July 13, 2016 Wednesday
Day 3 in Bagan. Another day of exploring.
Min O Chanta Phaya
Oak Kyanung Gyi
Htilominlo (1175 – 1235 King Htilominlo)
Bulethi
Another beautiful sunset to catch.
July 14, 2016 Thursday
Day 4 in Bagan.
Mee Nyein Gone Phaya
Ta Wa Gu
Maha Zedi
This temple was locked but the key keeper who was close by. She guided me inside which was super dark and no light entered the temple. She used her flash light to tour me around. We went quick since I thought it was kind of pointless not seeing anything and not being able to take any photos. There were nice murals on the walls but I couldn’t really appreciate all of it since I could only see them with her flash light. She would point to the walls and mention like “Buddha” or “Elephant”. I also felt a little nervous being in there and not sure what else there was. I think this was also another temple that smelled of guano and I couldn’t see if the floor was covered in it. When I exited, I remembered her saying to me “Gift for me?”. I was confused but I remember reading, that these temples were free and that the key keepers might ask for money. I think it was discouraged to give money for a reason. Plus, when I explore I hardly kept any cash on me. Thank you for opening the gate for me though.
That Byin Nyu
Visited a second time since I wasn’t sure if I visited this earlier. Even though I came here a day or two ago, since I was already here, I took some more photos.
Shwesandaw
So I would finally make it here at Shwesandaw for the sunset. And as expected it was filled with people. This being one of the more famous and bigger temples, crowds of tourists, usually coming in on tourist buses, would flock here to glimpse the sun setting. Unfortunately today, it was a bit cloudy for a nice sunset. Not rainy cloudy, but just more clouds blocking the sun from excited tourists. Still wonderful views but just no sunset. Here I would also meet a girl hawker who was very persistent in meeting me tomorrow to show me some special temple or so. A personal guide. She was very flirty especially after she asked me what my age was and I told her to guess. After she said “25” and I just said “yeah” in hopes that she would just let me be on my way, she said she was “24”. She would end up staying at the bottom of the temple waiting for me after I had climbed up and taken my photos. I was weary of her intentions and also not knowing the culture or the language, I would not show up to meet her in the morning. I really wasn’t sure what it was, whether she really liked me or that I’d be tricked into buying more things. I did end up buying sarongs from her and her friend. And I asked her to show me how to put it on. And with her friends around they said something I couldn’t understand and they all giggled “like school girls”. I would jump back on my bike and she ends up riding her bike along mine. We had a long conversation riding back to my hotel of me meeting her tomorrow. She was very persistent and she asked where I was staying and I faked not understanding her of what my room number was. At the intersection of where we would split she said “I’ll see you tomorrow”. I also felt bad because I wasn’t 25 years old. Plus she wanted to meet me so so early. I said “good night” and would not see her again.
July 15, 2016 Thursday
Day 5 in Bagan.
Shwezigon Pagoda
Shwe Leik Too
Bagan Thiripyitsaya
Last night.
