Today we flew to Bagan. This is the part of the trip I have been most looking forward to. It did not disappoint. I do not think words quite give this place justice. It lies on a large flat plateau where there are monuments every few hundred feet. There are over 3000 monuments/pagoda.temples here and some are over a thousand years old. I have been to ruins in other places, but those ruins are always associated with some kind of grim history of murder or slavery. These are very different. They were built by kings who paid the labors for their efforts to secure their positions in nirvana. Despite the repressive heat and the less than perfect condition of the monuments there is something light hearted about this place. As if being here makes my troubles seem less? There is a constant breeze here that oddly feels still around you, perhaps because of the heat. Regardless the air lends itself to reflection.
The tour stopped at a lacquer wear shop. Fascinating how much effort it requires to craft these beautiful bowls. I may have purchased a few more items then I should have, but the craftsmanship was so beautiful.
In the evening we climbed a large pagoda that allowed us to view thousands of the monuments at once. It is a breathtaking site. I manage to find my little quiet corner to be still and just soak up the view as the sun set. Easy to see why the ancient kings chose this place as a holy land, it is so serene.
The locals seem to have a hard time of it. The only industry the government allows is tourism and a little agriculture so people are very poor here. Despite this fact people are warm and inviting. I really liked our tour guide she is a petite stylish woman who is excited to share the stories of her people.