The car arrived on time and we spent the day visiting as many of the local places of interest as we could fit in. Inevitably this included a number of pagodas – including two which were still under construction. Just what Myanmar needs – more buddhas. One was in the lotus position – vast – about 150ft high. The basic concrete structure was in place and the process of fitting a silvery skin from the top down had got the neck.
Inside was just the concrete structure with staircases and various floors going up – presumably in time it will all be finished with marble and shrines etc.
The other was even bigger – a reclining Buddha about 600ft long – this one had been started in 1992 and was still a long way from completion.
Pam particularly liked the eyelashes
We are now the proud contributors of two of the red tiles which will make up the incomplete sections buddha’s robe – this is the monks’ way of raising funds for materials to complete the work. After buying them we were required to place them carefully in front of a seated Buddha as an offering.
The other was even bigger – a reclining Buddha about 600ft long – this one had been started in 1992 and was still a long way from completion.
We are now the proud contributors of two of the red tiles which will make up the incomplete sections buddha’s robe – this is the monks’ way of raising funds for materials to complete the work. After buying them we were required to place them carefully in front of a seated Buddha as an offering.
Another stop was at a cave which was filled with Buddhist shrines – for some reason this was a favourite place for people to come when a family member was going overseas – a whole group would find a spot in front of a shrine and spend several hours in semi-darkness making offerings etc. There were several groups there as we passed through and we saw more arriving.
The two other main items of interest that day were in Thanbyuzayat, a little way south of Mawlamyine. This was the terminus of the infamous Burma Railroad – and there is still some track and an old engine at the point where the track ended. At the time we were the there two guys were painting the engine.
Not far away is a cemetery for some of the many allied soldiers who died in the region during WW11. It’s very well cared for with row after row of identical headstones.
All had the usual name, regiment, age and date of death and some had more personal inscriptions – often phrase from the bible etc. The most poignant one we saw was on the grave of a boy from, I think, the Manchester Regiment. It said “I waited but you never came. Life was cruel to us. Dorothy”. Sad.
During the day we passed this petrol station.
All had the usual name, regiment, age and date of death and some had more personal inscriptions – often phrase from the bible etc. The most poignant one we saw was on the grave of a boy from, I think, the Manchester Regiment. It said “I waited but you never came. Life was cruel to us. Dorothy”. Sad.
During the day we passed this petrol station.
No comments:
Post a Comment