January 10th, 2007 
Sheila Simkin Headed back down Golden Rock on the trucks and drove back to Yangon for the evening. …View image… Flew Air Mandalay early the next morning from Yangon and started our sightseeing with a visit to Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Burma
Lunch at the Silver Sky Restaurant, on to the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Ayeyarwady (the famous “road to Mandalay...”) and Myitnge Rivers. We visited Ava by horse cart (you could also walk although the distances were great or even take a bullock cart). … View image…The ruins of a brick and stucco monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung) is the main site.
You’d think I’d be tired of looking at Pagodas/Stupas/Temples by now…but I wasn’t. My favorites are always the overgrown, crumbling ones…extremely picturesque. Passing through the ancient city walls, we visited Maha Aungmye Bonzan (what a mouthful..don’t ever ask me to pronounce anything other than Shwedagon) and Bagaya Kyaung, an old teak wood monastery, built in 1834with bats flying around the rafters.
In the afternoon, a walk over the U-Bein bridge made entirely of teak and over and a half-mile long. I enjoyed watching the duck farmers along the edge of the river. …View image…(One of the reasons we usually travel by ourselves is how many people do you know that are interested in watching duck farmers?…
or children playing with locusts and caterpillars on leaves…)
One last sight on this busy day. Amarapura, founded by King Bodawpaya in 1783 as his new capital. Amarapura was the capital city of Myanmar, during the Konbaung Dynasty and remained the capital until King Mindon shifted the capital to Mandalay in 1860. I’m really not sure if the following photos were taken in Ava or Amarapura but if you visit these areas, you’ll recognize them.
Amarapura Buddha in Myanmar Burma
Another Amarapura Buddha in Myanmar Burma
This Burmese man had an usually method of threshing ears of corn. He operated a wooden foot pedal, the grains slid down a chute, and his animals ate the grain right out of the basket.
More than enough sights for one day. Dinner at Ko’s Kitchen Thai Restaurant, some sleep at the Mandalay City Hotel (our home for two nights), and get ready for another day of sightseeing…
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Good Morning Sheila,
Have a Happy Happy Happy
Birthday!!!
Blessings.
Kimberly Spear
Happy Birthday Sheila!
Joel told us —- what a wonderful son you have!
Have a wonderful birthday!
Skeeter
Happy Birthday Sheila –
what a life you are living. Joel ratted on you so have a Good One!
Cheers
Nicola
Nicola Cairncross
Wealth Coach
The Money Gym
Happy Birthday Sheila!!
Have a wonderful birthday and many more in the future.
warm regards,
Jimmy
Happy Birthday!
From Croatia
Joel sent me too! Happy birthday!!
Many happy returns on the day Shiela. May you be blessed with love, joy and abundant travels during 2007.
Eat a slice of cake for me :0)
Diane
Many Many Happy Returns of the Day!!
Wish you a wonderful BIRTHDAY.
Regards
Athilat
Just got the e-mail from Joel… =D Happy Birthday!
David Wilkinson
http://www.techzi.net/
Love your site. Must be nice to travel all the time. Thanks for sharing this with everyone.
Steve Renner
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Shiela.
Joel let it slip.
Best Wishes
Adrian (UK)
Happy Birthday Sheila!
You only get one birthday a year. In my family my differently-abled daughter
started a new tradition. She has a birthday month. So have a Happy Birthday Month,
milk it for all you can.
Winn
Happy Birthday, Sheila…
Joel let the cat out of the bag – That sneaky fellow!
Enjoy your special day to the MAX.
Deborah
SHEILA ,
HEARD YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY TODAY!HAVE A BLESSED BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE !
MUCH KINDNESS,
FROM UPSTATE NY
TRACY
I wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday! I wish my mom is still as energetic as you. She is now 87 years old and suffering from early stages of Alzheimer’s desease. And I love her so much! Best wishes on your Birthday and may you have many more birthdays to come!
Sheila,
Joel told us.
Happy Birthday !!
What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday.
Travelling to exotic places. I hope all the birthday wishes will brighten up your journey.
Warm Regards,
Adrian Poermandya
Click here for an easy way to do Video Blogging
Happy Birthday and many happy returns, Sheila.
LOVE your blog!
Cheers,
Rosalind
(Friend and colleague of Joel’s and fellow travel blogger.)