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Monywa is a city in central Myanmar, 136 km north-west of Mandalay and situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin Rive. Mandalay Division. It lies 136 km north-west of Mandalay along the Mandalay-Budalin branch railway line. Monywa serves as a major trade center for India and Burma through Kalay Myo road and Chindwin river. From Monywa 112 km on road to Pakkoku where will stop at the Jetty and board a private local boat for a cruise down to Bagan which takes approximately two hours. On the way we see rural villages of a typical river community. For many centuries Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady was Myanmar's principal communication route (a river of Myanmar flowing about 1,609 km southward to the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, the chief river of the country

Monywa hotel

Caryota is a genus of palm trees. They are often known as fishtail palms because of the shape of their leaves. There are about 13 species native to Asia and the South Pacific. One of the more widely known species is Caryota urens, the flowers of which are used to make one type of jaggery (an unrefined sugar), and also to make palm wine.

Monywa hotel: bungalows around small but nice gardens. From Monywa 112 km on road to Pakkoku

Toddy palm (Borassus flabeliferus) is by far the most common palm, and one of the most common plants. The fruits are used to make a drink called tanti. At first it is quite sweet and tasty but if you let it sit around for a day or longer it starts to ferment and becomes alcoholic. It's jokingly called jungle juice because it is the cheap way to get happy. The interior of the nuts taste somewhat similar to coconut jelly meat...very nice tasting. Every part of the palm is used. Even the roots can be roasted or boiled and eaten. A sugary sap, called toddy, can be obtained from the young inflorescence, either male or female ones. Toddy is fermented to make a beverage called arrack, or it is concentrated to a crude sugar called jaggery. The 'Borassus flabellifer leaves are used for thatching, mats, baskets, fans, hats, umbrellas, and as writing material. The stalks are used to make fences and also produce a strong, wiry fiber suitable for cordage and brushes. The black timber is hard, heavy, and durable and is highly valued for construction. The young plants are cooked as a vegetable or roasted and pounded to make meal.

Visiting a thanaka plantation

A practice dating back to at least the 14th century, thanakha is a yellowy paste applied to the face and body. It is made by grinding the bark of trees, adding water and then turning it into a paste. Frequently, the tree of choice is Limonia acidisima also known as the wood apple. It has a pleasant scent similar to sandalwood. Purists will want to make their own thanakha, so you will also need a kyauk pyin, the circular stone slab you use to grind your wood into a paste.

Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be at least 35 years old before it is considered mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings. Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays also available as a paste or in powder form.

Thanaka cream is made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots of a thanaka tree with a small amount water on a circular stone slab called kyauk pyin which has a channel round the rim for the water to drain into.

The enormous monastery complex on the edge of Pakkoku town (more than 80 monasteries) prepare their monks to minister to the wider world in Myanmar.

It’s a great place to find out more about the strictures of Buddhist life in the country — some of the monks are English speaking and will be only too happy to answer your questions.

Pakkoku is located 30 km northwest of Bagan. It is a lively, typical Burmese town with a strong craftwork tradition, producing colourful woven blankets, mung beans and traditional sandals.

A school

Pakkoku markets

the old town of Pakkoku was contemporary of Bagan

Pagoda in Pakkoku

Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady, the chief river of the country

Teak is a tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis. It is sometimes known as the "Burmese Teak". Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled. Teak timber is particularly valued for its durability and water resistance, and is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other small wood projects.

Natural teak forests grow only in four countries on the planet - Myanmar, India, Laos and Thailand.That’s made it expensive and it’s about to get way more expensive. Starting April 1, 2014, the Myanmar government will ban the export of virgin teak.That will deal a big blow to global supply; around 75% of the world’s teak market originates from Myanmar forests. The country has long dominated the market despite import bans that the US and the European Union instituted in the early 2000s. Teak traders have evaded sanctions by shipping Myanmar logs to neighboring countries, which process the teak and sell it to the luxury boat industry and other luxury wood-working industries in Western countries. India is by far the biggest market, followed by China, Thailand and Vietnam 

Burmese Tea Leaf Salad Recipe

the Burmese like their salads “chin-chin, ngan-ngan, sut-sut”, which means sour, salty and hot.

traditional Burmese fermented tea leaf salad (Lahpet Thoke pronounced “la-pay toe”) is an eclectic mix of flavors and textures.  The young green tea leaves are steamed and buried underground for around six months for the fermentation process to take place. For salad they are traditionally washed and pounded with garlic, seeped in oil, and then served with sesame seeds, nuts, fried beans, dried fish and fried garlic. It is considered an honourable dish and is served at all important ceremonies. But the Burmese are also said to eat it if they need a caffeine hit!

In Myanmar to be ei wuk kyay, which means to be hospitable, is the criterion of perfect social behaviour.

The original pagoda Bu Paya was completely destroyed in the 1975 earthquake and was fully reconstructed using modern materials

After two hours on Irrawaddy river , at sunset we are in Bagan

Bagan Kumudara hotel

Bagan Kumudara hotelPlumeria (Frangipani)

Tecoma stans 'Gold Star'.

(Esperanza, Yellow Bells, Yellow Alder)

Cassia leptophylla gold medallion tree (Ngu War)

Christmas Eve

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Khaung-yan)

Bagan from my window

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound Arakan lady song