Blogs from Bagan, Mandalay Region, Burma, Asia - page 12

Bagan is a short flight from Mandalay, but also a complete different world. It would have been nice to take a boat between the two places, but water levels are too low on the river to allow the local boats. And we are way too young to use the "Road to Mandalay"...which is by the way also in another price category. You can also rent a car (with driver) or take a bus between the 2 cities, but this is around 8 hours drive for less than 200km...I let you figure it out! Bagan is more rural...or should I say, the place is a big touristic plain. The authorities have removed all the inhabitants from Old Bagan to New Bagan...I know, pretty shocking. We are actually staying in Nyuang U. The reason is pretty simple, a ... read more

And so on to Bagan. While it may not be appropriate to compare it directly with sites such as Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu, it certainly is up in that realm, with some 2,500 pagodas, temples, stupas and shrines spread over a mere 40 sq km area. These were all built during a 200 year period from around AD 1050 to 1250, and while neglect, looting, earthquakes, erosion and bat dung have all taken their toll through the years, over half of the originals still stand, and the crumbling nature of them is half the appeal, along with the sheer number of them in this concentrated area. Bordering the area is the famed Irrawaddy River, along which many visitors cruise from Mandalay, which is exactly what I did 36 years ago, and what particularly attracted me ... read more

Salut ! Notre arrivee tard a Bagan nous laisse entrevoir quelques uns des milliers de temples parsemes dans la plaine, certains etant eclaires et ca nous donne envie de voir tout ca au plus vite. Notre premier jour sur place se transforme vite en veritable marathon ayant pour but : en voir le plus possible ! La zone d'interet s'etend sur quelques kilometres meme si les temples continuent d'abonder pedant plusieurs autres aux alentours. Notre guide de voyage nous en conseille plusieurs, les plus vieux, les plus sacres, les plus beaux... on note tout ca sur la carte et on se lance a velo sur les routes. On a tot fait de se retrouver avec un guide personnel a qui on indique bien qu'on a pas d'argent pour lui, mais il insiste que c'est pas important ... read more

We have secret information about the state of the world in 2010 - and we'll be happy to share it with you. The Nats told us. Buddhism is the official religion of Burma but it coexists peacefully with ancient animistic beliefs that have been part of local culture for thousands of years (worshiping nature, like hills, trees, lakes). The Nats (spirits) are at the center of this animist worship. There are 37 "official" nats but, in reality, many more exist and are worshiped by the Burmese people. Nat altars and statues are tucked away in corners of nearly every Buddhist temple that we've seen here in Burma. In fact, most Burmese homes are incomplete without one small altar dedicated to Buddha and a second one for the Nats (which are typically represented by coconuts with little ... read more

Myanmar transport authorities have been taking lessons in providing customer comforts - from the Spanish Inquisition (or some other torture specialists of similar ilk), I am convinced of it. Thankfully, it was but a short ride to Bagan. 12 hours squeezed into a mini bus, knees around my ears (due to a design fault in the engine positioning that only a man could have thought a wise idea) and no cushioning in the seat, was quite sufficient to ensure a certain empathy on my part for your average tinned sardine. As ever however, I was made incredibly welcome and baby sat the entire journey by my traveling compatriots. I may not find these journeys comfortable but heart warming they most certainly are, the small children who happily chase the bus for miles if you wave and ... read more