Bagaya Monastery
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 27 Nov 2017 23:17
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Bagaya Monastery
   After a very long, very bumpy journey
with Nanya (our horse with the cart), we arrived at our first stop, the Bagaya
Monastery situated at what felt like the end of a long drive. Of course we had
to run the gauntlet of traders selling everything from clothes, jewellery, teak,
trinkets, postcards and cans, rock hard discipline and offers of low prices got
me through (they target me more than Bear, must be your
kindly face – pull the other one, do.....). I went to the top of the steps to wait for Bear who went to get our
Archaeological Zone Passes, good for this district and Mandalay, five pounds and
fifty pence each.
  To our left was a post that was swarming with mosquitos, the smell of the teak in the hot
afternoon sun was almost like creosote. The creatures seemed to be drinking the
aroma in and had not the slightest interest in the new influx of human tissue.
No arguments from me, another thing that never bothers Bear.
 We stepped over a plank, about a foot
in height and found ourselves in quite a musty smelling room. High, high
ceiling, impressive teak posts and many, many
bookcases.
 Along the hallway was a very young,
modern-looking Buddha.
   A massive space, many posts and an ornately framed
Buddha.
 We went toward a noise at the far end
of this section. There was a head of a resident monk
(just visible) watching his television.
  Outside, looking in, a happy clutter. The monk’s satellite
dish, not something we thought we would see.
 Ornate doorframe
detail.
  The exits in the
two back corners were very crumbly.
 We had to watch our step with some of the planks in bad shape.
  The far
side under the pagoda was much more ornate.
   Looking up,
creosote ??? a very worn bit.
  The outer posts
all have concrete caps. I
slip my flip flops back on and nip down the steps while Bear gets his shoes on,
an unusual sight has caught my eye..........
 ..........a lady
carrying a bag of cement on her head as a monk looks on. The
loader on the truck is another lady.
  They take a breather, I take a picture of the
monastery.................
 ......off she goes
once more.
 Back to our trusty
little steed and guess who's at the steering
wheel.........
.
ALL IN ALL INCREDIBLE
WOODWORK
AMAZINGLY BIG PIECES OF
WOOD |