Bagan, Myanmar (November 2006)

Bagan, Myanmar cover page.	Map of Myanmar with star indicating Bagan.	Entryway to the Shwezigone Pagoda.	The Shwezigone Pagoda was started by King Anawrahta in 1060 AD and completed by his son King Kyansittha.
It is a stupa with 3 terraces with glazed plaques at all 3.	Some of the interesting architecture surrounding the stupa at the Shwezigone Pagoda.	View of the entire stupa.	Golden flowers at the Shwezigone Pagoda.
Beautiful spires with a lion sculpture in the background.	A golden Buddha image at the the Shwezigone Pagoda.	The statue in front appears to be praying to the Buddha.	Old woman smoking a cheroot at the Shwezigone Pagoda.
She wasn't my girlfriend. She loved me only because I gave her a tip!	View of the Htilominlo Temple as we approached it. Bagan is one of the "Ancient Wonders of the World."	This large temple was built by King Nantaungmya in 1218. The temple is known to be the last Myanmar Style temple built in Bagan.	The name is a misreading of the Pali word for "Blessings of the Three Worlds".
King Nantaungmya built it on this spot in 1218 AD since it was here that he was chosen, from among 5 brothers, as crown prince.	Inside the 46-metre-high temple, there are four very tall Buddhas on the ground floor.	The four Buddhas were built every 90 degrees, facing the four cardinal points around the temple.	Closeup of one of the four Buddhas.
The second of the four Buddhas.	The third of the four Buddhas.	The fourth of the four Buddhas.	These are the gardens of a lovely outdoor restaurant (albeit, it was very hot) where we stopped to have lunch.
From our table, we had this view of the Ayeyarwaddy River.	Nice bird sculpture in the garden of the restaurant.	A flowering bouganvillia plant in the garden at the restaurant.	Tropical flower at the garden at the restaurant.
Me sitting on top of a very large rice bowl.	Buddha measuring 14 m. high in the Manuha Temple (built in 1067 by the defeated Mon King Manuha who was a captive of Anawrahta).	Me looking dwarfed by the Buddha inside the Manuha Temple.	Closeup of another Buddha inside the Manuha Temple. Notice the clasped hands in the foreground.
Statue of two figures holding a bell at Manuha Temple.	Male and female figures at the Manuha Temple.	There is a huge (90 ft. long) Reclining Buddha in a very cramped chamber in the back of the Manuha Temple.	The head points to the north which symbolizes the dying Buddha about to enter Parinibbana, the Demise.
Closeup of Buddha's head.	Entrance to the Bupaya Pagoda. Bupaya means "a gourd shaped pagoda" (a gourd is defined as "a hollow, dried shell of a fruit").	A guardian lion at the entrance to the Bupaya Pagoda.	The golden gourd-shape of Bupaya stupa. Most authorities date it from around 850 AD.
This Bupaya Pyu-style stupa is the oldest in Bagan. It tumbled into the river in the earthquake of 1975, but was rebuilt.	Looking down from the stupa are these ferry boats which cross the Ayeyarwaddy River.	On the other side of the river is Tantkyi Hill.	A ferry boat and Ayeyarwaddy River view with wispy clouds overhead.
A view of the Bupaya Pagoda from the river bank below. It is also used as a navigational beacon.	The Shwegugyi (“Great Golden Cave”) Temple which was built in 1140 AD by King Alaungsithu.	Panoramic view of Bagan from an upper terrace of Shwegugyi Temple.	Another landscape shot with a view of the Thatbyinnyu Temple.
The second spire in the far background is of the Ananda Pagoda.	Temples and pagodas among lush trees and plants.	Two modern-looking temples in the Bagan landscape.	View of the Mahabodhi Pagoda which was built by King Zeyatheinhka in 1215 AD.
The 61 meter high Thatbyinnyu Temple which was built by King Alaungsithu in 1144 AD.	The Thatbyinnyu Temple is the highest structure in Bagan. A beautiful panorama of Bagan can be seen from the top terrace.	Interior statues in the Thatbyinnyu Temple with colored lights.	Me standing in front of the large seated Buddha inside the Thatbyinnyu Temple.
Steep stairs to upper terraces of the Shwesandaw Pagoda (which is supposed to have holy relics of Buddha buried inside).	Here I am climbing the stairs. This little girl followed me up.	At the top of the pagoda, the 2 little girls were joined by an older friend.	View from the upper terrace of the Shwesandaw Pagoda.
View of other pagodas down below.	Notice how the storm clouds are coming in.	In addition to the storm clouds, the wind was picking up.	The storm clouds were looking increasingly threatening!