IS THIS ENOUGH GOLD FOR YA?? THREE DAYS IN YANGON...

Changing money:
As there are no ATMs in Myanmar we had to bring lots of dollars to last the duration of our stay. We had been pre-warned (thanks Aoife and Michael) that these dollars had to be in pristeen condition. While we payed for our first night's accommodation the girl in reception all but took out a microscope to inspect the dollars, requesting newer ones til one eventually made the grade. Off then with us to exchange some dollars for kyat, the local currency. We handed over our dollars and in return received wads of notes so big I thought the lady was gonna produce a briefcase. Our new found riches brought us to a biryani shop where we filled our hungry bellies but didn't manage to put much of a dent in the cash.



The sights. Day 1:
Braving the impending rains we headed off on foot and navigated inner city Yangon like pros (well actually I did, Przem just followed me!). The Botatuang Paya, our first stop, was also our first sighting of one of Myanmar's many gold stupas and while awfully large and impressive, we knew that the best was yet to come. It did have some very freaky little dancing girls outside it though. A wander through colonial Yangon saw us past some very grand and imposing buildings on the way to Sule Paya, another great big gold stupa placed slap bang in the middle of a roundabout. Then the rains came down hard. We took shelter in a cafe and wrote about a thousand postcards. Postcards are ever so cheap here so I expect most of you will receive one written during this torrential downpour. As it poured and we wrote a lady's voice rang out and caught our attention. She had the most beautiful voice I think I have ever heard and we listened with lumps in our throats. This lady had only one leg and a small child helped her along. She reminded me of how lucky I am. A dosa on the way home reminded me once more!









The sight. Day 3:
The day we went to see the big one!...
Started our day with a coffee in the Sakura Sky Restaurant before grabbing a cab to this massive reclining Buddha lying happily in a warehouse-type building attached to a monastery. While inside a young monk in training gave us a very interesting and informative tour of the monastery where we got to watch some young novices chanting and studying. We then walked on to survey a large sitting Buddha nearby which was also in great shape. On then with us to the big one - Shweddagon Paya. Oh my good Buddha above in heaven it is gorgeous and amazing beyond words. We stayed for hours just taking photo after photo. The light was unreal, we were blessed with the sky that was in it. Reflected off the goldest of gold stupas the light was so strong you couldn't help but squint even with the biggest of Deirdre Barlow Shades on! As if the gold weren't enough there's also 500 diamonds and precious stones on the top. I never dreamed the Shweddagon would blow me away like it did. The whole complex is just dazzling, everywhere is gold, gold, gold. If this were melted down someone would make a nice few bob but I guess they've thought of that already. Of what we've seen only the Taj Mahal comes close to this structure in terms of harmony and pure awe.













We were tired but satisfied boys that evening having walked about a thousand barefoot miles through temples and monasteries under the watchful eye of Buddha himself. We just about mustered up enough energy to grab an ol' dosa again on the way home. Off to the country tomorrow...