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My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy a bit of what I learned and see some of what I saw. So here we go. . .
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| Began Beauty |
Bagan is the land of a ten thousand stupas and temples. And I’d call it the Switzerland of Burma. It’s immaculate. Signs along the road read, A Non-Plastic Bag Area. And, for the most part, it is.
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| Some Stupas of Bagan |
Bamboo sprouts everywhere in Burma and at an alarming rate. It can grow 2-3′ in a single day. See how it shot up just while Wyn was telling us how fast bamboo grows.
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| My guide, Wyn, is telling how fast this stuff grows. |
Something that just came up yesterday!!!! Crystal Kites are now open around the U.S. SCBWI Golden Kite Award. If you’re a member, you can vote now. Good gravy, what a time for this to happen.
"the land of a ten thousand stupas and temples" and gorgeous too!
Great pics, Lee!
Bagan looked amazing! Wow!
Popped in to wish you luck with the challenge. Your pictures are very good by the way and good luck with the award votes, You deserve one. Blessings from South Africa, Geoff.
Love your quiz idea at the end of the post. Began is beautiful, and somewhere I would love to see someday. in the meantime I am enjoying your photos.
The "Began Beauty" photo is stunning! What an amazing journey you must have had. Also, your bamboo tip is genius. Not a lot of people know how invasive and hard to get rid of it is 😉
You can find me here:
ClarabelleRant;
Congratulations!
I've never heard of the Bagans…it's a new one for me.
I did know the bamboo grew like a crazy weed.
I love the structures!!! Like oversized huts
Wow, Bagan looks gorgeous!
My parents visited Burma last year and loved it (Bagan was one of the places they raved about)! I can't wait to read more!
I guessed true for both about Aung. But I'm still hoping she's able to be to her people what she needs through another option.
Bagan looks uniquely beautiful with the stupas and temples 🙂
It is so beautiful to see all those temples. My friend saw them a year ago. he was humbled by its majesty. Well I got 1 right from yesterday. So I will say False to the first and true to the 2nd-I feel very brain cell empty
I planted two large bamboo plants in my front yard a few months back. They are gorgeous, and it really is fun to watch them grow.
This looks like a fun topic! Love travel themes. Met you via #azchat on twitter today. Maui Jungalow
Yes, the images of Began are distinctive and looks like such a beautiful place to visit!
Dan Brown A-Z
I love that part of the world, but I've never heard of Bagan. I enjoyed the photos . I'm a big traveler and love learning about interesting places.
Wow, never knew it grew that fast. That sure looks like a wonderful spot indeed
What a gorgeous place! Absolutely breathtaking!
Awesome! I lived in Thailand for 3 years and fell in love with that part of the world!!!
It's so cool that Bagan has so many stupas and temples! I imagine it must be an interesting place to visit. Reading your blog today has me thinking of a Bamboo plant that I once received as a gift and it didn't last very long, as I wasn't sure how to properly take care of it, despite it coming with a card listed with instructions. I had high hopes for that plant so I was disappointed when it withered away….and stunk like a fox too, lol.
~Nicole
#AtoZChallenge Co-Host
The Madlab Post
Hmm.. my brother is in the process of planting bamboo — with elaborate measures to keep it isolated!
Those stupas are really cool. What were you doing in Laos? That must have been fascinating!
bamboo is so invasive! I love the stupas they are so impressive.
oops hit enter…. there is an "American Bamboo" that is just as invasive… we had a miserable time trying to keep it under control behind our house.
Thanks for sharing. Never knew bamboo grows fast.
I would love to go there someday. Heck, I'll go most places. 🙂
I will never think of Bamboo in the same way ever again 😐
It looks like those temples just sprouted up from the ground. Or someone dropped them. 1 T, 2 F.
The landscape looks so exotic. Very much wanted to cross the border to see in 1995, while visiting Chang Rai, Thailand….but border was blocked due to civil war at time. When did you live in Laos? I lived in Malaysia 9 months (95-96).
Good luck with the award!! I recently saw your book listed in SCBWI bulletin and wondered. You have my vote, Lee!
Ok….just learned you have to be in same region to vote. (I'm in West). Would vote if I could!
Living in Laos must have been fascinating. Bagan is beautiful and I'm enjoying this travelogue immensely Looking forward to the next stop. ☺ Good luck with the award.
Bamboo forests are pretty, but I wouldn't start one in my garden. And the temples are so beautiful!
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary – Epics from A to Z
MopDog – 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
Wow Bagan looks unbelievably beautiful and so serene. I'd love to visit there. I didn't know you used to live in Laos. How interesting. I've never been to that part of the world but maybe someday.
Congratulations on the nomination and best of luck! I'd vote if I could but since I can't I will keep my fingers crossed!
I now have it on my Kindle.
Oh my! Bagan looks magical. I would love to see those temples.
Oh my! Bagan looks magical. I would love to see those temples.
Read Alex's comment. I thought of Bagend, too! Funny. Good luck on the Golden Kite. It reminded me that I want to check out your book. I'm a huge fan of YA!
Play off the Page
Thanks for commenting on my post! I'm happy to discover your blog, because I LOVE traveling and am obsessed with Asia in particular. I haven't made it to Burma yet, but a close friend went last year, while I visited China, Bali, and Lombok.
Looking forward to seeing the rest of your posts! And I love your initial landing page…so cute.
What beautiful pictures!
TheCyborgMom
Very cool.
My in-laws have bamboo growing in their yard. It's cool because I had never seen it outside of a zoo before.
The stupas and temples decorate the land. Won't be planting bamboo unless I have space.
I've heard about the bamboo thing 😀
looks gorgeous though 😀
Hi Lee – the Bagan area looks incredible and I love the idea of plastic-bag free zone …
While bamboo is awful .. and grows underground too – so pops up everywhere ..
Definitely landlocked and must pre-date 1942 – I'd have thought! Cheers Hilary
What a beautiful place. Those structures are gorgeous! Thanks for the lesson!!
My mother-in-law made the mistake of planting bamboo next to their house all along the property line. By the time she moved out 30 years later it was invading her house, and under the porch. They even cut it back periodically but it is quite invasive.
Happy A to Z'ing!
Morgan,
Playing with Words
A Poet's Kitchen
StoryDam
Those stupas are beautiful and Bagan looks like an amazing place. I seem to remember Mythbusters doing a test on Bamboo to see if the myth it can be used as a torture and execution device because of the speed it grows was true and it came back plausible.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Beautiful photographs and lovely description. Myanmar goes on my 'must visit' list
A friend has bamboo in their garden – they cut it back, it sprouts high again!
Bagan looks beautiful.
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press
I would love to visit there. And we have a big bamboo tree in our yard.
Wow. Look at the gorgeous stupas. And I had no idea bamboo could grow so fast. Yikes! Congratulations, Lee. 🙂
Looks a beautiful place. I HATE bamboo. Our neighbours planted it in there back garden and so it's constantly invading ours!
Congratulations on the nomination!
Looks a beautiful place. I HATE bamboo. Our neighbours planted it in there back garden and so it's constantly invading ours!
Congratulations on the nomination!
I knew bamboo could grow fast, but not THAT fast! I'm going to enjoy learning about Burma.
Congratulations on the nomination, Lee!!!!!
Congrats… and cool place.
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]
There's no earthly way of knowing.
Which direction we are going!
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood… is Nuts?
Three feet in one day? That is amazing. It sounds like kudzu.
Congrats on the nomination.
Congratulations on the nomination! It's fun learning about another country and culture. Love the photos.
I know nothing about Bagan… except that it looks stunning from your pics… So I'm gonna have to totally make logical guesses at both questions: Probably true… Definitely false?
Wendy at Wendy of The Rock
Congratulations!
That is a lot of temples in one place.
And Bagan is not to be confused with Bagend from The Hobbit…