Working half days
I woke at 0700 after 11 hours sleep, to make up for the previous night’s interrupted sleep … when my body woke me up for the AirAsia sale which I had forgotten about. Also, sleep without pseudoephedrine is so much better!
As Myanmar’s sights are largely temples and stupas, I had found myself getting very jaded during my first and very short visit. I decided that I would take it easy and do half-days. Hopefully this will also help me recover from this blasted flu virus (and congestion) which I’ve had for two weeks … and recover I must as diving in Sipadan awaits me in two weeks as well.
I had a light breakfast in bed of soya milk and pineapple mooncakes (yummy). I had stocked up on these as there are hardly any eateries open in my area for breakfast. I ventured out for an early lunch at 1100.
None of the eateries spoke English, but fortunately some spoke Chinese. This woman who spoke perfect Mandarin offered me a rice noodle soup, which she appeared to overcharge me for later at about USD1.20.
Outing to the south of Mandalay
My motorcycle taxi (which I had arranged last night) turned up on the dot at 1200 midday. So it was pillion-bitch again, for the 40 minute ride to Sagaing Hill.
When I arrived, it looked like it was going to be a horrid climb to the top. I thought it would be good training for my upcoming Mt Kinabalu challenge. In actual fact it only took 10 minutes so it wasn’t actually a workout. I realised later that some people drove up.
Sagaing Hill seems to be several hills actually. Scattered over these hills are various temples and stupas linked by covered and unconvered walkways. I wandered around the main temple and had a second lunch before making my way down.
With my superficial interest in Buddhism, the other temples and stupas were just going to be “more of the same”.
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- Covered climb up to Sagaing Hill.
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- Covered climb up to Sagaing Hill.
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- The Sagaing Hill area has many temples and stupas linked by covered and uncovered walkways.
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- Stupa on Sagaing Hill.
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- “Give me a hug now” says the monster(?) on the stupa.
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- Stupa on Sagaing Hill.
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- On Sagaing Hill.
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- Pretty pastel floor tiles; like quilt.
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- View of Ayeyarwady Bridges from Sagaing Hill.
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- Distant Stupa with bridge in the background.
I continued on the motorbike to Ubein’s bridge, supposedly the world’s longest teak bridge at around 1.3 km. It was very scenic walking across it looking at people fishing, herding their ducks, washing, swimming and tending to their crops.
It got more scenic once I got on to the sandy banks as the sun came close to setting. It was very picturesque looking at the bridge with its reflection in the water. I headed back to my hotel after sunset, feeling more than ready for the cold shower (yes, it is winter). I felt rather dusty from being on a bike so much in the afternoon.
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- View from Ubein’s bridge: Boats, fishermen and ducks.
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- Man fishing; he keeps his catch fresh by keeping them alive.
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- View from Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Monks on an outing.
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- View from Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Monk on Ubein’s Bridge.
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- View from Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Ubein’s Bridge.
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- View from Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Fishermen seem to be floating in the air.
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- Taking the water buffaloes home.
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- Home time for the ducks too.
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- Monks on Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Monks in Myanmar normally wear maroon. Not sure why this one is in saffron. Perhaps he is visiting from Thailand?
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- Kids don’t need toys. They find their own amusement.
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- Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Rice being grown under Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Boat under Ubein’s Bridge.
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- View from Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Sunset at Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Sunset at Ubein’s Bridge.
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- Sunset at Ubein’s Bridge.
Golden Land for the Golden Years
So far, in both Mandalay and Yangon, most of the visitors I’ve seen are old and grey, from North America and UK/Europe. Myanmar calls itself the Golden Land, so I wonder if there is some appeal to people in their golden years.