Jan. 9 / Confronted with my pale mirror image
Loikaw – Nyaung Shwe / Inle Lake 170 km.
I wake up early, it's pitch black and I'm freezing. The sun has not risen. In the glow of the bright neon lights, I am confronted with my pale reflection. My tired eyes trying to focus, but the left eye will not keep up. I look into my gray eyes, they see something dull, under the tongue hanging eye lids. The wrinkles on his forehead stand out and the deep joints that run on either side of your nose and my sunken cheeks, shows a mirror image of an elderly man who has not yet fully come to life.
Luckily it is not often I am faced so brutal with my own reflection. I think I unconsciously avoid seeing myself in the eyes. I feel like many others my age, it's not much of this frontal encounter with reality, the realization that you do not have the same power as before.
I fold my blankets out and get ready to Yoga, to get started in the circuit, so I wake up completely and is ready to confront a new exciting day.
Luckily it is not often I am faced so brutal with my own reflection. I think I unconsciously avoid seeing myself in the eyes. I feel like many others my age, it's not much of this frontal encounter with reality, the realization that you do not have the same power as before.
I fold my blankets out and get ready to Yoga, to get started in the circuit, so I wake up completely and is ready to confront a new exciting day.
The red markers show my MC.Myanmar Journey. Mandalay / Bagan / Bago / Nyaung Shwe / Mandalay / Touch the photo, then it becomes large
Kakku / Temple Area with 2.548 stupas
On my way to Nyaung Shwe near Inle Lake I passed Kakku there is a temple area consisting of 2.548 stupas. It looks absolutely gorgeous on the photos, so I'm really looking forward to this meeting.
The 2.548 stupas placed in neat rows. Temple area Kakku founded by Buddhist missionaries in the 3 century BC. The stupas are created in various styles depending on the prevailing architectural trends at the time they were built. Some are simple and unadorned, while others are covered by the gods and mystical animals. Kakku has been extensively restored with donations from pilgrims.
It is fascinating to move through this sea of monuments from a bygone era. I take one picture after another, but have slowly the feeling that I repeat the way I try to do stupas live on. I will well have the stupas emerge as independent beings and goes out into the universe and not just some anonymous individuals in a row during Buddha strict and controlled discipline.
Anarchy stone in me, the individual personality that quite often rears its head, I've learned to live with in my Yoga Philosophy.
Anarchy stone in me, the individual personality that quite often rears its head, I've learned to live with in my Yoga Philosophy.
On the road towards Nyaung Shwe
Motor bike rental Zach, has advised me not to drive into the area around Inle Lake, because the government also in this area have banned MC. driving around. I thought therefore that the tourists like in Bagan area where it is also prohibited to drive around on a motorbike. or larger scooter, but they could drive on small slow running electric scooter in the area.
So I took the chance. I could just leave my motorbike at the hotel and rent a scooter or else I could move on to another city and live outside the area.
When I came to Nyaung Shwe I find out that tourists can not rent any kind of two-wheeled motorized, but only ordinary bicycles. None of the local in the city understood the reason for the ban. The tourists are now forced to use taxi as the distance trip/return to the sights around the lake is 40-80 km.
There are many who drive around on MC. and on scooter in the area. No one said anything to me, the four days I was driving around in the area.
So I took the chance. I could just leave my motorbike at the hotel and rent a scooter or else I could move on to another city and live outside the area.
When I came to Nyaung Shwe I find out that tourists can not rent any kind of two-wheeled motorized, but only ordinary bicycles. None of the local in the city understood the reason for the ban. The tourists are now forced to use taxi as the distance trip/return to the sights around the lake is 40-80 km.
There are many who drive around on MC. and on scooter in the area. No one said anything to me, the four days I was driving around in the area.
Teak Wood Hotel
Again I had booked the hotel via internet at Teak Wood Hotel. I had only planned to be there for 3 nights but changed my mind to 4 nights. I needed a little more time to take photos and to write.
I had otherwise planned an extra stop on the way back to Mandalay, for not having to drive too far in a day. - But it also requires energy to transform themselves and having to pack in and out, so I chose an extra casual day.
I had otherwise planned an extra stop on the way back to Mandalay, for not having to drive too far in a day. - But it also requires energy to transform themselves and having to pack in and out, so I chose an extra casual day.
The first room I was offered at $ 30 per. night was perfectly fine - but I would like to have a room that faced away from the road. Yes, he had a perfectly quiet room for me if I were to write, but it cost $ 35. The room was absolutely perfect.
After I had ordered room at the Teak Wood Hotel the photographer Torben Huus sent an email that he was in town Nyaung Shwe in 2005 had stayed at the Teak Wood Hotel for $ 5 per. night. So the same hotel, so again crossing our track each other. Torben is now back on track to Rajastan in India with backpack.
After I had ordered room at the Teak Wood Hotel the photographer Torben Huus sent an email that he was in town Nyaung Shwe in 2005 had stayed at the Teak Wood Hotel for $ 5 per. night. So the same hotel, so again crossing our track each other. Torben is now back on track to Rajastan in India with backpack.
Yadana Mon Aung Pagoda
Yadana Mon Aung Pagoda / Wall painting
Nyaung Shwe is a lovely relaxed little village
Nyaung Shwe is not very large and consists mostly of old wood and bamboo huts. No matter how I turned my head, they were building new hotels, in addition to all the many hotels both large and small that already existed.
The residents of the old wooden houses in the center will probably slowly being forced to move to make room for even more new hotels.
It rates really sure that there will be many tourists to the village. Only in the area of Bagan, I have experienced so many tourists. On this MC.Journey I have only met very few tourists.
The residents of the old wooden houses in the center will probably slowly being forced to move to make room for even more new hotels.
It rates really sure that there will be many tourists to the village. Only in the area of Bagan, I have experienced so many tourists. On this MC.Journey I have only met very few tourists.
Nyaung Shwe is a very nice relaxed little tourist town with a number of restaurants and cafes in a Western style. It is exciting to explore with its stalls and all the boats along the river that connects directly to Inle Lake.
Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to take a photo with some of the young monks in the doorway. This photo is borrowed from 'Guidebook Myanmar'. The symbolism of this iconic image is incredibly simple and strong. The innocent child from the comfortable womb, the monastery safe environment, looking out into the world. With my cultural background fascinated me this strange mystery, beauty and soul ultimate harmony, as this photo exudes.
Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung / Monastery for boys
Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung / Monastery for boys
The entire building with its details and relics as well as the presence of the young monks are getting ready for their meditation and cat its nap, while I and other tourists walking around the building, to admire its various exquisite aesthetic details. The sun shines in through the magical oval windows facing the outside world. It is a rare estimate physical and mental total experience.
I try to take some photo of the young monks - I can sense that they are not completely happy to be in focusing that way.
I try to take some photo of the young monks - I can sense that they are not completely happy to be in focusing that way.
This is the entrance to the young monks common privacy
Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung's Monastery Temple
I think that goes a few years, then the tourists only get the chance to stand outside the doorway and looking in.
Many sacred sites are still open to tourists here in Myanmar, but in a few years as in other countries, you are probably forced to keep tourists at a certain distance of the valuable historical objects.
Many sacred sites are still open to tourists here in Myanmar, but in a few years as in other countries, you are probably forced to keep tourists at a certain distance of the valuable historical objects.
Close to Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung monastery there are some stalls with various new and ancient Buddhas, masks, jewelry etc. In the background sits a former monk Eal Winee. He was 8 years when he came to the monastery and the age of 28, he left the monastic life and got married and now has two children and is 38 years. He shows me how he quick, with a steel tip draw on the back of an old palm leaf with old characters. With a little oil on his fingers, rub the drawing and now it emerged clearly. He now lives by restoring, draw and cut out a 'Eight Days Week Calendar' / According to Myanmar astrology calendar, there are eight days in a week. He repair and restore antique previous craft items. Some of Buddha figurines, he helps to cut out and the antique repairing and painting up. Many monks do this work.
Get tightened my chain and rear wheels, so I avoid chain leap of
Jan. 12 / Pindaya Cave / 9.000 Buddha figures
I've decided that today I will visit Pindaya Cave, which is 65 km. north of Nyaung Shwe.
The caves located in a limestone mountain rock. Only one is open to the public. It is 150 m. Long and contains more than 9.000 Buddha images in different sizes and styles from various eras from Kongbaung dynasty from the mid-18th century.
The caves located in a limestone mountain rock. Only one is open to the public. It is 150 m. Long and contains more than 9.000 Buddha images in different sizes and styles from various eras from Kongbaung dynasty from the mid-18th century.
This variety, of styles of Buddha figures from life-size to very small editions in materials such as brass, bronze, plaster, teak wood with gold leaf or white marble, suggesting that everyone, from the elite to the peasantry, have contributed to this unique collection of Buddha statues . Many also bear the name of the person who won it.
In a way fascinating, to move around in this gigantic 'Golden Buddha' Installation, between thousands of Buddha statues - but also scary, because I see only one Buddha/God or I see a thousand Gods.
In a way fascinating, to move around in this gigantic 'Golden Buddha' Installation, between thousands of Buddha statues - but also scary, because I see only one Buddha/God or I see a thousand Gods.
As a person in 'Alice in Wonderland/Buddha Land' I disappeared down into a time warp, where there was quiet as a tomb. Some places I had to twist myself between Buddha'erne totally pristine continued their symbolic introspective meditation.
Although the cave is huge, I get visual and spiritual breath-distress. I should like out in the open air, where I feel I can breathe freely.
After several weeks of travel around Myanmar, where I have seen and experienced so many variations of gold Buddhas, I can sense a psychological, physical and spiritual fullness.
Although the cave is huge, I get visual and spiritual breath-distress. I should like out in the open air, where I feel I can breathe freely.
After several weeks of travel around Myanmar, where I have seen and experienced so many variations of gold Buddhas, I can sense a psychological, physical and spiritual fullness.
Monk Monastery in Nyaung Shwe
Bjarne v.H.H.Solberg
Artist & Scenographer
BvHHS@email.DK
www.BvHHS.com
+45 30230036
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