Foot and Fire

Our guide, U Bo Ni, showed us the biggest temple called Dhammayangyi Temple. We were not able to get inside because we raced for the sunset and the other girls were bargaining for something outside. While waiting, I was able to have a lone successful photo in one of the windows of the temple with ornate details on it as well as admirable brick-laying too. *** Dhammayangyi Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Bagan, Myanmar. Largest of all the temples in Bagan, the Dhammayan as it is popularly known was built during the reign of King Narathu (1167-1170). Narathu, who came to the throne by assassinating his father Alaungsithu and his elder brother, presumably built this largest temple to atone for his sins. The Dhammayangyi is the widest temple in Bagan, and is built in a plan similar to that of Ananda Temple. Burmese Chronicles state that while the construction of the temple was in the process, the king was assassinated by some Indians and thus the temple was not co...

This is where I burned my soles to numbness, literally. We went out to adore the beauty of this huge temple with wide cemented area around it at round 3 pm (Philippine Time and 4:30 Myanmar Time). Since we have to walk a short distance barefoot, we have no choice but to hop, jump, brisk walk on the pavement. Our tour guide promoted this temple as the "prettiest temple" in Bagan aside from telling us that Ananda is the wisest disciple of Buddha. ***   History of this perfectly dimensioned temple structure built in 1105 is credited to King Kyanzittha. It denotes "the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period". The timing of building this temple is considered as a culmination of religious education that began during the Pahothanya temple building activity in 1080 AD. The Theravada Buddhism adopted by the King motivated him to present the teachings of Buddha to his people in an accurate and a genuine way through th...

We took time to pose with the children of Bagan who are selling postcards with photos of temples and faces of Mayanmarese as well as collection of their own drawings rendered in crayons. These children are very clever seller and they do this to help their parents since it's their break from class.  Without our knowing, we are leaning on another temple called, Shin-bin-tha-lyaung. It is just next to the foot of "Shwe-san-taw" pagoda and is a long building made of brick that shelters a statue of lying Buddha of 18 meters dating back to XI century. The head of the statue directs towards the south that represents the Buddha's resting. For the representation to entering " Nivana", the head pointed toward the North. (http://www.myanmarmtetours.com/) *** This is the Shwesandaw Pagoda away from the rays of the sun. This a Buddhist pagoda located in Bagan, of Myanmar, formerly Burma. It contains a series of five terraces, topped with a cylindrica...