This morning we headed to the riverside where we were transported up the Ayeyarwady river for about 45 minutes to a small village called Mingun. It is the site of the world's largest unfinished pagoda - or as it has been called, the world's largest pile of bricks! It was only 1/3 finished when the king died in 1819 and then was then severely damaged in the 1838 earthquake, leaving a grand, if somewhat dangerous, flat topped viewpoint 150 feet high with large cracks, narrow footholds, loose bricks, and no railings - but we are getting used to that!

Also at Mingun is the world's second largest bell which was built for the pagoda and a gorgeous white, seven-storied stupa. It is a picturesque little town, made even more so by the ox carts available for hire.

Life on the river is amazing- the Ayeyarwady is really the soul of this country as Ron was told by a man in Bagan. People were fishing, washing, swimming, farming the riverbanks, doing laundry, and building boats. Goods were being transported in both directions on the river. We were astonished by the large number of boats of all sizes and the enormous loads being manually carried onto them from the steep muddy banks across incredibly narrow planks. One hundred pound sacks of rice were common and I even saw a woman carrying on her head 10 flats of eggs with 36 eggs per flat! Ancient trucks spewing diesel fumes and laden to impossible levels were delivering these goods to the river banks. All this was taking place in the searing mid-day heat. It was again a throw-back to another era.