I take to Blue Skies in Hot-Air Balloon. Burma/ Mynamar Travels. nguptatravelscrapbook.blogspot.com
Blog number 5. I take to Blue Skies in Hot Air Ballon, Burma/ Mynamar Travels. nguptatravelscrapbook.blogspot.com
For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards. For there you have been and there you will long to return.- Leonardo da Vinci
The current Covid Status in the UK 25.10.2020Most of the South East, including Esher, is in tier 2 of the second lockdown.
Bagan attained the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
Ancient Bagan, as we still call it, is all about its miracle Sunrise and Sunsets over Irrawaddy river and streaming of pagodas, stupas and temples. Almost 4000 in number, some are decaying, damaged or ruined by natural calamities. Since our visit back in January 2016, there was a significant earthquake in August 2016, demolishing a further embodiment of approx 400 pagodas, now under the care of a restoration project.
Axle sounds of Bullock carts, Echo across Bagan's heart, Temple number, the sum is tough. Bagan/Mynamar
- A famous Burmese saying
The above two pictures (Bullock cart and bird's-eye view of temples) endorse this famous Burmese saying!
Our early morning flight from Yangon to Bagan took just over an hour (Yangon to Bagan is approx 300 miles, north-eastwards) reaching Bagan at sunrise. We savoured our packed breakfast on board and relished it, comprising delicious pastries and fresh fruits. As the aircraft approached Bagan, we saw the stupefying spectre of assorted hot air balloons flying in blue skies in the background of Ayeyarwady river (originally called Irrawaddy river), dispersed villages and red-bricked pagodas, on a striking canvas of the rising Sun.
When you open a map of Bagan, one can't stop being overwhelmed with the entry of many pagodas on it with distinctive names. But the guide came in handy, who reassured us we were not going around spotting for all these temples. Relief! Yvette, our guide, selected one temple nestled high up where we had to crawl up the narrow staircases to reach to watch the mystic views of Bagan in the early morning.
The Stupas or pagodas are mostly red brick monuments, mushrooming up everywhere in an area of 30 sq miles covered with small villages, farming lands and bushlands. Most of the world sites can bring massive tourism based on just one pagoda, Why they built so many pagodas? The answer is unknown.
They were first built around 1050 AD over two centuries when there was a tremendous building boom in Bagan.
Many of them are ancient, majestic and grand with relics. I could compare these relics and monuments with Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Borobudur Temple in Java, Indonesia, having visited them in the past.
In two days, we visited four pagodas, including the first one on arrival and named Minyeingon Temple. We saw other Pagodas, including personal activities of worshipping in Ananda Temple, the most famous of all. Ananda Temple is the most preserved, most revered and crowded temple, deserving a top slot on the list of pagodas or temples. We visited Shwezigon Pagoda, in the evening before our dinner, where a Burmese music concert was being held on a full moon night. Thatbyinnyu Temple, the tallest temple in Bagan, opens in the afternoons to climb up for stunning sunset views across the paddocks, green lands and pasturelands. The staircases were steep and tall with no hand railings, making ascend to the top of the temple rather scary for most of us. But the sunset views at the top were to die for and worth all the efforts. It was definitely my favourite temple because the white temples were rare and hence it made a pleasant change from the rest of the red-bricked buildings. It is not permissible to wear shoes and socks while visiting the pagodas or temples anywhere in Burma. Be cautious when visiting these temples in the daytime when walking is rather difficult on hot floors and sidewalks.
Experience of Hot-Air Balloon safari
आसमानों में उड़ने की आशा (Desires to fly in the skies)
A balloon safari is an ultimate and unforgettable way to experience Bagan’s innate beauty. I would highly recommend Balloons over Bagan. The roughly 50 -minute flights leave at dawn and drift over much of the site with vast views of the river and distant mountains, covered in a misty haze, with a bird's-eye view of the temples and rural life. The various Balloon safari companies work closely with the local communities, using local workers and investing money into the communities you fly over during your trip.
Our pilot was knowledgeable about the local area, friendly, and funny. The team gave us a crash induction talk with the procedure of how to ascend into the famous wicker basket (as we call it). They configured us into groups of four individuals with 16 to occupy each basket. From pick up, to pre-flight coffee and biscuits, through the entire flight, to champagne and breakfast after landing - the entire experience was supernatural and most harmonious. I felt as if I am standing in the balcony of a tower block, floating smoothly and gently over the fields and pagodas. The landing was so smooth that we didn't even realise it. The Balloon safari company presented us with tee shirts and caps as souvenirs at the end of our experience along with flight certificates. Shear fun!
I have posted a few pictures taken during the balloon safari, some of which I got enlarged professionally, to put on my pictures wall at my home.
Balloons getting fired up in preparation of the flight.
Up the balloons go
Water wells Project in Bagan
Many rural regions in Burma often suffer from 3 to 4 months of water shortages as droughts continue on every year. Khiri Foundation constructs primary wells providing poverty-stricken areas, freshwater for the daily usage.
It integrates local leaders first to assess, followed by the maintenance of the project after the construction of wells.
After watching a presentation by the community leader, our team volunteered to donate (in local currency) to this noble cause, at the village community office.
Delightful ....pagodas and hot air Baloon ...Antiquity seen through modern lens
ReplyDeleteThank you beta. Pl click on Follow ( Top Rt Hand) to become a follower here!
DeleteBeautifully written mum / the champagne breakfast sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteBalloon flying was the de novo experience
DeleteTrue talent unraveling. Enjoyable informative. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteAnil, thank you for boosting me up!
DeleteNirmal, your Burma pictures I feel are exclusive. Differentiation of Pagoda and stupa is novel to me. Lovely write up.
ReplyDeletePraveen, you have led me into this. Thank you.
DeleteHot air balloon safari was an altogether worldly experience for me too. I was always tempted to go for such a ride in Delhi where sometimes certain enthusiast were seen at famous India gate lawns, doing limited trips and terribly expensive. But while on my trip to Egypt, we were offered this activity as an additional one besides the regular itinerary. The experience in the early cold morning air was very mesmerizing indeed. All wrapped up in jackets , caps and gloves as if its going to snow, up in the sky !!! The difference as I see now from your account, was that the champagne after the flight was missing !!! Prabably should ride again to get this offer!
ReplyDeleteSuch a detailed account of your balloon safari in Cairo. Loved it. It indeed is a very enriching experience.
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