We decided to walk up Mandalay Hill to view the sunset. It is the top attraction in Royal Mandalay. At 16:00 hours, we took a taxi K4,000 to the entrance of the southern staircase, where barefoot, we walked up the covered stairways
through numerous pagodas and temples,
up 1,729 steps or 750 feet, to the summit.
One can cheat and take a taxi or TukTuk almost to the summit and use the elevator to make the final ascent! We were few - we met two couples en route but the summit was busy - not too busy - all these, including mainly tour groups, obviously took the easier route!
It was well worth the climb as we stopped for photos en route and passed through stupas
Kuthodaw and Sandamuni Paya in the distance the world’s biggest book! We visit tomorrow
There are plenty of seats to rest and enjoy the landscape as one climbs. It takes about an hour with stops.
We arrived. The monks were about. They like to practise their English with foreign visitors. We had arrived 30 minutes before sunset and what a glorious one it was!
The sky was clear and the sun’s reflection on the River was magnificent.
One had a 360* view of the city below.
We returned to the hotel. We had a delicious dinner here - made by the chef. We were the only customers but he cooked to perfection a fried noodle with vegetables and a sweet and sour chicken. We sat on the hotel’s roof top terrace on a warm and balmy night - looking across at the Royal Palace with its spectacular moat barely visible in the blackness of the night!
We have retired as I didn’t sleep much last night so I’m taking an early one tonight .......
This morning we decided to walk the block to the Royal Palace. The walkway by the moat was very beautiful and contrasted with the remainder of Mandalay’s foot paths!
The highlight of our visit to the Palace!
We arrived at the South Gate but foreigners must enter by the EAST gate so we had to take a public transport vehicle not unlike an army truck to the relevant gate. It is most economical to purchase a Combo Ticket (K10,000), which covers entrance to most sites in Mandalay and the Greater Mandalay area. One also must bring at least one passport, which is surrendered at the gate, while one is in the palace - the reason being that the Palace is situated in a military compound.
The Palace was reconstructed in 1990s and contains 40 Timber buildings built to resemble the 1850s original. There is a watch tower to climb.
The main attraction is the holy filigree above the main throne room
with the exception of the latter, the Palace is in a woeful state of disrepair.
The king’s bed
If you are on a short stay in Mandalay, I would forego the Palace but do take a stroll along part of the 4 miles of castellated 26ft high walls surrounded by a 230 ft wide moat.
A taxi took us to Kuthodaw Paya and en route, the taxi driver kindly drove through two other Payas, whose names I don’t recall, as though the locals speak some English here, it can be hard to understand them.
Kuthodaw was a fascinating site. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site - a site not to be missed.
Here you will discover 729 text inscribed marble slabs, each inside its own white Stupa. guarded by a grill Together they make up the 15 books of the Tripitaka.
Camera inside outer grill!!
Further down the road is Sandamuni Paya , an equally impressive 1774 marble slabs (collected in 1913) also enclosed in their individual stupas
Bamboo scaffolding on the Stupa - are they tempting Buddha ?
Together they are reputed to be the ‘World’s Biggest Book’
The Kuthodaw required an editorial committee of 200 monks in addition to having 2,400 monks read the book in a relay. It took 6 months to complete the reading!!
It is s fascinating place and well worth a visit. While there one of the monks commenced talking to CC . He knew Ireland and mentioned Dublin and Belfast. He was interested in hearing about the country ! Meanwhile I went native and allowed a lady to paint my face with a natural product they use as as sun protection
We were sitting at the exit when a Chinese lady came behind us and her friend took a photo of the three of us. They hadn’t a word of English but tentatively she gave me the thumbs up!!! When I smiled, she brought her friends over and took another photo They were from Shanghai. The tourists appear to be mainly Chinese with some Japanese all on tours.
We walked along the river, passing the restaurants where we dare not eat.
Our journey back to the hotel was in a high class Tuk Tuk (with doors)!!
A great day !
Tomorrow we take a car and driver and explore the environs of Mandalay.
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