We headed across the river to Mingun, a bigger town along
the western bank of the Irrawaddy (unless it’s on the eastern bank, but I’m
pretty sure I’m right).
Once ashore, we were besieged by women and kids selling
various knick-knacks and crafts. They
were waiting for us like we were sitting ducks.
Carol perfected the thousand yard stare to ignore them (although she did
crack later and buy something) whilst I politely, yet firmly shook my head and
said “no thank you.”
We hopped into ox carts and rode up the steep hill to see
the world’s largest uncracked bell.
After hearing the story behind it, we got back on the carts and rode to
an unfinished pagoda – the king back in the day had wanted it to be largest
pagoda in the world, but never was finished.
It’s pretty amazing to take in – there has been significant earthquake
damage. I didn’t go up into the pagoda
(a large Buddha inhabited the inside, primarily because I was too lazy to take
off my socks and sneakers. I think it
might have been the last day I wore sneakers in Myanmar, having switched to
Keen’s for the rest of the trip.
After a bit we walked back down the hill to the boat and
headed back to a quiet day on the boat.
That afternoon (my computer hadn’t blown up yet) Carol and I spent most
of the afternoon on the quiet aft deck taking in the sights, whilst I was
blogging and she was reading. We did
treat ourselves to a massage in the spa, but that was the extent of our
afternoon activities until dinner.
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