Mandalay-Mingun

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Day 9-Thursday Morning-January 21 We were awakened this morning shortly after 6:00 to some loud music outside. Come to find out, it was the boat in front of us that was being christened for its first voyage, a new APT riverboat, an Australian line. We had our first breakfast on the boat this morning. During breakfast, the boat sailed up-river from our Mandalay docking to the quaint village of Mingun. Upon arrival, we saw our first sign of things to come...primitive docks and sandbags for crude stairs that go uphill to the road. We also got our first glimpse of the "human mosquitoes", product vendors, as if the real mosquitos weren't bad enough. They're usually cute young girls.

Our first stop was the massive ruins of Pathodawgyi (the unfinished pagoda), originally intended to be 499 feet high. Construction began in 1790 and was intended to be the largest Buddhist structure ever created. The project was abandoned in 1813 because of the extreme cost. Although only a third of it was ever completed, it remains the world’s largest brick pagoda. It was damaged by the 1838 earthquake and large cracks are very visible.

Our next brief stop was to see the golden statue of the Mingun Sayadaw, a monk made famous in the 20th century for his virtual photographic memory. In 1933 he passed the highest level religious examination. Afterwards we took a short walk to see the 12 foot high Mingun Bell, which was cast in bronze and weighs about 90 tons. The unfinished pagoda and bell are in the Guiness Book of Records. The pagoda is still the largest brick pagoda in the world and the bell remains the heaviest bell still in operation. On the way to our next stop, Ye Min visited an old lady’s place who made cheroots and she was smoking one. She was a classic! Doug bought a package of 5 for 1,000Kyat, pronounced chat (about $1.00US). She even allowed us to take photos of her house. After that, some could take a Tuk Tuk back to the boat or to our next stop, the Myatheindan Pagoda built in 1816. Others could walk to the pagoda, which we did. It has seven concentric terraces and was painted white, representing the seven mountain ranges going up to Mount Meru, the mythological Buddhist mountain. There were 88 barefoot steps to the top where there was a Buddha image.

Doug decided to walk to the top and Annette chose to walk back to the boat. On the way, she walked past the Mingun Buddhist Home for the Aged.

Doug ended up buying a Mingun T-shirt and elephant pants from Wae-Wae. Annette bought 3 bracelets from Lilli and bought a pair of cupids from another girl. We all returned to the boat for lunch, which then returned to our original Mandalay dock location. The festivities were still going on at the boat next to us.

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Photos

Mandalay at sunrise
Sun rising through Mandalay Ferris wheel as the AmaPura departs for Mingun.

Floating restaurant
We pass a floating restaurant on the Ayeyarwady as we sail out of the Mandalay dock.

Camp along the river
We saw a camp along the river in the early morning.

River freight
This appears to be small freighter taking goods and supplies up the river.

Big river raft
This big raft appears to be hauling bamboo down the river with travelers on board for the journey.

Pagoda on the river
This pagoda is near our destination of Mingun.

Mingun
As we approach our landing sight. It didn't take long to get here from our Mandalay dock as it is only about 6 miles up the river.

Another boat
This looks like some kind of local boat that is tied to the Mingun landing spot.

The human mosquitos are here
Even as we arrive early this morning, the local vendors are here to meet us.

Up to the road
After leaving the gangway, this is and will become our normal way to reach the road. With the river at lower levels, it is a much higher trek to the top.

Ox & cart
After we climbed up the hill to the road we encountered this Uber driver.

Need a hat?
Hats for sale.

Wae Wae
She was one of our vendors that followed us constantly. She was very nice and Doug bought a pair of elephant pants and a Mingun T-shirt from her.

Tuk tuks
Parked on the road and ready to take tourists where ever they wish.

Pathodawgyi Pagoda
The unfinished pagoda. The largest brick pagoda in the world, intended to be 499 feet tall.

Annette and the pagoda
Ye Min and others from our group behind Annette.

Another view
It was never finished because of costs and badly damaged by an earthquake in the 1800's.

A doorway
Only 1/3 of the pagoda was finished.

Model
This was the small scale working model for the temple.

Annette with Lilli
Annette bought a necklace and bracelets from her.

Wae Wae
Trying to sell me another T-shirt with more inventory on her head.