I returned to the capital and rested for a few days. I accidentally saw a variety show, calling us real friends.

Suddenly I remembered that there were several small countries that had not been to, such as Myanmar on the show?

Next to the Maudanmian White Tower, looking east along the sea. There is a Burmese girl there, I know she is missing me. The wind is whirling in the palm trees, and the wind chimes are ringing on the tower... On the way to Mandalay, flying fish are playing, and the dawn is like thunder, coming from China, illuminating the bay...

Compared with the romantic Myanmar imagination in Kipling's poems, Orwell's sultry, contradictory and adorable Myanmar is more realistic. Before visiting this southwest corner neighbor, which has been around for thousands of years, Johnson's cognition may be just two words:

Very poor!

The first stop is Yangon. The best way to experience a city is to measure it with your feet. Walking on the streets of Yangon, it feels like entering a diverse and intertwined space, where glorious pagodas and temples, low-key mosques, declining colonial buildings, cruel slums, new buildings rising from the ground, bustling, doves and flies all find paradise here.

Not only are there native Burmese people, but also a large number of Chinese and Indians. They are integrated into the same city and maintain their distinctive cultural characteristics. The famous Chinatown is one of the most lively areas in the city.

All kinds of small vendors seem humble but bring vitality to the city. Monks wearing purple-red robes represent the persistence of spiritual beliefs. Another great pleasure in walking on the street is to appreciate slim and pretty boys and girls wearing cages. Among them, my favorite is their student uniforms. The green cage base and white shirt are so fresh and refined!

Many people have white powder on their cheeks and foreheads. This is a common local sun protection measure. It has a unique flavor when they are used to it. In contrast, the bloody mouth of Burmese men is difficult to accept. They are keen on chewing betel nuts, and over time, their teeth will be dyed blood-stained, and they open their mouths as if they are about to spray blood.

Walking north along the Surei Pagoda, the Aung San market with many travelers did not bring me much freshness. On the contrary, heading south and walking to the pier of the Yangon River, I was subjected to a considerable visual impact.

Looking at this river from afar, under the sun, traffic flows, you can also capture the beauty of "rafting". When you arrive at the pier, you will see muddy and turbid river water, garbage everywhere, crowded boats, hard-working barefoot workers, and even children carrying heavy cargo...

When you are tired of walking, you will take the Yangon Ring Line train. The train takes more than ten times a day, and it is a circle around the city. The total time is three hours, and there is no air conditioning. If you feel that it is too long after a circle, you can choose one stop to get off according to your mood, and then take the reverse back to the starting point.

The Central Railway Station has a very historical feeling, such as the architectural style of the Republic of China period. It is not a popular tourist destination, and most of the stations are locals. I asked a few enthusiastic staff along the way and happened to catch the train that was about to be in.

The biggest feature is slowness. The fastest time is about 30 kilometers. There is no door in each car. I often see locals suddenly jumping off the train before the train arrives at the station.

There are not many people on board each stop, but the carriage is very lively. There are few head-down people who keep playing with their mobile phones, talking and laughing, hawking, and the sound of train clanging. The doors are very narrow and have high steps.

The narrow space condenses the most realistic life posture of the locals, which is hot and crowded, but also vigorous. Every time a larger platform, vendors selling various goods carry baskets or bamboo baskets onto the car, just like a concentrated mobile market.

The eldest sister with a bamboo basket on her head and the uncle holding an iron plate were selling the favorite fried foods of Burmese people, as well as papaya and mango. They were dipped in a layer of chili powder or spices and mixed, as hot and thick as the weather was now. The girl with thick fragrant wood powder on her face was carrying a few packs of cooked quail eggs and peanuts, and asked the passengers if they wanted it.

The dark-skinned young man carried a bucket of ice water full of lemon, and put the cup down on the lid of the bucket. When someone wanted to drink it, he picked it up and scooped it up. All kinds of fresh fruits are also popular products, including oranges, watermelons, apples, and pears. A full basket of fresh and dazzling fresh ones, and most of them were sold in a short while.

After a while of lively, as if an appointment was made, the vendors either walked to other cars to hawk, or got off the car halfway, and the car suddenly became quiet. However, after two stops, the next wave of leaping onto the car carrying all kinds of food and fruits.

99 meters high, from the perspective of the Royal Lake, it connects the world on the skyline. It is definitely Yangon's business card and Myanmar's business card. So now I see that some people say that the three major Buddhist miracles in Southeast Asia are the combination of Borobudur, Angkor Wat and Bagan, and some people say that it is the combination of Borobudur, Angkor Wat and the Great Golden Pagoda.

Archaeologists say that the Great Golden Pagoda was built by the Meng people from the 6th to the 1st century AD; however, historical legends are not accepted. In the legends of Myanmar, they firmly believe that the Great Golden Pagoda has a history of more than 26 years and is the oldest pagoda in the world. In order to worship the eight Buddhas brought by the two brothers from a long journey, the Great Golden Pagoda began its glory journey.

Even British soldiers in World War II had to take off their shoes and socks to climb the tower. The only exception was to let our Grandpa Deng wear socks on it, because the old man was too old and was in a bad state at that time.

Rather than being a big golden pagoda, it is better to say it is a tower group. There are 64 small towers next to the main big golden pagoda, symbolizing the vast world surrounding Mount Sumeru. During the Bogu Dynasty, the top of the Beisheng Mountain where the big golden pagoda was located was flattened to create this vast platform and build a holy land of tower groups.

The Great Golden Pagoda worships the relics of the four Buddhas, including the stick that detained the grand Buddha, the water purifier of the Equal Enlightenment Jinji Buddha, the robe of Kashyapa Buddha and the eight heads of the Buddha Shakyamuni. The whole pagoda is covered with gold, plus the small pagoda, and the total gold is more than 3 tons, 5ooo gems, 2ooo diamonds, and the top diamond, 76 carats!!!

Most locals circle the tower clockwise, and can join the locals and follow their steps around the tower. You can also choose a secluded and clear small tower and sit and wait for the sunset.

Burmese people use eight animals to represent eight zodiac signs, referring to the date of their birth. Except for Wednesday, the morning and afternoon, there are no other days, so the total number is exactly eight.

The garuda (sun), tiger (one), lion (two), tooth-elephant (three morning), tooth-free elephant (three afternoon), rat (four), guinea pig (five) and dragon (six). In fact, the elephant is divided into tooth-free and toothless? Rat is divided into guinea pig and others?

Burmese puppet show is very famous, and puppet shows can be seen everywhere. Silk-carved puppets are also called thread puppets or thread puppets. They are decorated with silk threads on important joint parts of the puppet such as the head, back, abdomen, arms, palms, toes, etc. The actor pulls the threads to manipulate the movements of the puppets.

Traditional puppet shows originated from the 11th century, and the main body revolves around Myanmar mythology. By the 16th century, Myanmar dramas formed a unique style. The puppet shows also keep pace with the times. The clothes of puppets are becoming more and more refined, with bright colors, showing the real life of the Burmese people. The plot is witty and humorous, and revealing a kind of folk cunning and wit.

Women's hand-made embroidery is exquisitely depicted by them one by one, which is so beautiful that it is beyond words. Each work is a story, each with its meaning. Many workshops have semi-open spaces, most of which are wooden carvings of men, and the house is embroidered by women. Many women are working with their children, and the environment is very simple.
Chapter completed!