Ancient Bagan

Early the morning of January 4,^th we board the first of four internal flights we will take in Myanmar.   For the next few days, we are on our own, visiting the places most frequented by tourists.   Our route will be Yangon - Bagan – Mandalay – Inle Lake – Yangon.  While the distances between these places are not that far, going by road would take most of a day between each.  With a flight leg cost of approximately $100 US, we decided to fly.  Beth and I both smile when we see the slogan for one of our airlines: “Fly … beyond your dreams.”   We feel we truly are!

Ancient Bagan

We arrive Bagan early morning. Bagan is an ancient city that flourished from the 9^th to 12^th centuries.  During that time, more than 10,000 pagodas were constructed.  (Buddhists believe that constructing or adorning a pagoda or Buddha image is one means of asking to be reincarnated into a better life.)  

The entire Bagan area is considered a UNESCO heritage site, as over two thousand of these pagodas exist to this day.  Leon was super excited to visit each and every one, but Jim, Beth and I overruled him!

We checked into our hotel, and immediately hired a taxi to take us around.  We soon discovered that January 4^th is also Independence Day in Myanmar and a public holiday.  The roads are crowded with local people coming to Bagan to visit the pagodas themselves!  There are buses with people crammed inside and sitting on top.  There are pick-ups with their beds loaded with people.  There are horse-drawn carts and ox-drawn carts.  (We had met a man from Alaska earlier who had celebrated his 45^th birthday in Bagan 35 years ago.  He said there were only ox carts for travel at that time.) 

Extra vendors for the crowds

Young visitors to the pagodas

Given the extra traffic, we visited only two pagodas, before taking a leisurely lunch and afternoon as we had plans for the evening.  

Standing guard

at Shwe Zijonzedi

Buphaya pagoda

I loved the beauty of the simple halls

... and the intricate detail

Ancient teak carvings

Lotus flowers are important for Buddhists,

representing new life from "muddy" beginnings

Old frescoes peeking through

While we were still in Dhaka, Nahar and Salehuddin had advised us to go to “The Tower” (actually a hotel) to watch the Bagan sunset.  We took their advice.  We bought a bottle of wine and some glasses and went up to the very top.   


The panoramic view of the plains and pagodas was simply beautiful in the light.  But, as the sun set in the west and the full moon rose in the east, I literally pinched myself to see if I was truly experiencing this moment.  

The sun sets over the plains and pagodas...

...as the moon rises.