By now we were learning not to speak to all the children who followed us, but they still followed anyway.  The last stop was a visit to the Buddhist Infirmary, a nursing home for elderly with no family.  It’s interesting that this is on the tourist itinerary, but it is unusual for Myanmar, as older people are usually looked after by their families, and so this type of home is very uncommon. 

Back on the boat to an attractive restaurant by the river, where we had quite a good lunch.  By now we were usually having curry with cashews, tempura vegetables, rice and beer. 

In the afternoon we went by various workshop areas with wood carving, stone carving, and embroidery.  My lungs were suffering after a few minutes with the stone carvers, most of whom were not, of course wearing any masks or protection.  I hesitate to think what their lungs look like after a few years.

On to the Temple of the Living Buddha (Kyauktasgyi Paya), with a 900 tonne Buddha, and to the wooden Shwenandaw Kyaung monastery, once part of the palace complex.  Then to   ‘the world’s biggest book’ with its 729 marble slabs, on which are inscribed the 15 books of the Tripitaka.  However, soon after we arrived, we had our only problem with ‘tourist tummy’ and decided it was better to head back to the hotel.

A quick drive back to the hotel, where some local rehydrating salts’ and our Western medicines seemed to do the trick, but we decided our sightseeing was over for that day.