Asia Trip - Day 5 - Rangoon, Burma

Fri

13

Explore Rangoon After breakfast at our hotel and a welcome briefing, we'll visit the Kalaywa Tawya monastery, where more than 1,000 novices and nuns examine the purity of Buddhist scripture and also conduct modern academic studies. After lunch at a local restaurant, we'll return to our hotel for some leisure time. Then, in the late afternoon, we'll head to Shwedagon Pagoda, often called the Golden Pagoda.Shwedagon is the most sacred pagoda in Burma, housing relics of the past four Buddhas—namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight hairs of Gautama. The pagoda dominates the city's skyline with its grandeur. Tonight, we'll enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner 3 of 4 nights PARK ROYAL YANGON HOTEL

Breakfast like yesterday in the hotel. The guide Ronald had told us to meet him in the lobby at 9:30 am afterwards. He lead us to a little conference room and we have a group orientation.
At 10:15 we are off in the bus to the Kalaywa Tawya Monastery and Orphanage. Monks are taking care and educating here more then 1400 children, some of them girls. Monastery lives says that you should have your last meal of the day at lunch time.

VIDEO!

The girls next door with the nuns! They also have their heads shaven.

A few yards down the road we stop for a photo opportunity of another of the abundance of golden pagodas. It's only 5 years old.

Sonyeon takes a look too to show William.

Driving to lunch we stop at the house where the politician Aung San Suu Kyi had been under house arrest for most of 20 years. She is the recipient of the 1991 Nobel Peace Award.
We had to dodge the traffic to cross the street to the front door for a peak through a small opening seeing nothing. Then we had to dodge the traffic crossing back which was by far the more excitement then the peek.

Lunch was just a few yards further at "The Green Elephants", which was really great. On arrival the first visit was to the "happy room" which was actually a "very happy room". The distinction in the name is made when they are western toilets. It was so clean that you immediately thought that you can enjoy the food.

And the food (typical Burmese we were told) was very nice including the vegetable soup with carrots and radish.

The tofu (chick peas) crackers went fast.

Dessert (was) baby bananas in coconut juice.

Another stop (which is actually on next day's itinerary) at the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, a massive reclining Buddha.
Lots of questions. Ronald tries to answer. And why does look Buddha so feminine? The size is unbelievable. What is the purpose? Are the people praying? To whom?

Monks with cell phones taking a picture of a girl in a yellow dress? She posed. And then of the Buddha.

Sonyeon is amazed. He thinks William would be too.

Here is a big sign explaining the meaning of the signs on the feet.

I was fascinated by the eyelashes.

Back in the bus looking towards where we had to take our shoes off. We are always given towelettes to clean our soles before putting them back on later. All very efficient.

Back to the hotel for a little rest. James went for a swim. I try to pull pictures over and blog. No chance. The Internet is not cooperating. I finally give up. Seems I will get behind.

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I finished this blog early this morning. This time it seams to be Blogsy not cooperating. When I wanted to upload it crashed about a dozen times. There might be going to be a part 2 for this day! Keep you fingers crossed that it lets me upload this.

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