MINGALABAR - MYANMAR IS ANOTHER JEWEL IN OUR BACKYARD

Some people still use the river for most of their daily needs. This young woman has just finished her bath in the river and is brushing her teeth. Her male partner joined her soon afterwards.

Mr Singh is being helped into his horse cart by Mr Win, our guide, and his son, Swan, to explore the region of Ava of Mandalay by that mode of transport.

This is a 250-year old teak wood monastery, preserved as a monument

One of the many intricately-carved doors of the monastery.

We lunched at this restaurant (perhaps the only one in this area of Ava, Mandalay?). The owner named it "Ave Maria" because his wife is a Catholic.

These puppets were the first significant image I saw in Bagan. But, puppetry is not a highlight here. Bagan is an ancient town which served as the capital of Burma between the 11-13C. Overseas visitors are required to pay a fee of 25,000 kyats each to enter Bagan as it is considered as an archeological site, renowned for their monasteries, temples and stupas, most of which are not used as such now. 

Shwezikone Pagoda was built in the 11C of sandstone and is considered the most sacred here.

This "water mark" was used to ensure that the pagoda was properly aligned when it was being built.

An 11C depiction of the Buddha found in the pagoda.

This relic is one of the Buddha's teeth.

As in Angkor Wat, this is one of the innate carvings found on the buildings of temples and the like.

Another innate carving.