Bagan, Myanmar - 2016

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was our destination from Raleigh via Hong Kong. We spent a few days in Vietnam before leaving for Myanmar (Burma).  We stayed with long time friends in Saigon, did some sightseeing, shopping, and getting acclimated to the summer heat of Southeast Asia.

We left for Myanmar on April 15th, flying from Saigon to Yangon.  After arrival in Yangon, we immediately booked the next flight to Bagan.  We were unable to book the flight in advance since domestic flights in Myanmar have to be purchased in Myanmar.  Booking the flight was quite unique.  We had to pay for the flight in cash at the counter since the internet was not working.  The flight manifest was not tracked by computer, only a hand written spread sheet.  Our boarding pass was a little sticker that was put on our shirt.  Fortunately, the planes were modern and we had a pleasant flight to Bagan.

Our arrival in Yangon during the water festival which was the last three days of the old year.

The domestic terminal in Yangon.  

Arriving in Bagan.

The Bagan airport terminal.

Luggage carts pushed by manpower...

Bagan

We did not have hotel reservation in Bagan.  At the Bagan airport, we shared a taxi with two young ladies (Silver & Saranya) that were looking for a ride into Bagan. They also had no hotel reservation.  Our hotel choices were limited because of the Water Festival/New Year holiday.  After three attempts, the four of us got two rooms.  The hotel was very nice, but far from town.  The next day, we booked a room for two nights at a hotel in the middle of town. Silver and Saranya also moved to a different hotel not far from our new place.

Entering the Bagan Archeological Zone which spreads over twenty six square miles.  It was hot in Bagan, over 100 degrees everyday.
  

Bagan is definitely the land of pagodas and temples. From our taxi ride from the airport, we could see many of these pagodas and temples. These are ancient temples in many shapes and sizes. There are over 2000 temples and pagodas that survive.  Many are stately structures with golden stupas in a large complex while others are small and simple. Our goal for Bagan was to visit as many of these temples and pagodas as we could, starting with the highly recommended ones.  To get around, we chose to rent a motor bike for our transportation..

We arrived during the Water Festival.  Fortnately, we were in a taxi on the way from the airport to our hotel when we passed these revelers.  Later on when we were riding our motor bike, we got drenched.  

Our Bagan transportation

 

One of many temples we passed along the highway

Thatbyinnyu Temple - The tallest temple, 210 feet tall.

Ananda Temple - the most revered by Burmese Buddhists.  

Ananda Temple taken from a gate along the side.

One of many statues along the temple wall.

Standing Buddha in the main shrine.  Buddha is covered with gold leaf.  

The central corncob tower rises 170 feet.  The temple was built in 1105.

Shwezigon Pagoda - Believed to enclose a relic of Buddha.  Built in the 11th century, it is covered with gold leaf.

Part of Shwezigan Pagoda complex.

Shwezigon Pagoda.

The dome/stupa of the pagoda.

People praying at one of the shrines that surround Shwezigon Pagoda.

Our first full day touring the pagodas and temples was the last day of the water festival.  We came back to our hotel, drenched.  The next day is New Year's Day on the Buddhist calendar.

Drying out our money after being soaked the last day of the Water Festival.  I thought my money belt was waterproof!

Dinner at the Black Rose Restaurant with Silver & Saranya

 Thisa Wadi Temple is the place to watch the sunset over the Bagan plains.

Thisa Wadi Temple.

Inside Thisa Wadi.

Waiting for the sunset.

Silver (from China) and Saranya (from Thailand).

Sunset over Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Sunset at Bagan

New Year was the next day and the water festival was over.  No worries about having water  tossed on us during the day...or drying "money" at night!.  

Lawkananda Pagoda overlooking Ayeyarwady River.  This pagoda was not too far from our hotel.  Our first stop of the day.

Praying at one of the alters around the pagoda base.

Tien's new family.  They wanted to be included in the picture wearing their "New Year's Best".  We had to remove our shoes when we entered the pagoda grounds.

The pagoda was crowded with pilgrims celebrating the new year.  

Post card vendor.  

Vendor selling snacks at the pagoda steps.

Fruit vendor on wheels.

Arriving at the pagoda.  No extra charge for a seat with a view on the roof.

Unloading the bus.

Htilominlo Temple, one of the last and the greatest of the temples built in Bagan (around 1220 AD).

Sulamani (Temple) means 'Small Ruby'.

Sulamani Temple, one of the most beautiful temples with a corncob tower.

Sulamani Temple, one of two temples where women are allowed to rub gold leaf on Buddha. 

An alter inside Sulamani Temple.

Our last night in Bagan, we drove our motor bike to Shwesandaw Pagoda for the sunset.  

Shwesandaw Pagoda is one of the popular sunset viewing spots.  It is one of the few pagodas that tourists are allowed to climb.  

Reclining Buddha at Shwesandaw Pagoda.  It's sixty feet long and constructed in 1057.  It's housed in a separate building near the pagoda.

Sunset at Shwesandaw Pagoda

Ananda Temple at sunset.  The picture was taken from Shwesandaw Pagoda.

A lady with her child looking for a handout.  The yellowish-white paste on the child face is called Thanaka, made from ground tree bark, used as sunscreen 

We had a great time in Bagan. Hope to be back for another visit someday!

The next morning, we caught a bus from Bagan to Mandalay.  The bus ride took almost five hours.

On the shuttle from our hotel to the bus station. The women have Thanaka paste on their faces.

On the bus from Bagan to Mandalay.