Today after leaving the opulent Mandalay Hill Hotel we got
on a boat for an 11km trip up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun to see what they
describe as the largest pile of bricks in the world (an unfinished pagoda) and
the largest uncracked bell in the world (the largest, but cracked being in
Russia).
Getting onboard was quite fun, down a slippery sandy bank, onto some bedded-in sandbags then along a narrow gangplank. At least there was a bamboo pole to hold onto but when I got off I realised this wasn't fixed to anything but merely held by two guys.
These fishermen's houses are washed away each year during the monsoon.
and in the dry season the river banks are continually collapsing
This was the first time in Burma we’d had any hassle with
hawkers and they were persistent bu**ers, they just latched on and walked with
us for about 1/2 mile gently fanning us all the way – I wasn’t really sure what
to say as the polite “No thank you, please
go away” had little effect. On the upside, I bought a pair of trousers for £2.50!
It is considered lucky to strike the giant bell 5 times.
We also visited the Hsinbyume Palace which is a depiction of
the mythical Buddhist mountain Mount Meru, the wavy concentric terraces below
the stupa representing the seven ranges that encircle the sacred peak. I’d seen a photo of this place in a competition
and what made it such a great shot was the two small novice monks running along
one of the terraces. Sadly there were
none today and the middle aged monk I did find there declined to move so I could
photograph him. In hindsight the shot I
wanted to emulate was probably a set-up anyway.
We had a delicious riverside lunch (with puppet show!)
Dinner was waiting for us when we finally arrived and then we got in a golf buggy and were driven to our chalet. It was pitch dark so I have no idea what the grounds of this hotel are like but our room is beautiful.
Then we got
on the bus for our 2 our journey to Pyin OO Lwin, an old hill station about
70kms north east along the infamous Burma Road (which eventually goes to China
and so carries a lot of traffic loaded with goods being exported/imported). It’s a very steep and winding road and
unfortunately about half way into the journey a lorry broke down and in their
haste to overtake other vehicles either fell off the narrow tarmac and got
stuck in gulleys or overheated and broke down themselves. All in all it was a bit of a nightmare
journey, we should have been at the next hotel about 4pm but saw the sun set
halfway up a hill surrounding by clouds of dust and hooting vehicles. But we were safe and warm in the bus so just
sat back and enjoyed the show.
Dinner was waiting for us when we finally arrived and then we got in a golf buggy and were driven to our chalet. It was pitch dark so I have no idea what the grounds of this hotel are like but our room is beautiful.
