Wednesday 23^rd February

Away at 8.30 to see Mount Popa – probably the least interesting part of the trip.  A long drive, but at least we had some interesting conversations with Zor while we were driving.  He is very involved in community work, and has a web site through which people can make donations.

 http://www.generosityinaction.org/  

We passed several villages where they had managed to dig wells – very useful in the incredibly dry and dusty time we were there.

Just before Mount Popa we stopped for the view, and saw the first of many monkeys.  Got to Mount Popa and had a look at the Nats, representing local spirits.  Interesting to see spirits who smoked and drank Scotch!  We then started to walk up to the top, but found half way up that we had seen enough of the view, and more than enough monkey dirt, and monkeys, so we turned back.  Another long drive back to Nyaung U, for lunch at BBB, again a pretty restaurant. 

One more stop, to the Ananda temple, where I was happy to buy some pale green lacquer ware, which I had been looking for.  Back to the hotel for another rest

We were out again at 4.30 to see an un-named temple (no. 820), normally not open, with original images from the 11^th century.  As interesting as the temple was the situation – since it’s rather isolated, a woman was given a house next to the temple so that she could be the caretaker.  A bit of a strange life, in the middle of the temples of Bagan, but she seemed content.