March 6, 2015 (Myanmar to Vietnam)

Today we were picked up by a taxi so that we could get to the 5 day market that was now in town and have time to go to the old monastery with the oval windows. The market was bustling and you name it, they were selling it! Most of it I couldn't name honestly. More smells than normal and at one point around the fish I started to gag...the smell was so strong and fish paste and tons of live and dead and dried and seasoned fish. We moved into the fruit and veggies area and people were buying...all kind of activity. The markets just rotate around communities on Inle Lake every 5 days.

Close near the market we arrived at the Monastery that is known for it's oval windows. I had seen it in the travel book as a must see but thought it was just about the exterior structure. Come to find out it was built by the Shan Princes in this area back in the 1700s. The structure is made up of thin slats of wood, where you can see light through the entire building. As we pulled up there were monks all seated in the main room and then standing in the windows. They were doing their morning studies and recitations and many had their books out and were reading and writing the teachings of Buddha. It was so cool to see them in action without any visitors around. We peaked through their door and into the temple part of the monastery and it was so beauitfully crafted with bedazzled moldings and screens and cut with colorful old thick stained glass with a large golden Buddha sitting in the center of the shrine. Attached to the main temple hall was the Novices housing, a bunk room with no beds but held their belongings, blankets- they sleep on the floor, their robes and shoes. 

We went across the courtyard and their was an unassuming looking rectangular building with a golden spire on top. Inside there were hundreds of niches all with little statues of Buddhas in them and then it was like a maze of courtyards and arched hallways and larger niches where there were larger golden Buddhas. The niches had the names of donors by them who have helped upkeep this monastery- it being unique to still be the original wooden structure with it's old inlay glass work and oval windows. The whole place was a treat.

The rest of the day was spent traveling to Yangon, walking around the colonial area of Yangon in the stifling heat- so much hotter than when we were there last week, and then making our way to Hanoi. We arrived at the Marriott in Hanoi and were able to meet up with Uncle Ben! So fun to see him and this is a beautiful property. As I was shutting a door into my bedroom I didn't realize that it was a double sliding door and as I closed one door the other closed and slammed my hand in between 2 2" thick doors. OUCH!!! It immediately swelled up like a goose egg was under my hand. I put ice on for an hour and didn't help much. Went to sleep hoping it would be better tomorrow, we are here for a bike trip!