The Pagoda was huge - it was a complex of stupas both ruins and brand new ones that people now sponsor. Some of those were from Germany and Japan. It was a real contrast. There were many traders around both on their own and along the covered walkway. This was the first place we had to pay to go to the toilet 200 Kyats (10p).
After visiting the stupas we walked through the bamboo back to our boat for a fun filled return trip along the creek and to visit some more artisans. Firstly the silversmiths, then a parasol maker, a paper maker and lastly we visited the ladies from the tribe who have rings around their neck.
The parasol making was interesting, a man was making the main centre part by carving it from bamboo and wood for the part that clicks it open and closed - very clever, and a lady was making the top with two layers of paper which she then died and decorated. They were very pretty :-)
The ladies with the rings were grandmother and granddaughter. The rings were very heavy and the older lady had 25 rings. The younger girl had around 12 and said she wasn't going to have any more - the start of the young rebeling against tradition.
We had a pleasant lunch again as a riverside restaurant. I'm eating far too much and I thought I might lose weight this holiday !!!!!
When we returned after a 45 min boat ride back, we got on a tuk tuk to visit the local winery. The ride was great fun, watching the others on the street and the tuk tuk struggling up the hill with six of us in the back.
The scenery from the winery was beautiful. The wine tasting cost us 3000 kyats ( £1.50) for a taster of four wines. The wines were ok but not what I would buy. They were clearly a young winery and had more to learn.
We went back to the same place for dinner and because it was busy split into a girls table and a boys table. It was great fun :-)
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