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In the morning I was delighted to discover that my cold was gone - there was no need to make another trip to the pharmacist.

Myanmar 2001 - Part Four - Yangon and Bangkok

Dougburnett
2003-11-23 19:21:30

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Yangon, Sunday, February 18

In the morning I was delighted to discover that my cold was gone - there was no need to make another trip to the pharmacist. Outside I found The Mg Aye Lay, my trishaw driver, was waiting. He then drove me to the northwestern part of the city see what is called the "World's largest book." Arrayed around a large stupa there were 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist text. Each of these 2-meter (6 foot) high tablet is set in it's own little stupa. It was quite an impressive sight.

As I was the first visitor, I was immediately surrounded by vendors hoping to make the lucky first sale of the day. One lady stood in my path and wouldn't leave until I promised to look at her stand on my way out - she was pleasant but persistent. Another tied a little chain of flowers around my wrist and then tried to lure me to her stand. They all had high hopes.

After walking around the outside to get a sense of how big the paya was, I visited the two ladies but didn't see anything that interested me. They seemed satisfied that I had looked and wish me good bye.

Then we drove over to another paya - sorry, the name of this one is lost from my memory. I was pretty close to reaching my quota of payas. Anyway, there was an old man sitting next to the stupa, ringing a little bell. He offered me let me ring it too. I declined. I knew this routine: you ring his bell and he will ask for money.

As I walked away I had a second thought: I carry a hat on my trips that my boss gave me. It has the company logo on it. He likes me to take a picture of myself in front of some monument with the hat on. It seems like a simple gesture to keep him happy. This time I vowed to do something different.

I walked back and ask the old man, "Can I take your picture in this?" He smiled and put it on - I got several great pictures of him. ...