Mayo 14 / May 14

La primera parada fue el Monasterio de la Culebra, que es reconocido por el tamaño de la culebra Python que tiene. Nunca habíamos visto algo parecido. Comparada con las culebras del zoológico de Australia esta es el doble de grande. Hacía poco había mudado piel y midió 7 metros (yo la medí personalmente porque no podía creerlo).  Los peregrinos vienen al templo con sus ofrendas y a donar dinero para el cuidado de la culebra.

La segunda parada fue la pagoda Shwemawdaw.  Tienen 114 metros de altura y es la más alta de Myanmar (Birmania).  Hay unas estatuas muy grandes a la entrada que cuidan del templo.

También visitamos la Pagoda de Mya Thar Lyaung, que tiene una estatua de Buda acostado.

Después visitamos la Pagoda Shwe Thar Lyaung, que también tiene un Buda acostado.  Este es más largo que el anterior y mide 55 metros.

Finalmente fuimos a la pagoda Mahazedi o Maharzayti, desafortunadamente las mujeres no pueden subir a la cima de la pagoda, entonces Marcela tuvo que quedarse abajo.  Nos quedamos para el atardecer, pero no hubo mucho que ver.  Cuando baje me di cuenta que me estaban esperando para cerrar las puertas; afortunadamente uno de los peregrinos le había dicho al encargado que todavía "había un turista arriba tomando fotos".

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We left Hpa-An at 9:30am on May 14 on a bus to Bago.  It took us around 5 and a half hours to reach Bago.  We arrived at the bus station (better known as side of the road) and took a couple of motorcycles that brought us to the hotel.

Since we had limited time in Bago we quickly checked-in at the hotel, left our backpacks and got a tuk-tuk to take us around.

The first stop was the Snake Monastery, which is well known for having a massive Python sneak.  I have never seen anything like that.  Compared with the sneaks in the Australian Zoo this one is around twice the size.  She shed skin recently and it measures 7 meters long (I measured it because I did not believe it).  Most pilgrims come to the temple to perform their offerings as well as donate money to the snake.

The second stop was at Shwemawdaw Pagoda.  Its 114 meters height make it the tallest in Myanmar (Burma).  There are a couple of big statues at the entrance guarding the temple.

We then visited Mya Thar Lyaung Pagoda, which contains a reclining Buddha.

The next stop was Shwe Thar Lyaung Pagoda, which also contains a reclining Buddha.  This one is a lot longer than the previous one, measuring 55 meters.

Finally, we went to Mahazedi or Maharzayti Pagoda.  Unfortunately women are not allowed to climb to the top of the pagoda, so Marcela had to stay at the bottom.  We stayed for sunset… although there was not much sunset.  Once I came down I found that they were waiting for me to lock the doors… fortunate enough one of the pilgrims had notified the security that “there was a tourist still up there taking pictures”.

Monasterio de la Culebra, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Snake Monastery, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Monasterio de la Culebra, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Snake Monastery, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Monasterio de la Culebra, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Snake Monastery, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Shwemawdaw, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mya Thar Lyaung, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mya Thar Lyaung Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mya Thar Lyaung, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mya Thar Lyaung Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mya Thar Lyaung, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mya Thar Lyaung Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mya Thar Lyaung, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Shwe Thar Lyaung Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mahazedi o Maharzayti, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mahazedi o Maharzayti Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mahazedi o Maharzayti, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mahazedi o Maharzayti Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagoda Mahazedi o Maharzayti, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

Mahazedi o Maharzayti Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)

Vista desde Pagoda Mahazedi o Maharzayti, Bago, Myamar (Birmania)

View from Mahazedi o Maharzayti Pagoda, Bago, Myanmar (Burma)