In search of an Empire.Siam,Burma and Singapore.

[drron]

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Fortunately there were escalators up and a lift down-

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Cleaning the bush with brooms above.Now in temples etc you must walk around in bare feet.They are not the cleanest of places.This is a wet wipe after cleaning one of my feet-

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On the way to the Temple of the largest book in the world because it is all written on marble.

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Outside the temple this lovely young lady was able to convince mrsdrron and her English friend to buy her flowers-

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[drron]

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At the entrance of the temple there was a young woman who kept calling out to me a Burmese phrase.Other women were laughing out loud.One translated-she is saying she loves you.It turned out she had perfect English,was of Indian descent and had been married to a major in the British army.He had died and she said she wouldn't mind a replacement.In the end I lost out to an Englishman who gave her a flower-

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Back to the temple and some of the pages-

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[drron]

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[drron]

Now here is an example of the power of Mingalaba.I said this to an older monk.His face burst into a smile,he came over and held my hand,taking my camera and giving it to a woman to take our picture.After it was taken he said now you have a picture of a handsome man!

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So back to the temple-

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We now drove to an old unused temple.Over the road was the entrance to a Buddhist university-

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The temple was the sleeping quarters of one of the last Kings of Burma.It was dismantled from the Mandalay palace and rebuilt here-

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[UpInTheAir:)]

Cause the way that we love is something that we cant fight, oh no
I just cant get enough, oh you make me feel alive
So come on
Ring my bell, ring my bells
Ring my bell, ring my bell

Great trip report Did you really just quote Collette??

 

[drron]

My quote is actually from Enrique Iglesias.But Colette is a little more explicit in her version.

 

[JessicaTam]

Great trip report Did you really just quote Collette??

I tried to ignore the singing.

 

[drron]

So more of the wooden temple-called the Golden Palace as it was covered in gold leaf.

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Buddha is sitting on a replica of the Burmese Royal Throne.The original was lifted by the British but returned and installed here.The Generals then decided the original would be better in a Yangon museum.

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[drron]

The woodwork is incredible-

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The last remnants of the gold leaf-

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We walked next door because our bus was parked there.No idea what it is called-

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We were off to the Mandalay Hill resort but might have been better off here-

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Got behind a full local bus-

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[RooFlyer]

We were off to the Mandalay Hill resort but might have been better off here-

Will be interested to hear if you try the 'traditional' restaurant, with ethnic dancing, there. I never got around to it, but heard it every night!

Beware bussed in tour groups from China around the regular buffet!

 

[drron]

We were the group bussed in for the buffet.Ordinary.But everyone was glad to see their "happy"room-

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After lunch it was a visit to the gold leaf business with these poor fellows beating the whatnots out of small bits of gold-

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On the way to marble street a typical Asian scaffolding job-

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A short visit to marble street.Again a cheery mingalaba and this fellow stands and poses by his work-

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[drron]

It wasn't only marble carvings here-

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And there was not a mask to be seen.

 

[drron]

Next a visit to a silk weaving business.A typical street scene outside-

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Then it was on to the U-Bein bridge-

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The teak pylons were from the old palace at Ava.

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[drron]

Cooking area for the local restaurants at the end of the bridge-

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We prepare for our "gondola" ride whilst people walk on and below the bridge-

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Not all the posts are teak-
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S-IbaLpO7SE/VJ4gLvpaorI/AAAAAAABu6M/xx_q-5RkrkE/s400/DSC01325.JPG.

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[drron]

Of course if you are going to sit in a little wooden boat waiting for sunset you should do it in style-

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with a glass of champagne in hand-

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Although we missed the Chinese tourists at the lunch buffet they didn't miss us here-

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Now don't think you have seen all of the sunset pics!

 

[burmans]

Nice pictures, I didn't actually take the boat for my sunset pictures when there but now suspect I should have! Its a very nice place to while away a sunset, even when on the bridge itself!

 

[drron]

Yes more sunset pics-

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Then a drive back to the ship in the dark.It had repositioned to the base of the Sagaing hills.Last bit was down a very bumpy dirt road.A nice shower and ready for pre dinner drinks and a lovely meal.We each had Foie gras,NZ rack of lamb and passionfruit meringue pie-their passionfruit are very tart so tasted like lemon.It was superb.Once again reminded myself to take the little camera to dinner.
After dinner short dances from each of the 8 largest ethnic groups.I have taken videos but impossible to upload them with the wifi service available on board.But a couple of pics-

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[amaroo]

drron's in case you're wondering your lawn will need a mow and the garden will be looking excellent! Rain, rain, rain........

 

[drron]

No lawn to mow.

 

[drron]

The scenes from our window when we awoke Tuesday-

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Then we were off to a nunnery.note how they make steps in the riverbank for us-

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Every day I teach our Burmese guide a new Australian word.The word for today was dunny-

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