The Journey Never Ends: Bagan to Mt. Popa

WED 01 MAR 2017

After a wonderful breakfast of local noodle soup, shrimp and fish dumplings plus some other delights then we travel by bus to the monastery at the summit of Mt Popa. On the way, we stop at a roadside mill for coconut where we watch water buffalo slowly circumnavigating the central stone, grinding palm seed into oil. We taste some 'jaggery', the local candy made from palm sugar. and the local fire water distilled from the coconut.

Fire water

We then stop at a local village where our guide introduces us to the oldest resident at 99 and she talks about the changes she has see. The village has no running water or electricity save a few solar panels with batteries. We see tamarid trees and the local harvest of the nuts.

Then off to Mt Popa is an extinct volcano that dominates the area. However, and its attraction today lies not so much in its geological aspect, but more in its religious and mystical attributes that are still prevalent. Popa is popularly recognized as an abode of many Nats, or spirits of ancient ancestors, who dwell in various parts of the mountain. In the days of old, it also used to be referred to as the Mountain of Spirits. We climb the 777 stairs to the Taung Kalat Monastery to see evidence of these beliefs in the form of Nat shrines and ceremonial offerings.

Safety tips

People who are faint-hearted or have vertigo must not dare look down from the top of the monastery as it will surely give them spells of dizziness, and the lack of hand rails make the situation riskier.

Since this region is home to hundreds of Macaque Monkeys, the visitors are advised to take good care of their valuables since the monkeys, who live on either side of the stairs, are known to snatch items from the tourists.

It is suggested that you avoid wearing the colors red, black, and green

since these colors are known to offend the spirit of the Nats.