I must admit, I was a little grumpy about the 4:50 am disembarkment time from the Sanctuary Ananada one morning but I tied on my longyi {click there to learn how to tie one} and made my way down the gangplank like a good camper, having no idea of the magical experience that awaited me….
Funky vintage busses were waiting for us and on them we bombed along the dark, bumpy roads of Myanmar until we reached a giant field, filled with hundreds of people from all over the world {you wouldn’t see that today} and about 50 massive hot air balloons. Each balloon had a crew buzzing around it, getting them filled and upright under the light of the setting moon.
When they were ready we climbed into the sturdy baskets and a giant flameburst gently lifted us off the ground.
Our friends were in other balloons around us.
And then we just floated, gently, serenely. We soared up in the air and stared in amazement at the endless temples, pagodas and monestaries that covered the land, 3822 of them at the last counting.
We were also mesmerized by the truly awesome sight of these expansive plains and the scatterings of communities, exotic plants and wildlife below.
These dramatic structures were built between the 11th and 13th centuries when this land was the capital of Burma and ruled by the Pagan Empire and economically, educationally, and culturally prosperous and advanced.
The culture was dominated by religion, primarily Theravada Buddhism, which explains the plethora of these religious structures, now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As the sun was rising our pilot skillfully lowered the balloon to allow us to catch this moving view of a giant buddha, you can even see the birds flying him and if you turn up the volume you can hear them sing, click on the arrow or link below to enjoy.
https://splendidmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/img_1204.movYes, flying in a hot air Balloon over Bagan was definitely worth the early morning rising. In fact, Mr. Splendid and I are wondering why we have never taken a balloon ride before, it’s such a tranquil way to comprehend the beauty of such an expansive area of the world.
The Pagan Empire collapsed in 1287 due to repeated Mongol invasions (1277–1301). Recent research shows that Mongol armies may not have reached Bagan itself, and that even if they did, the damage they inflicted was probably minimal.[9] However, the damage had already been done. The city, once home to some 50,000 to 200,000 people, had been reduced to a small town, never to regain its preeminence. The city formally ceased to be the capital of Burma in December 1297 when the Myinsaing Kingdom became the new power in Upper Burma.
The empire collapsed in 1287 because of Mongol invasions in the area. In 1297 the Myinsaing Empire became the new ruling power of upper Burma.
All too soon we gently tapped down in a field where we celebrated this soul satisfying experience that we had all shared over glasses of champagne in a field in Bagan.
Before heading on to our next adventure…
This looks absolutely incredible ,Emily. Definitely on my bucket List! Happy Sunday, my friend~
It was! So thankful to have had have had that experience. Take care.