2015 - THE IRRAWADY of MYANMAR - The Mingun bell

HEADING UP RIVER TO MINGUN TO SEE THE FAMOUS BELL ..

WE PASS THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE ..

BEFORE GETTING TO THE BELL, WE GET A CLOSE UP LOOK AT WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST STUPA IN THE WORLD, BUT UNCOMPLETED, WE ARE TOLD IT MAY NOW BE THE LARGEST PILE OF BRICKS ..

... IMPRESSIVE ALL THE SAME ..

MARIANNE - LOOKING FRESH AS A DAISY, IN FRONT OF SOME MORE PILGRIMS ... THEY SURE DO GET PACKED INTO, & ONTO, THOSE TRUCKS ..

A FEW FOOD SELLERS AT THE ENTRANCE -- WE TURN LEFT AND START THE WALK AROUND THE BUILDING .. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE RIGHT AT THE VERY TOP & I AM REALLY SORRY I DID NOT GO UP THERE TOO ...

PERHAPS THIS IS THE PILE OF BRICK THAT WAS MENTIONED ..

AT THE BACK NOW & THE CRACK CAUSED BY AN EARTHQUAKE IS CLEARLY VISIBLE ..

AFTER GOING RIGHT AROUND THE STUPA, IT IS ONLY STEPS TO THE LARGEST UN-CRACKED BELL IN THE WORLD - Mr SO, TRYING HIS BEST TO CRACK IT ON THE LEFT ...

MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE - THE KIDS ARE PLAYING ..

SHE DOES NOT SEEM TOO IMPRESSED ..

MIKE PROBABLY HAD A GO AT RINGING THE BELL.

AND HERE IS THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE BELL ..

ANOTHER ONE NOT TOO IMPRESSED ..

AND THE KIDS PLAY ON ..

WE WALK DOWN THE STREET PASSING QUITE A LOT OF SOUVENIR SHOPS ..

AND COME ACROSS THIS STUNNING BUILDING ...

I HAD A SAW LIKE THAT ONCE. GREAT FUN TO MAKE IT SING ..

MOST PEOPLE WENT OVER THE BUILDING BUT I SAT IN THE SHADE WITH JACKIE & HAD A DRINK OF SOMETHING COLD ... JACKIE HAS BY NOW PARTIALLY RECOVERED FROM THE DREADED LURGIE THAT AFFECTED A FEW OF THE PASSENGERS . BUT NOT THE KENYANS WHO HAVE NOW DEPARTED. THEY WERE RUMOURED TO HAVE DRUNK 32 BOTTLES OF COMPLIMENTARY GIN BETWEEN THEM WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN IT ..

LOVELY TOES ...

AND YES - THAT IS A CHICKEN IN THE LADIES LAP ..

SITTING THERE, I HAD A GIRL FANNING ME & SHE DID THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET BUT STILL DID NOT MAKE A SALE I AM AFRAID.

I HEADED FOR SOME SHADE & A NICE CUP OF TEA HERE. THAT IS SOME SORT OF PRESS BEHIND THE LITTLE GIRL ..

BACK TO THE BOAT - TOURISTS ARRIVING AS WE GET READY TO LEAVE ..

I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TAXI ..

WE HEAD NORTH ... PASSING MORE LIFE ON THE RIVER. THINGS YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO SEE ANYWHERE ELSE ..

THESE PEOPLE ARE STUCK ON A SAND BAR ...

HE IS CHECKING THE DEPTH ..

& SHE IS TELLING EVERYONE WHAT TO DO ..

ANOTHER ONE STUCK - ONE OF OUR COMPANION SHIPS

WE SPEND A WHILE HAULING THEM OFF THE SAND BAR ..

WE STRUCK A SAND BAR AS WELL. QUITE THE SHOCK WHEN THE BOAT GRINDS SUDDENLY TO A HALT.

THIS IS THE PILOTS HELPER. HE GOES OUT IN FRONT OF OUR BOAT CHECKING THE DEPTH.

MORE RIVER LIFE ..

STANDING ROOM ONLY ON THE FERRY .. PACKED IN LIKE CATTLE YOU COULD SAY ..

AND SO ENDS ANOTHER GREAT DAY ON THE AYERWADDY RIVER. YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOME TIME SOON.