U Bain's Bridge

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We arrived back from Pwin U Lwin in time to organize a car and driver to take us to Amarapura for sunset

For over two hundred years the people of Amarapura have crossed the 984 massive teak posts which support the 1.2km span.  The photogenic elderly gentleman sitting smoking a cheroot had photographers lining up to take his photograph

               

This time we didn't even set foot on the bridge, instead hiring a boatman to row us around and under 

      

As each new king liked to reign from his very own palace in his very own capital city, there are four in the Mandalay area. including the last in Mandalay. Although monastic buildings are of masonry or stone, the magnificent palaces were constructed completely from wood, which was handy when it came time to move as most of the materials could be recycled at the new location.   Thus it came about that U Bein the mayor of Amarapura the new capital of Upper Burma  built his eponymous bridge with timber recycled from the former palace of Ava 

  

The sun is gone and so are we

Finally, what I had come to Burma to see, the sun setting behind mayor U Bein's picturesque bridge.    Our boatman kindly stayed later on the lake than others and earned himself a double fee, so we were all happy
Mandalay Puppets

Yokthe Pwe was founded in the 18th century by U Thaw the  Minister of Fine Arts.  Modesty prevented live performers portraying explicitly romantic scenes on stage but use of little wooden people, allowed performances of religious and moral tales to continue in an entertaining medium

The Burmese compare their music to "the rusting of the wind through the leaves of the rose apple tree" Excerpts from the original Yokthe Pwe followed the opening musical interlude.  There was an introduction and commentary in English and we were to hear the same recording wherever we went
 

U Thaw directed that there be 28 different characters, including animals and supernatural beings.  They are recognized by their headdress, costumes and signature tunes.  The costumes we see today are those specified by U Thaw
                    The curtain rises periodically to reveal the puppeteers

Traditionally the puppeteer was a man with the skill and versatility to manipulate the puppet, sing and narrate, often at the same time.  These days there are men and women on stage.  The puppets are extremely lifelike.  On some figures strings manipulate the chin, knuckles, eyelids and brows not to mention the moustache.  Sixty strings control the priestess

 On The Road To Hsipaw

Between our rainy and sunny visits to Amarapura we took a road trip to Hsipaw.   No open truck for us on this rainy morning, we felt we deserved a little luxury and hired a car and driver from our good friends at Radiant Travel

Diminutive nuns on their early morning rounds

The Shan Plateau                                                          

The Shan Highlands

The roads to Maymyo were not good but better than expected.  Beyong Maymyo the road is privately owned all the way to the border with China.  It twists and turns and climbs through the mountains reminding us of the Friendship Highway between China and Tibet.  The profit from the toll booths has ensured the road is maintained and upgraded.  I am guessing the road is owned and maintained by the Chinese
The Gokteik Viaduct

A delicate tracery of silver lacework, on a soft pile of green velvet.  Clear in the rice-coine air"  Win Pe

Built by the Pennsylvania Steel Company between February and December of 1900.  Considered an engineering marvel in it's time, for many years the 700m span was the second highest in the world.  Torrential rain prevented us taking the train in 2002 but in 2005 we made it
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