Sparkling Pagodas in Mandalay

I thought I’d had my fill of temples in Thailand, but oh boy, was I wrong. The pagodas in Myanmar were something else, particularly in Mandalay where there seems to be an especially high concentration of them!

On my first full day that I spent in Mandalay, I trod barefoot across the wooden floorboards of the 19th Century Shwenandaw Monastery

Walked amongst the white-washed shrines of the KuthodawPagodaa. Each shrine houses inscribed tablets, which together make up the world largest book…

My guide hilariously coached me through various poses as I looked “too boring”! He would tell me where to stand and constantly say “no no, like this” showing me how to stand and what to do.

I was half blinded by the sun glare bouncing off the golden stupa of the Sandamuni pagoda

I perched high above the city on the crumbling walls of an out of use pagoda that my guide took me to

Explored glistening temples decorated with mosaics of coloured tiles and mirrors

I then met a group of young female monks collecting alms…

and had my face painted with Thanaka

I finished the day by ringing the Mingun Bell (once the largest ringing bell in the world)

and being graciously hosted for a traditional dinner next to the river, which sounds rather lovely and romantic but in reality resulted in lots of bugs.