The day I set off to view the sunset the clouds rolled up and there was no spectacular cloud formations or color to gaze upon, but ....serendipity saved the day. The people interaction far surpassed any view.
I came across two ways to see the sunset.
The first, sedately enjoying a sundowner under charming handmade Burmese umbrellas on a knoll overlooking the pagodas and temples, which I found a little sterile, so under the direction of my guide we climbed the Shwesandaw Pagoda.
Charming, delightful, authentic,yes, but I was missing the interaction, the vibrancy of the land, the heartbeat of the people
Climbing the pagoda can be challenging. Steep narrow, dark and lit with naked candles make for a wary and cautious ascent and decent, but oh so worth it.
On my next trip to Bagan I'll prepare with ski excercises to ensure my legs can handle all the climbing.
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| Note the horse-drawn carriages as a preferred form of transportation |
These children and their parents far surpassed any spectacular sunset.
