Our next stop was at the Maha Gan Dayon Monastery where we caught the monks walking to their dining hall for lunch, today lunch was being provided for by a local company so it was their duty to serve the monks.
After that we visited the Shwenandan Monastery a really old and very understated building with fantastic wood carvings and doors.
In the evening ( due to the heat still 44 degrees ) we visited the Kuthadaw Pagoda and the site of the worlds biggest book some 76 stone slabs with the teachings of Buddha carved into them, each housed in its own small shrine. The whole complex including pagoda is especially impressive. A small model of the whole site gives some idea how big it is.
As we pass along the river we spy a group of guys hauling in a catch of fish so we stop to see the action, they catch so many fish that when they haul the net to the tiny boat it almost capsizes, only when the catch is landed can we see just how many fish they have caught and how big some are..
As the evening sets we climb to the Mandalay hills to the hilltop Temple and watch the sun go down over the river and Mandalay, what a superb day we have had.
Next day we start with a journey to Amarapura, this is where things went wrong for a while, as we had to travel by horse and cart. Within minutes this triggered a serious reaction with my Asthma and very soon I couldn't breath and was coming out in huge red blotches ! so we had to make a quick U turn and head back to the hotel and some medication. Later on I was fine ( ish ) so we set out to see the Grand Palace with its huge moat and 6.4 km of palace walls. Most of this site is used by the Military and there isn't that much for the tourist to see ( or allowed to see ) but the Grand Palace at the centre of the huge fortification has been restored and is very impressive.
As there are loads of Pictures to this blog I have left out some we took of the local riverside, these are available to look at on Facebook though.
Ubein Bridge Mandalay.
Ubein Bridge Mandalay, 1.6km long.
Oh yes, don't fall over the edge as there are no handrails.
Monks at the Maha Gan Dayon Monastery queueing for Lunch.
Lunch being served.
Shwenandan Monastery Mandalay.
Shwenandan Monastery
Take your pick, Linda chooses to open the box, somehow Michael doesn't look too impressed ! maybe 12 isn't such a good choice ?
One of the 76 huge stone slabs which have been carved with the teachings of Buddha, at the Kuthadaw Pagoda, Mandalay.
Each of these shrines houses one carved page of the worlds biggest book.
Model layout of what the place looks like.
Main Pagoda, Kuthadaw, Mandalay.
Guarding Lions.
And Demons.
Not that it worries the Buddha.
This might though..
Kuthadaw, Mandalay.
Kuthadaw.
Lion and Linda. Mandalay.
Fishermen, Mandalay River 
Impressive haul, now how do we get them into the boat ??
First , tip the boat..
And Bob's ya Uncle..
Kuthadaw from the Mandalay hills.
Temple at the Mandalay hills.
Mandalay sunset.
Linda and a bronze Elephant
Lakeside temples Mandalay.
Buddha.
Glitering temple hall, we weren't allowed to take pics inside at the big gold Buddha.
Shwednandan
Grand Palace wall. Mandalay.
Grand Palace.
Entrance hall Grand Palace Mandalay.
Grand Palace.
Watchtower, Grand Palace.
Grand Palace.
Grand Palace Moat and Walls, Mandalay.
Grand Palace Moat, Walls and main gate.
Grand Palace Mandalay.A few lost pics from Yangon. Due to Camera card getting corrupted..
Yangon Street Scene.
Catholic Church Yangon.
Temple Pagoda Yangon.
Temple Yangon. End of a rather "messy" Mandalay Blog
Next Blog the Amazing and even hotter Bagan !!
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