Bagan - Behind the Ancient Pagodas

This morning we wen to visit Gu Byauk Gyi Temple. It is one of the oldest temples that has had the inside cleaned and ancient murals/paintings restored. We weren't allowed to take any photos inside due to camera flashes damaging the paintings. Even in the very subdued lighting you could see the beauty. The paintings had remarkable detail.

The temple was located in a section with several others clustered around.

When we left the temple we got on pony carts to take a tour around the pagodas on mainly dirt roads. It provided an up close view and we got to observe the local lifestyle.

Don't worry, I didn't take pictures of all 2,000 shrines just 1,987 (it may seem like it). Not a lot of narrative so just enjoy the sights. Hopefully as much as I did.

This young man was rolling the big concrete roller over the dirt to try and keep the dust down.

Locals use these small trucks for transportation. You see them everywhere packed with people.

Time to get off the main road.

This man was cultivating his crop with the team of brahmas and a wooden cultivator made from a log with sharp sticks attached.

The ancient city gate.

Well, that is a few of the pictures I took. Didn't want to overwhelm you. It was a fantastic experience.

Next we stopped at a family's house where they made palm sugar from the palm tree sap. I tasted the raw sap and some that had been fermented a few days to make beer. I didn't try the stronger one that was 70 proof and had fermented several months. The sap was okay and the beer like one tasted and smelled like vinegar. 

Sap glass on the left - empty and beer juice on right - not much gone!

They demonstrated how he climbed the trees to collect the pots containing the sap. They let them drip overnight and collect the pots of sap each day to be slowly cooked down into palm sugar.

Simmering the sap

When asked if there were any volunteers to climb the tree guess who said yes first.

As is customary, I said a little prayer before going up. Couldn't go but halfway as the ladder rails were too close for my big shoes to fit. It was fun!!!!

To climb, you wrap your arms around the tree trunk then up you go.

The family then showed us around their home. They have 4 children- 2 girls and 2 boys.

This is their living space which also serves as the parents bedroom. The big pot in the back corner is for storing the rice.

Then the food preparation area.

The upstairs has 2 sleeping areas (1 for girls and 1 for boys) and a worship corner. It is customary that only the young boys may sleep close to the worship area. Notice the mosquito netting.

The cooking area is located on the back of the house.

That gets the day to about 1 p.m. Will have to finish the day's post later because there is SO much more exciting things to share and it is getting late. I have another early morning flight to Mandalay for the last 2 nights in Myanmar.