda or paya or temple is just in front of our hotel. Shwezigon Paya is a very important shrine because it served as a prototype for later stupas in the country, it also marked an important development of the relationship between traditional Burmese religion and Theravada Buddhism. In a complex of structures like these there are many smaller stupas around the biggest stupa.

 
The side buildings and alleys allow vendors selling lots of traditional wares for the tourists. They include scarves, hats, bags, lacquerware, mini stupas, fashion jewelries, and  a lot more.

 No two temples have the same sizes nor structural design. Every single temple is unique and has a character of its own. That is one of the wonders of these temples. And they are scattered through several hundred hectares of land as far as your eyes can see! The man you see above is wearing the traditional sarong for men. Many of them still wear that dress these days.

 At the left is the remains of an old stupa. It is not restored anymore to its original structure, but served as a lovely art object in this area of the temple grounds. At the right are dolls like puppets being sold to the tourists.

This is the view westward from the top of the temple where we expected to have the sunrise shot. Everybody hopes that the clouds will go away for awhile for the sun to peep through.

Do you see the cattle freely grazing on the ground? A very big white temple is visible at the top left portion of the photo above. This is the North view from the temple.

A lot of people braved climbing the slippery maybe >70° incline to reach the platform of the big stupa. Most are lugging a camera and a few more professional ones brought their big camera bags with accessories, including tripods. It really is difficult climbing that steeep stairs having a heavy bag. But at least railings are available to clasp on to! At the right is the top of the temple, arising from the ledge where people converge for the photoshoot.
In one of the mornings we were in Bagan, we didn't forego the possibility of the sunrise shot. We went to one big temple early, even earlier than most of the photographers. Again, a cloudy sky prevented a good sunrise shoot. But we nevertheless enjoyed the 360° view from the top, sunrise or not the views are superbly beautiful.

I am directing your attention to the topmost right portion on top of the mountain. There is also a very big white temple there. But we lack time going to that area.

This is the Oak Kyaung Gyi temple where we expected to have the sunrise shots. However, clouds didn't permit us to view the sun. We asked our taxi driver to bring us to one temple not very famous for the sunrise shot, so not many people come here that morning. The temple stairs are wide, but there are no rails to hold on to. We really had to be very careful in coming down, as it is very risky.

It seems easy to climb those stairs at this angle of view, but trus me, it was so difficult. The 3 tiers of stairs become more steep as you climb, and the witdh  of the steps also narrowed until the top tier. The incline also got steeper as you go higher. I cannot even look down as i might not be able to continue climbing. And returning down is also a struggle as we did it sideways. Huh!

Intriguing Myanmar!

Part I-Yangon

My First Day to the intriguing Myanmar is in Yangon, the capital city! Serendipitously or maybe unfortunately or both, it fell on the full moon, which they call Full Moon Day of Warso. It is one of the 7 sacred days for Teravada Buddhism or Orthodox Buddhism that dominates Myanmar (Ref: http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-culture/myanmar-buddhism.htm). So we went to the most famous landmark in Myanmar, the Shwedagon Pagoda. It is said to be 2,500 years old, renovated many times and known to enshrine the 8 strands of hair from Gautama Buddha. We came in via the west gate because our taxi cannot maneuver anymore through the traffic. We better walk or loose precious hours in waiting for cars to clear. We went early anticipating many people going there, but lo and behold every Burmese, young and old are there!!! Oh My God, it is very difficult to maneuver ourselves through the high stairs. At least there is a divider at the stairs for the traffic flow.

We already know that shoes or slippers are removed before entering temples, yet we thought in these multitude of people it might not be very strict this time. Children outside the entrance are selling plastic bags for easily lugging the shoes with you through the temple complex. It is amazing how a monk giving some flyers noticed i didn't remove my socks, although i am holding my shoes. He said "REMOVE SOCKS", which i hurriedly complied with embarrassment.

West Entrance guarded by two mythical lion-dragons

The west entrance is the only entrance without vendors and provided with scalators to the platform.

a reclining Buddha in one of the side temples

 I wasn't able to take photos while on the stairs to the complex, it is impossible, the only area free of other people is the place you are standing on.

the main and biggest stupa of the Shwedagon Paya

Shwedagon Pagoda stands on a platform of over 5 hectares on a hill 58 meters above sea level. There are many stupas but this main stupa is totally solid, covered with gold and the top is studded with diamonds. Those structures covered with cloth are under renovation. At the very top of the spire is the diamond orb, that is a hollow gold sphere studded with 4351 diamonds totalling 1800 carats. At the topmost is a single 76 carat diamond. 

 It is also difficult to have a self souvenir photo, as before you can click, someone will already pass between you and the photographer. Getting persons photos is a big challenge, so we better take the stupas shots!

 I forgot to say that it is raining periodically, so the floor is wet and a bit muddy. We were in pants so it is easy to walk, i am amazed at the traditional Burmese women's dresses, as some are very body fitting with narrow skirts. I guess it is difficult to walk in them. What with the men wearing sarong, which are long skirts too! Being unaccustomed wearing these outfits, i imagine its difficulty.

One of the many structures of Buddha at Shwedagon Paya

 The South Entrance is a short distance from the main street, the stairs are full of vendors and all types of things from flowers, to gemstones to paintings, etc, etc. The lady seller courteously obliged to pose for our souvenir shot, she is wearing a conventional Burmese dress.

  ...souvenir items of all sizes and materials

Schwedagon Pagoda viewed from the 21st floor of a nearby hotel, at the Sky Bistro. We went there not only for lunch but for the view. 

I searched for the synonym of the word intriguing and the first link says the following, all of them are true! 

Synonyms: absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, intriguing, involving, riveting

Related Words: breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling; provocative, tantalizing; emphatic, showy, splashy, striking; alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding; hypnotizing, mesmerizing; curious, odd, unusual, weird; amazing, astonishing, astounding, eventful, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), surprising, wonderful, wondrous; amusing, entertaining

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