Mandalay and area

Yes, that is a real Python!

Amarapura foot bridge

Hundreds of little Monks around Mandalay.

Amazing sunrises as we Leave Bagan

No central heating and cold in the mountain area of Pyin U Lwin.

From Began we took a 12 hour ferry up the mighty Irrawady river to Mandalay. Again we were less enthusiastic about the noise and pollution in the city, but used it as a centre for good day trips. We went to the ancient capital of Amarapura, now most famous for its pedestrian bridge made in 1849 from over 1000 teak posts, which is on the cover of the Lonely Planets guidebook! Because it was the dry season the lake it crosses was partially dry and the locals were growing crops on the lake bed.
Another day trip was to the temple in Paleik. Here 2 giant pythons have been living on the altar since 1974. Every day at 11am their custodians carry them to a special bathing pool, then tourists can hold them and/or feed them eggs before they slither back to the temple and up to each side of the altar to sleep for the next 23 hours!!!
We decided to escape the heat and humidity of Mandalay to visit the former British hill station at Pyin U Lwin. Little did we realize that once the sun went down it would get down to freezing, which is how we felt in the unheated, uninsulated guest houses! We certainly could have done with our thermal undies! But during the day it was lovely, and we rented bikes to explore the lovely botanical gardens. It’s a centre for growing fruit and veggies. Didn’t think much of the local wines but it was one place where they had excellent coffee shops.