Monday 14th November - To day we started at 0900 and it was a joy not to hear the alram at 0500. Today's temple was the Mahamuni Paya dating from 1784. The Paya holds the buddha image which is believed to date from 1000AD. It is made of bronze but gold leaf has been constantly applied by the devout and now is up to 6 inches making the statue much fatter than it once was.
Of equal interest in an out house are 6 bronze Khmer figures captured in a war in the 1660's and brought to Mandalay.
Our next stop was the Zeigyo market which actually spans a number of city blocks and sells absolutely everything !
CLICK HERE for some Market Sights
One of the big dramas of a country with no ATM's or a internationally inked banking system is getting money. US dolars are king but only new notes. Unfortumately the ATM I got the money from in Washington DC was not aware of this need and so dispensed a mix of 20 dollar bills - half of which are seemingly not up to the standards demanded in Myanmar. Hence lunch in the hotel where we can pay on Visa - all be it at a crappy rate and a commision !! Needs must.
The day ended with a trip 7 miles up the Irrawaddy to Mingun - this was well worth the trip. On the journey upriver river life was at its best. In Minguin there is the 500 foot foundation of what would have been an amazing pagoda.
Started in 1790 using prisoner of war only the brick base was built. Work stopped when King Bodawpaya died. The plan of the site is captured in a scale model and two enormous Lions looking out over the river which would have marked the entrance are partially completed. The other feature completed was the Mingun Bell cast in 1808 weighing 90 tonnes and seemingly the largest uncracked cast bell. the St Basils cathedral in the Kremlin is larger but cracked - we struck it for fun !The trip back on the river was definitely worth it as the sun set.
Of equal interest in an out house are 6 bronze Khmer figures captured in a war in the 1660's and brought to Mandalay.
Our next stop was the Zeigyo market which actually spans a number of city blocks and sells absolutely everything !
CLICK HERE for some Market Sights
One of the big dramas of a country with no ATM's or a internationally inked banking system is getting money. US dolars are king but only new notes. Unfortumately the ATM I got the money from in Washington DC was not aware of this need and so dispensed a mix of 20 dollar bills - half of which are seemingly not up to the standards demanded in Myanmar. Hence lunch in the hotel where we can pay on Visa - all be it at a crappy rate and a commision !! Needs must.
The day ended with a trip 7 miles up the Irrawaddy to Mingun - this was well worth the trip. On the journey upriver river life was at its best. In Minguin there is the 500 foot foundation of what would have been an amazing pagoda.
Started in 1790 using prisoner of war only the brick base was built. Work stopped when King Bodawpaya died. The plan of the site is captured in a scale model and two enormous Lions looking out over the river which would have marked the entrance are partially completed. The other feature completed was the Mingun Bell cast in 1808 weighing 90 tonnes and seemingly the largest uncracked cast bell. the St Basils cathedral in the Kremlin is larger but cracked - we struck it for fun !The trip back on the river was definitely worth it as the sun set.