Approaching Yangon you could see the occasional flash of sun on the gold pagodas dotting the countryside - very fertile looking land and in quite a patchwork of colours and shapes in spite of a relatively flat terrain. I suspect that oxen are used rather than anything mechanical.
Met up with my old cabin mate from the good ship Vavilov, "awesome" Peg Cagle at the hotel. Great to have such an enthusiastic travel companion. Had barely enough energy for the group meeting and dinner and finally got a full nights sleep in a real bed.
Monday it was a bright and early start Today with a visit to the Schwedagon Paya, which is the complex at the centre of Burmese Buddhism. It's a massive gold stupa housing 4 hairs of the Buddha and sundry other shrines and minor stupas. Gold and white prevail and there is a very bright festive feel. We had enough time for a long clockwise perambulate (barefoot) around the stupa in the searing 8a sun. The marble tiles were just starting to heat up as we were leaving - must be brutal at noon. Hoping for and evening visit when we return to Yangon - and do the steps this time not the tourist elevator!
More later on the road to Mandalay.
Met up with my old cabin mate from the good ship Vavilov, "awesome" Peg Cagle at the hotel. Great to have such an enthusiastic travel companion. Had barely enough energy for the group meeting and dinner and finally got a full nights sleep in a real bed.
Monday it was a bright and early start Today with a visit to the Schwedagon Paya, which is the complex at the centre of Burmese Buddhism. It's a massive gold stupa housing 4 hairs of the Buddha and sundry other shrines and minor stupas. Gold and white prevail and there is a very bright festive feel. We had enough time for a long clockwise perambulate (barefoot) around the stupa in the searing 8a sun. The marble tiles were just starting to heat up as we were leaving - must be brutal at noon. Hoping for and evening visit when we return to Yangon - and do the steps this time not the tourist elevator!
More later on the road to Mandalay.
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