My two days in Manderlay felt like ticking off a list of chores, and boy there were many. Gold leaf factory, silk factory, jade shop, gem shop, silver shop, craft shop, a gzillion pagodas, bells, bridges, monasteries and the kitchen sink.
First stop was the gold leaf factory which was Dullsville. There was also an overpriced shop and as I was wondering who the fook would buy the stuff I noticed the locals were branding tourists with gold leaf bindi spots, making sure they were obvious targets for the rest of the day lol.
This is the Buddha in the Mahumuni Pagoda. Women are not allowed in as they will desecrate such a holy place, men waste their time rubbing gold leaf on the statue, brings a new meaning to the term 'fools gold'...
This bronze statue along with some 7 feet tall bronze blokes was brought back to Burma by King Thingington in the twiddleysomething century. All I can remember about it is rubbing the hephalump should bring me good luck!
Then off to a monastery school irreverently renamed 'Monksville' by Adi lady. They were very photogenic and so many pictures shared yet I still prefer my old gnarlies.
I think these four should become Myanmar's first Monk band, their answer to One Direction. What should they be called? Monkzone? Or my particular favourite MunkFunk.
The craft shop was spooky and many scenes can only be described as les marionettes meets a particularly gruesome episode of the Tudors. See what you think...
Then it was off to see the biggest book in the world. It took me a while to work out I was actually in it; not immortalised but physically walking around in a big fuck off book.
This is a page...
Each page is housed in an individual stupa...
There are thousands of these mini white stupas. A damn good read if I may say so!
The end of the first day saw us climbing Mandalay Tower to take pictures of the sunset but it pissed it down. Above is my arty photo of the approaching rain.
The second day in Manderlay started with a boat trip on the Irrawaddy River to 'Pagodaland'. Not a theme park but a collection of garishly painted, mirror encrusted, neon temples.
This is a floating village...
And a really big bell.
This was the only non glitzy pagoda and funnily enough the only one with a memorable and believable story for its construction. A king built this to honour his beloved wife who died in childbirth.
Then the silk factory, yawn...
I did enjoy the longest teak bridge in the world though, it was great for spotting monkage, my favourite snap is below.
Sun setting over 1.2km of hardwood
And the view from my boat
In the evening we went to see 'The Moustache Brothers'. A political, satirical comedy. All the players at some point had been imprisoned and the main man is a personal friend of Aung San Suii, Kyi. It was neither funny or informative. Unlike Cambodia the people of Myanmar are still reluctant to discuss their political situation. I did buy a T shirt as the proceeds go to the families of political prisoners.
So what made me smile in Mandalay? Well this Viva Las Vegas Elvis Buddha for one...
And this!!!!
Suffered more eye leakage today due to e mailingtons. Fired off an immediate response without the 24 hour test which is very unlike me. With hindsight I can't decide whether the content was a) deep and meaningful b) meaningless rhetoric c) masterclass in avoidance tactics (his message not my response). But onwards and upwards, my soulmate may be out there still, in the words of the Bube 'I just haven't met you yet'. Adi lady's new mantra is 'get a grip, enjoy your trip'
And today I did. The temples of Bagan took my breath away, I will download the pictures and hopefully post tomorrow. Lots of love and lights out xxxx
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