Bagan Journal 1, January 2015

Rhodora and I went back to Myanmar on January 7-10, 2015. This time, we visited the fabled Bagan, land of over 3,000 temples, stupas and pagodas …

Bagan Journal 1

When the guide said our first stop would be a public market in Nyaung U, I thought, quietly, "Hmmm. What makes him think I'd like to go there?" I guess, given my limited time, I was in a hurry to see the main attraction - the temples and pagodas. But I'm glad I didn't push my way and went along with his plan. A public market, after all, is a window to a people's way of life … Grateful for the glimpse, I thanked the guide as soon as I hopped back to the van.

Eggplants! Green, round & plump. Having been under Great Britain, they call them aubergines.


Thanaka branches. The Burmese apply an all-purpose cream on their faces that come from the bark of the thanaka tree. They grind the bark on a stone and mix it with water. I don't know the science, but let me tell you: men or women, they have a nice complexion.


Bamboo shoots


They love bananas here as much as we do. They're everywhere! In fact, they honoured the banana by making it part of the architectural design of their pagodas. The column from the base to the top is a banana stalk impression.


Chilies!!! Local food is usually spicy, heavily influenced by Thai and Indian cusine.


Tea leaves from Upper Myanmar


Dried fish of all varieties and sizes



This is a cigar and peanut stall. This lady was proudly telling me that she rolled the tobacco leaves herself. She gamely posed for a picture, then tried to sell me a bag of peanuts. Hahahaha!!! Tit for tat, I guess ...


Read about the Shwezigon Pagoda in my Bagan Journal 2.

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