Restored after lunch and more cold beer, we saw the Kaunghmudaw Paya, with an enormous white dome.  Or formerly white. It is in the process of being painted gold, apparently to the irritation of a number of local residents.  All the other pagodas have gold leaf or gold paint, and this was known for being white.  It was an interesting time to visit, because some of the roof was still white, some was orange, the base for the gold paint, and some had already been painted gold.  The painters, strung from a rope along the side of the roof, looked very hot!

Then to Umin Thounzeh, with 45 Buddhas all in a row, and the Soon U Ponya Shin Paya, with great views of Mandalay, and large bronze frogs which serve as collection boxes – along with other bronze hares, they represent Buddha’s various lives.

Once again we were exhausted, but enjoyed the drive back to Mandalay past mountains of watermelons.  Kyaw Ngwe stopped to buy one, and also stopped to explain the blossom of a local tree (Bombax ceiba) to Harry.