Mandalay, Myanmar (General Photos) (11/2006)

Mandalay Myanmar (General Photos) cover page.	Map of Myanmar with star indicating Mandalay.	Monks at the famous 150 year old Mahagandayon Monastery and Buddhist learning center.	A procession of 1,000 monks go to take their final meal of the day at noon.
The Mahagandayon Monastery is located in Amarapura, the "City of Immortals," the former capital of Burma until 1850.	A horse and buggy that was passing by the Mahagandayon Monastery.	View of the U Bein wooden bridge, which is the longest wooden bridge in the world.	Located in Amarapura, the U Bein Bridge is over 150 years old and is still in use today.
Most of the people on the U Bein Bridge were tourists like me.	A fisherman is sitting on the bridge patiently fishing in Taungthaman Lake.	Some of the many ferry boats that are on Taungthaman Lake.	A kid who sold necklaces took this picture of me. I didn't buy one but gave him a buck to get rid of him!
This man is skillfully crossing his oars as he rows his boat.	After the U Bein Bridge, I visited this plaster Buddha factory.	Along the way, there were many souvenir shops and vendors anxious to make a sale.	Our next stop was a workshop where the ancient art of silk and cotton weaving (using handlooms) is still practiced.
This woman is rolling up spools of silk.	Interior of the Mahamuni Pagoda, the most sacred shrine in Myanmar hosting the Mahamuni image (built by King Bodawpaya in 1784).	Here I am applying gold leaf to the Buddha image in the Mahamuni Pagoda.	View of me and others applying gold leaf and revering the Buddha.
I am now leaving the platform after applying the gold leaf.	Photos showing how the Buddha has changed over the years. It is now very misshapen due to the buildup of gold leaf.	Nearby the the Mahamuni Pagoda, was this statue. You rub the body part that hurts, and you are supposed to feel better!	View from the outside of the Mahamuni Pagoda.
After applying gold leaf to the Buddha, our next stop was, appropriately, the gold leaf pounding factory.	It takes 5 hours of pounding to flatten a chip of gold into a sheet of gold leaf.	The pounders pounded to a rythym like they were playing percussion instruments.	This gold leaf pounder worked up a real sweat. You have to be young and strong to do this job!
View of the palace moat with Mandalay Fort and Mandalay Hill in the distance.	A view across the moat of Mandalay Fort.	View with the moat and Mandalay Hill in the background.	Me posing with the moat behind me in Mandalay.
View of the moat with Mandalay Hill in the distance.	Red fence post with the moat and Mandalay Hill behind it.	This is the only political sign that I saw in Myanmar.	Wall along the palace moat in Mandalay.
The entrance to Mandalay Palace (also known as the "Great Golden Royal Palace").	The palace is located within a high brick walled fort and is surrounded by the moat.	The palace was built in 1857 to house King Mindon's family and to shift the capital from Amarapura.	Statues (protected by plexiglass) of King Mindon and Queen Satkyardavi.
Here I am befriending King Mindon at Mandalay Palace.	Pathway leading into Mandalay Palace. That is my tour guide walking ahead of me.	Nice spire at Mandalay Palace. The palace was originally built of teakwood, but has since been replaced by other materials.	Watchtower that I climbed to get a good view of the grounds of Mandalay Palace.
The view from the tower of Mandalay Palace.	More views of Mandalay Palace as seen from the tower.	From the tower, I could see that renovation was going on.	This tower was being renovated. Note the ladders going up on each level.
Buildings where princes, princesses and other royal family members once resided.	There was an exhibition at Mandalay Palace. A guard scolded me for taking this photo (which was forbidden)!	Entrance to the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a large walled complex built by King Mindon (1860-1869).	Monks and tourists passing through the entrance to the Kuthodaw Pagoda.
Model under plexiglass of the layout of Kuthodaw Pagoda.	The main stupa is set in the middle of a thirteen acre field of 729 pitaka pagodas or shrines.	Me standing besides the field of 729 pitaka pagodas.	Each shrine contains a marble slab, inscribed with the Pali script of a portion the Tipitaka (Buddhism’s sacred text).
Taken together, they contain the entire text of the Tipitaka and are known as “the world’s largest book.”	The main stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda.	The main stupa with a guardian lion sculpture in the foreground.	Closeup of guardian lion sculpture with golden leaves above it.
Another view of the golden stupa.	Nice gate, sculptures and stairs at the stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda.	A Buddha image and flowers at the Kuthodaw Pagoda.	Another beautiful Buddha image at the Kuthodaw Pagoda.
The passageway (with tourists) as we left the Kuthodaw Pagoda.	Steps leading up to the Atumashi Monastery which was originally built in 1857 by King Mindon.	The building burned down in 1890 but was rebuilt in 1996 (according to the original plans).	Decorated doors outside of the monastery. The monastery is made of stucco.
A Buddha in the prayer hall of Atumashi Monastery. Note changing electric lights of the halo.	The colors of the halo behind the Buddha keep changing.	I was snapping about one picture per second to get these halo shots.	The colors and design were everchanging.
My final halo photo.	A corner view of the outside of Atumashi Monastery.	The building reflected on the walkway.	View of the gates of Atumashi Monastery.
The white gate was enveloped by the clouds behind it.	Sign for the Golden Palace Monastery which was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura and later moved to Mandalay.	In the 19th century when it was built, it was completely covered in gold leaf and glass mosaics.	The glass mosaics have disappeared and what is left is the weathered teak of which it was originally built.
It is perhaps the only surviving example of 19th century Myanmar teak architecture.	A very old bell that I saw at the Golden Palace Monastery.	Detail of some of the teakwood carvings at the Golden Palace Monastery.	During the 19th century, this wood was probably covered with gold leaf.
These lion sculptures are found at the base of Mandalay Hill.	Closeup of one of the lion sculptures.	The lion sculptures and the steps form the portal to Mandalay Hill.	Closeup ot the steps.
This pagoda is at the top of Mandalay Hill.	Another Mandalay Hill pagoda shot. Notice how it glistens in the sun.	View of the Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (where I stayed) from Mandalay Hill.	It was dusk and getting dark. The pagoda looked beautiful in the evening light.
Another shot of the pagoda at dusk.	The sun was going down as we were waiting for the sunset.	The golden stupa of the pogoda as it reflected in the evening light.	Some of the exquisite furnishings that can be found in the pagoda.
An interesting shrine at the pagoda.	A Buddha statue found at the pagoda on Mandalay Hill.	Closeup of the Buddha statue.	Statue with an electric halo of multiple colors. The walls are beautiful, too.
Closeup of the statue and electric halo.	Statue based on a legend that the Hill was inhabited by an ogress, and as an offering to Buddha, she cut off her breasts.	View of the sunset at Mandalay Hill.	Tourists (like me) flock to Mandalay to see this spectacular sunset.