Bagan temple complex

Once we were back on firm ground it was a quick change into the cycling gear and join the rest of the group.  We spent the rest of the morning exploring the Bagan temple complex by bike and by foot.

The Bagan temple complex is spread out as far as the horizon with its peaks of brick stupas that dot the skyline in many shapes and sizes.  The first one we visited was a stupa which could be climbed.  So up we all went, even me!

It was quite hairy and some of us need a bit of a breather half way up, 

but the view at the top was quite something.  Building on this site commenced after the former Kings of Bagab introduced Therevada Buddhism in the mid-11th century.  Many temples were built after that to worship their gods.   

Some were more brave than others!

The temple was very busy with many people making pilgramages.

I must admit that after awhile all the Buddha  images lost their appeal.

But I liked this grinning face carved in sandstone just to the right of the main doorway.

We didn't visit every temple, it would take months to do that, so Alex selected about half a dozen for us to go and see.

No mater how old they are, graffiti is everywhere, although in this case because it is several centuries old it almost seems like art!

This Buddha shimmered in the sunlight creeping it's way in through the main door.  Pilgrims buy gold leaf and rub it into the statue as they pray.

Some of the temples were plain inside whilst others were richly decorated with murals depicting the Buddha's life and ascension.

There are a lot of buildings in the complex!  Each one attracts its own circus of commercialism.

But these marionettes looked jolly hanging from the branches of a big tree.

Some of the smaller temples do not have lighting

and the floors are rough or sandy.  As you can see, I have Buddha toe nails too...

In the heat of the day I could have joined this reclining Buddha and had a little snooze.

Twin Buddhas!

Here we all are, slightly less bedraggled than in out last group photograph.

After lunch in a local vegetarian restaurant we went to see the Leaning Tower, the victim of the recent earthquake I suspect.  The afternoon was free time, and having been up and about so early it was a quiet siesta time for me.

Having seen the sunrise it seems only appropriate that I should watch the sun go down.  We ent to one f the local temples and climbed up a very narrow internal stairway right to the very top.

Where we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

The way down was light by tiny candles on the stair way, placed there and 'managed' by a group of three local lads....in exchanged for a donation, of course! But for ince I was happy to give them a handleful of local money for their entrepreneurial endever.

Wild Haven, Mundamali

Because of difficulties with road closures today we were up early to make sure we could get to the point of closure before it closed.  What is the saying, best made plans and all that?? But sunrise was beautiful...

We managed a quick, cold breakfast, in my case black coffee and bananas on toast, before heading off to the park enterance.

  And then it all went wrong.  Joseph negotiated hard and for the first few miles it looked as though he had been successful.  But then the official roared up on his motorcycle and to cut a long story short, turned us around and sent us back. No cycling through the reserve to day!

Cue more hanging around whilst Joseph organised not only transport for us, but also the bikes.  He tried his best to get us cycling through, but this time it wasn't to be.  So we had an hours journey in a jeep to where the road was closed.  Now if we couldn't ride that 7 km, it was a 3 hour bus detour.  But talking worked this time, the barriers moved and we were on our way.

Trouble is it was getting hot, I hadn't had a big breakfast and just didn't find my momentum so I didn't really enjoy the ride and was so glad when we finally rolled into Wildhaven.  

That said, I did see an elephant's bottom - and here is photograph proof:

After lunch on the terrace and a change of gear we were off on a late afternoon walk.  Don't the mountains look magnificent? We'll be cycling/walking them in the morning...

But for now it was a farm walk.  

Even the most humble of garden flowers look more vibrant and colourful in India.  Interestingly the marigolds seem to be being used in the vegetable as a natural deterrent just as we use them in the allotments in the UK.

The vine growing up the tree is pepper, it needs to ripen and harden before it can be used for crushing to season the food.

There was coffee frowning near by but more fascinating 

Was the giant bambo, my goodness was that tall....I left the people in the picture so you have some idea.  The termite mound was pretty big too, but funnily enough no one was prepared to stand next to it!

There was a very friendly herd of goats grazing nearby, well the kids were friendly - they came zooming around all over the place being nosey, as only goats can do.  We couldn't go further as wild elephants had been spotted earlier in the day, so we turned around

and walked back to the farm.  No mater how rural or 'poor' there always seems to be a satellite dish fixed on the roof.