Tammy and I flew from Yangon to Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its legion of ancient Buddhist pagodas and stupas stretching across the horizon. The pagodas and stupas are holy, and for any entrance--which usually means an ascent--one leaves footwear behind. Of course, every day life continues with those who live here, too.
After our days in Bagan, Tammy and I traveled to Mandalay by boat upon the mighty Irrawaddy. Officially these days the name of the river is Ayeyarwady, but the place names Mandalay and Irrawaddy have traipsed through my imagination for years because of poems, stories, and novels, and I wanted to witness them in the real world. The boat trip began before dawn and continued for most of the day. Here are some views of river life.
For us, the Irrawaddy River became our road to Mandalay.
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