Bagan

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Balloons Over Bagan has been operating since 1999 and use Cameron Balloons made in the United Kingdom.   

Buddhist law states that women must never be in a position higher than that of a monk, so special permission was needed from Bagan's chief abbot to fly over the sacred plain. 

They now have two flights a day, during the season and weather permitting.   I choose the dawn rather than the sunset flight as  the evening flight has to be back on the ground before the sun actually sets for safety reason.

 

Can anyone tell me which temple this is?

The monuments are primarily either solid zedis (stupas) as Shwesandaw in the foreground, or hollow pahtos (temples) as Thatbyinnyu to it's left.

Shwesandaw 1057,  was the first monument built after the conquest of the Mon King at Thaton and the first to feature the staircase rising through the terraces.  There is a reclining sleeping Buddha within the grounds.  We know he is sleeping as he faces South.  Only the dying Buddha faces North.  We came back later to view the sunset.

Thatbyinnyu 1144, at 210' is the tallest  building on the plain  It's upper terraces now closed to all but a few military and VIP's.  Adjacent to the temple is a 'tally' zedi built with one brick for every 10,000 used in the main temple.

Up and away before even the vendors arrive to set up their stalls at the temple entrance.

Once again I would be obliged if someone could identify this temple for me.    I have poured over mine and others photos but from this angle I can't be sure.

Shot directly into the sun which is behind the finial.

Once again, name that temple please

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