Housecleaning at Ananda Temple

Worker cleans and polishes one of the numerous statues of Buddha lining the corridors of Ananda Temple in Bagan.  This impressive temple, frequently referred to as the "Westminister Abbey of Burma",  is named after the Venerable Ananda, the Buddha's first cousin and personal assistant (see Ananda). 

Structure No. 1410

There are so many stupas and temples at Bagan. Many don't have names, only numbers from the Ministry of Culture, Department of Archaeology. Of the 3,000 or so structures that cover the plain of Bagan, most people visit only three or four of the most well-known temples. But with bikes, you can find structures that no one is visiting. And you can walk inside, by yourself, and explore and see a beautiful Buddha statue.

And find a stairway covered in bat guano that clearly no one has climbed up in a while. Or, maybe you are not supposed to climb up this passage. But how can you resist?  Bagan is an amazing place.

[NOTE: I am struck that Structure 1410 looks a little bit like the Alamo].

Sunset at Bagan

Luke and I made it to Bagan. And saw the sun go down from Shwesandaw Pagoda. One of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring sights I've ever seen. Really. [NOTE: Yes, there were busloads of tourists on the pagoda with us. Didn't change what I saw]. 

Bagan

On my upcoming trip to Myanmar (with son, Luke), after finishing up in Nam Sabi (see Nam Sabi VMA and VMA Inventory) and then spending a few days in Mandalay, we will go visit Bagan (shown above). Thousands of stupas and pagodas stretching back from the Ayeyarwady River over 40 square kilometers. Yippeee!!