Reclining Buddha | Our Adventures

There is one paved road connecting the cities of New Bagan, Old Bagan, and Nyaung U, all other roads are dirt. Most people live in the little villages throughout the area in small homes with woven mat walls and bamboo support.

Life moves at a gentle pace. No one is in a hurry.

Smiles are plentiful.

Goats are herded through towns and from field to field.

Things are done the way they have been for hundreds of years.

And then there are the temples, a few thousand temples. And they are all open to explore. There are no fees to pay, each open to explore, to worship in, to make memories. The large ones are busy, visited by tour buses, surrounded by vendors. Others rarely visited, just you and the temple, the wind, the birds.

Ananda Temple
Built in 1091, the Ananda temple is the jewel of the Bagan temples. It is probably the best preserved and most beautiful temple in all Bagan. The spires are covered in gold as well as the Buddhas, all four of them. An interesting fact…the architecture was so unique, so special, that the King executed all the architects so they would never replicate or surpass the temple. This was one of those temples visited by the masses. Lots of vendors, tour buses, ever so popular.

: Beautiful, beautiful temple.

: Golden dome

: Framed with an entry gate.

: Hallways around the temples.

: One of the golden Buddhas

: Special private areas.

: Love the architecture.

Dhammayangyi Temple

The largest of all the temples. It was built by King Narathu, the tyrant King. Narathu was second in line to be King, so to change that he first killed his older brother and then his father. Now King he felt a bit guilty so he decided to build the largest of all temples. During the building, he kept his ruthless ways. He would test the way the bricks fitted together…if a pin could be placed between the bricks it meant to him the slave was not worthy and was put to death. After the temple was built, he tired of his wife and had her killed. When the father-in-law got word of his daughter’s death, he sent assassins dressed as merchants to meet with Narathu. Once given audience with the King, they chopped him to pieces and then killed themselves. Dhammayangyi is known also as the haunted temple…so many deaths, gruesome murders.

: Massive walls of this temple.

: No pin can fit here…slave lived to make a few more bricks

: Golden Buddha.

: Entry way…

: Puppets for sale outside temple.

: Hallways with towering ceilings.

: Welcome to the temple.

Manuha Temple
This temple seemed claustrophobic….the Buddhas filled the entire space..I could barely get by the toes. It was built to honor their king who was held captive in a nearby kingdom. The Buddhas are as cramped and uncomfortable as their captive King. Only the reclining Buddha has a smile,a smile one would have entering death, depicting death as the only release their King would enjoy. When Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, was released from house arrest, this temple was the one of the first places she visited.

: Unsmiling towering Buddha.

: Had to squeeze by the toes.

: Death is something to smile about.

: Reclining Buddha.

: Statues on the grounds of the temple.

Shwesandaw Pagoda

The temple many go to watch the sun rise or set. Steep, steep climb to the top level and the views are tremendous…360 degree views of the surrounding temples and toward the Irrawaddy River flowing cold and strong all the way from the Himalayas. Right next door I found a nondescript building holding a simple but elegant reclining Buddha.

: So tall !!!

: Time to get some exercise!!!

: So steep…the climb was not for the faint of heart.

: View to the Irrawaddy River

: We had the same haircut!!!

: Baby monk.

: Building next door held the reclining Buddha

: Simple reclining Buddha.

: Peaceful Buddha.

Misc. Temples Big and Small

: Quiet temple ….no one around.

: Buddha in every temple…no matter how big or small.

: In the middle of a dry and dusty field.

: Loved climbing up to the upper levels.

: Like Disneyland !!!

: Welcome…come explore.

: Each temple unique.

: Beautiful.

: Elegant Buddha.

: I went up every stairwell…no matter how tiny and cramped.

: Small temples were awesome.

: One of my favorite temples…as I walked the corridors doves flapped their wings above and cooed….

: Temples in groups.

: Outstanding in the field.

: This one just looks OLD.

: Spectacular!!!

I am in love with Bagan….with the people, the temples, the simple way of life. It is a jewel, one I’m afraid will be tarnished in years to come. I am so lucky to have experienced this special spot on this planet of ours. Truly lucky.

I am back in Bangkok, recruitment time. After two days of interviewing, wining and dining candidates, I needed a little break.

I jumped on one the the water taxis. Forty baht (about $1.20) for a one-way trip from the Tha Santon Dock to the Tha Chang Dock #9 on the Chao Phraya River. These ferries are fast and crowded, sardine crowded. They pull into the dock, allow a pushing crowd to depart, and then those waiting on the dock make a mad scramble onto the boat. I never saw the attendants counting but all of a sudden they will put a stop to the flow of embarkers, a whistle is blown, the dock ropes removed, and off the boat goes…all in less than five minutes. If you’re not pushy you don’t get on and you wait about 10 minutes or so for the next boat. (I was way too polite the first time….second time I was elbow to elbow with everyone else.)

I have to admit, as I was crammed next to little old Thai lady, who kept stepping on my feet, and a family from China, I kept thinking of all those ferries you hear about capsizing because they were too crowded. Only way to get that thought out of my head was to focus on taking pictures of the river. We stopped at every dock (about 8 of them) and the same on/off process was repeated. Actually was pretty fun watching the flow of passengers.

: Homes along the way.

: Who needs a level floor?

: River living

: Long tail boats at dock.

: Crazy busy river…boats EVERYWHERE.

: The Chao Praya is not your pristine-type waterway.

: A River Taxi.

: A little crowded?

: Engines on the long-tail boats

: These things just fascinated me.

: Look at the size of the engine!!!!

Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is situated just off the Chao Phraya river. The Palace is in a walled 218,400 square meter site and the first buildings were erected in 1782 when the capital was moved from Thonburi to Bangkok by Rama I. The very best artists were gathered from each area over the country and they competed with each other over their skills. Successive kings built onto the original site.In 1925 the Royal Family stopped calling the palace their home but many official events are still held here. To enter you must have long pants and women must have their shoulders covered. I was warned not to talk to or make eye contact with anyone outside the gates. There are multiple scammers preying on the unsuspected…I had one man tell me they wouldn’t let me in with my flip-flops but he had shoes to sell me, “very cheap”. I didn’t bite and had no trouble entering with my flip-flops. Another told me I was heading in the wrong direction and if I would only get in his TukTuk he would bring me to the correct gate. Again, I didn’t bite and easily found the gate half a block up the road. People have to make a living.

The Grand Palace consists of four parts;
The outer part is the civil and military headquarters, the central is the King’s living quarters, the inner part is for female members of the royal family and their attendants, and another area is the royal temples.

I was unable to take pictures inside the temples and the Emerald Buddha, but was able to capture most of the exterior. Quite a sight.

: Mounted guards outside the entry gates

: First sight upon entering the palace grounds

: Reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. There is even a replica of Angkor Wat in the courtyard.

: Part of the palace

: One of the demon guards, called a Yak.

: These demons never look too happy.

: Golden dome.

: Reflecting the afternoon sun.

: Many towers.

: Another large dome.

: Lots of gold and glass tiles.

: Multiple statues around the grounds.

: The huge golden chedi where Buddha’s ashes or bones are enshrined.

: Closeup of the tile-work

: Close up of the artwork

: Tiles and carvings.

: Golden statue of Apsonsi, the upper body of a woman and the bottom of a bird.

: Close-up.

: More statues.

: Demons, called Kruts.

: Krut close-up

: Kind of looks like he’s smoking a couple of cigars.

: Hallways around the Emerald Buddha hallway.

: Not sure the name of this guy but though he was picture perfect.

: Beer belly? Or just a Buddha Belly?

: More of the palace buildings.

: Murals adorn most of the walls.

: Mural close-ups

: More mural close-ups

: Beautiful Thai woman

: Close-up

: Palace guards…only necessary movements made. They put up with hundreds upon hundreds of tourists standing next to them to get their picture taken.

: Quite the beard.

: More palace buildings

: Peaceful elephant

: One of the doors.

: Palace taken just inside the gates.

Wat Pho – Home of the Reclining Buddha

Just around the corner from The Grand Palace is Wat Pho. This Buddhist Temple is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, but its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan…..now you know why they call it Wat Pho. Besides the resting Buddha, Wat Pho is also the birthplace of the Thai Massage.

The image of reclining Buddha is massive. He is 50 feet tall and over 140 feet long. His feet are 15 feet long and are inlaid with mother of pearl. When you enter the building housing the Buddha, you are given a cloth bag where you place your shoes and hat. You carry these with you. When you come to the feet and begin your walk along Buddha’s back, there are 108 bronze bowls along the wall. For a small donation you get a plastic cup full of coins to drop into the bowls. Clink, clink, clink…it sounds like a pachinko parlor with everyone dropping in coins. It is believed if you drop a coin into each bowl you will have good luck. I will be having good luck!!!

: Reclining Buddha

: The face

: Resting on right hand.

: I’m watching you!!!

: Almost touches the ceiling.

: Buddha.

: Resting.

: Looks pretty content.

: The feet

: Buddha.

: Long view.

: The long length of the Buddha.

: The toes.

: The bottom of the feet.

: Coins to put into the brass bowls

: Buddha’s hair.

: The back of Buddha’ head

: The backside of Buddha.

Wat Arum – The Temple of Dawn

After Wat Pho, I jumped on a cross-river ferry to visit Wat Arum or The Temple of Dawn. (Real name: Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan….I’m so glad they shortened them) This is a Buddhist temple and the tall tower reflects the beams of the morning sun. (thus the name) It towers 282 feet and you can climb these incredibly steep stairs to two different levels affording you magnificent views of the river and city beyond. The stair climb is not for anyone afraid of heights or steep climbs..I mean these guys are almost vertical and it helps to have long legs for they are a good 18 inches tall, each one. You are winded when you get to the top. Short skirts are definitely not advised when climbing these stairs!!!! This temple was built in the early 1800’s and most of the carvings are out of stone. Pretty spectacular.