December 25, 2013 @ Bagan, Myanmar



Bagan is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist


temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world


Sein Nyet Pagoda


Single pierced niche housing a Buddha icon


Somingyi Kyaung


Somingyi Kyaung


Paya #1174 behind the Somingyi Zedi


That Byin Nyu Temple


E-biking


People are so friendly in Myanmar


Shwesandaw Temple, topped with a cylindrical stupa


The well-known sunset temple


Ananda Temple in the far


Dahmmayan Gyi Phaya Temple some distance away


Sulamani Temple


Ananda Temple


That Byin Nyu Temple


Remains of 2200+ temples and pagodas survive to the present day


Built by King Anawrahta in 1057


Enjoying the breathtaking view


Me & Chris


The steps get narrower and steeper near the top


Not recommended for those with vertigo


Adjacent Shinbinthalyaung Temple


The pagoda contains a series of five terraces


UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site


Says some temples were rebuilt in an un-historic way


Dhamma Yangyi Temple


Commissioned by King Narathu to atone for his sins


of assassinating his father, brother, and wife


Largest and widest of all the temples in Bagan


Buddha Statues inside the Dhammayangyi Temple


Roughly 6 million pieces of bricks used in the construction of this temple


Pretty paper umbrella


Sulamani Temple


Built in 1183 by King Narapati sithu


Frescoes in the interior of the temple


Golden head normal body Buddha


Image of reclining Buddha


Wut Tana Taw


Many of these dump sites in Myanmar


Mother & son


AK47 toy for the boys?


Gourd shape temple


Cheapest lunch on the trip, only 50 cents USD


Shwezigon Pagoda


On the North bank of Nyaung U


Bling bling temple


Hsutaung Pyi Hpaya


Shwe Myo Zin Nat Kun


A prototype of Burmese stupas


Me @ Shwezigon Pagoda


Shwe Tha Lion


Tha Gyar Hit Temple


This one is climbable


Almost 3,000 other temples, monasteries, etc


Chris & me


Jump


Real jump


Gonna be flexible for the photo


Bug


Htilominlo Temple


Three stories tall, with a height of 46 metres and built with red brick


Ananda Ok Kyaung


Ananda Temple


The temple houses four Buddhas facing the cardinal directions


Represent the four Buddhas who have attained Nirvana


The most important temple in all of Bagan


Built by the third king, Kyan-zit-tha in 1091


Also been titled the Westminster Abbey of Burma


Well maintained by frequent painting and whitewashing of the walls


School holiday


Tharabar Gate


Bupaya Pagoda


Humpty dumpty


Banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River


The small pagoda with a bulbous shaped dome


Nuclear catastrophe overcome pagoda?


Missile like stupa


Gawdaw Palin Temple


It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas


once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Myanmar


Bagan is served in Spanish Tapas style


Ingredients exposed to the customer


and shown in small bite-size servings


with the next attraction close and visible at hand


Shwegu Gyi temple


Our final sunset temple


What makes the temples look romantic is the process of graceful aging


So much of the stucco coating of the temples had peeled off


Reveal the brick structural blocks with its rusty, reddish


Dhamma Yangyi Temple


Golden brown-like patina when hit by the sun rays



Kid selling $1 postcard


Shwesandaw Temple is pack of people


Beautiful sunset


It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas


once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Myanmar


Sunset over Bagan Golden Palace





The mist kicks in



Joe & Julie, so nice to see familiar face


Panorama of Bagan as seen from Shwesandaw Temple


Panorama of Bagan as seen from Shwesandaw Temple


View from Shwegu Gyi Temple


Consists of a circular gold leaf-gilded stupa surrounded by smaller temples and shrines