Myanmar 2019: Day 2 of 5: Off to Bagan

Day 2

Pickup from the hotel was at 5.30AM. Reached the airport at about 6.10AM and just had to drop bags because flight is apparently at 7.20AM. (I had to remind myself to check-in water bottles from hotel and just bring in an empty one). 

Departure is at the 2d floor, and this is pretty straight forward compared to international departure where they forced you to go up 1 level for duty free and down 1 level for departure.

There is a security check at the entrance of departure lobby and going to the gates. All liquids > 500ml should be checked in.   There's a water dispenser past security check if there is a need for you to get some water.

I still managed to snap a few pictures while going to the boarding gate.

The sun was just about to rise...this was the view from the tarmac after alighting from the bus.

 It's really a small plane where you have to board at the tarmac..

 and they provide a few snacks with drinks (their pastry aren't that bad)

Touchdown at 9AM in Bagan. There were no announcements where to pick up the luggage and passengers just started waiting by the arrival corner where the bag handlers were dropping off the luggage. After some time, I noted that none of the passengers who were on the same flight as I was, was at the arrival corner. By then, one of the airport's porter took my bags. I didn't have a choice but to let him carry the bags and tip him (1,000 kyat for his services).

I was welcomed by a new guide from One Stop, Mr. Hwin at the arrival lobby.  Once I was settled in (gone through the washroom) , I was swished off to the first destination of the day, which was ..

Sapada Pagoda (Sri Lanka architecture)

Before exploring the pagoda, Mr Hwin sat down with us and explained the differences between the pagoda and the temple and the different architectures surrounding it.  Architectures were mainly of Indian, myanmar, phew, mon and sri lanka origin. There were at least 2,000 pagodas in Bagan alone (of course, I was not going to explore everything, that would be tiring!)

Opposite the Sapada Pagoda is this view ...

Nyaung U Market
Next stop was a stopover at the local market.This was almost similar to the wet market back home.. Mr Hwin just introduced us to the local produce that the market was selling and which produce were from the Shan Province (and other states).

Palm sugar (and its end product) to make one of their sweets

The chillis..

Shwezigon Pagoda ( Myanmar )
After the market, the famous Shwezigon Pagoda. This is similar to Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon but tad smaller.

Around the temple ...

An ancient bell (since Bagan had been fraught with earthquake, they can't stake a claim as a UNESCO heritage site because of human intervention. They can only lay a claim on some things that were untouched by man) like this bell.

and outside are some more pagodas (pagodas aren't hollow so you can't really go in).

Mr Hwin also taught us about the various Buddha statues that were on display, and he taught us how to distinguish if the Buddha is of Indian, Myanmar or mixed origin. According to Mr Hwin, a Buddha of Indian heritage have lines on the neck, got navel,breasts, knees, have slanted eyes. They got shoulder length earrings and jackfruit like hair. Whereas, Myanmar Buddha statues have no navel, no knees, and no knot.

This is a teaching Buddha (Myanmar origin)

The relaxing Buddha (Mixed)

The Travelling Buddha (Myanmar)

The Protection Buddha (Indian origin)

Kyansitthar cave (Mongo-archer)

After the pagoda, Mr Hwin wanted to show murals from the 13th Century, so off to Kyansitthar cave, which also serves as a meditation cave for the monks.


Htilo-minlo Temple (Myanmar architecture)
Next in our pitstop was the Htilo-Minlo Temple. At every pitstop, it was customary to take off the footwear and walk the whole vicinity barefoot.

Some of the Buddha statues inside the temple..
The passageway inside ...

amongst the window grills ..

Part of the mural that was washed off.  Mr Hwin said that they use limestone powder to paint over the murals. It was only due to the preservation effort by the Chinese and Indian government, that they try to reclaim these murals. 

A view from one of the windows inside the temple..

More Buddha statues...

The outside view ..

Lunch at Queen's Restaurant

A few of the things ordered were fresh fruit juices

mango juice

sweet banana juice

and a few of traditional myanmar food served in tingkat ...

traditional myanmar side dish w/ rose pork curry

orange style country chicken,

julienne cut potato

After a hearty lunch and a pit stop at the hotel ( there was a 1hr break ), next on the itinerary was to head down the lacquerware workshop, where they demonstrated techniques of creating lacquerware (was just for a short while)

the lacquer tree

Before

After coloring

Starting from scratch ... 

The tar ..

Drying up the wares ...

Inside the kiln ..

Thatbyinyu temple
The first temple after the lacquerware workshop was Thatbyinyu temple. This temple has been said to be the tallest temple in Bagan.

Inside the temple, you will be greeted by this

More Buddha statues

The mural 

Ananda temple (Indian)
Next stop is the most beautiful temple in Bagan, Ananda Temple.

The view from afar ..

A close-up ...

 Some of the painting before they were covered with limestone powder.

The buddha face changes depends where you're looking at ..

Some more Buddha statues ...

Face changing Buddha ..

The other Buddha statue ..

The alcove ..

Tharabha gate (photo stop)
Then there was a photo stop at Tharabha gate where old palace site is located.

Kandawpalin Temple
Next stop is Kandawpalin temple.

Some of the Buddha statues that were on display: 

and the final temple for the day is Dhammayangi temple, one of the grandest temple in Bagan.

Outside of the temple ..

Inside the temple ..

Capping the day at okhtein kone

where one can view the sunset.

Then it was time for dinner. The dinner was Typical Food House near to the hotel. I had the guide drop me off at the nearest dining place. (I just need to walk roughly 3 blocks before reaching the hotel.)

I managed to finish all the food including this sumptuous popaddum.

poppadum

Food I ordered: (mostly of Chinese influence. food were neither salty nor spicy).

fried rice w/ pork

chicken with lemon sauce

fish ala shenen

Brownie points to the restaurant because of the free desserts that they gave!

Hotel : Bawga Theiddhi Hotel

Pro:

• Breakfast is good. Their beverage (hot chocolate) was particularly nice.
• The room was large.
• They provide robes, sandals for room use.
• A lot of  outlets for the plug. 
• Have swimming pool. 

Con:

• Wi-fi not working inside the room
• Springy extra bed
• Not much channels on TV.  ( I spent much of the days just watching channel V or  watching Sing China)
• If only there were some street lights, it wouldn't have been a long walk in the dark. There are nearby 1-2 blocks away decent food.
• There was a sudden power outage.