July 13 A while ago we were introduced to a family that was eager to have us teach English to their one and only daughter. Though we insisted that this was impossible, they tried to win us over by taking us on a few excursions around Mandalay.
The first excursion was to the famous Hmwe Paya (Snake Pagoda) in Paleik as small town about 45 minutes outside of Mandalay. It is named for the 3 large pythons that are on display around the central Buddha image inside the pagoda. When we were there, they were nestled amongst the concrete and one had made his bed on the Buddha’s head. We arrived early in the morning and so we missed the daily feeding. But, we were informed that each day, the snakes are feed chicken eggs and milk in front of hordes of tourists. They are also given a bath in a special pool built just for them. During this time, it is also possible to get one’s picture taken with one of the famous pythons. And many people do. On the walls of the pagoda is a long line of framed photographs of famous Myanmar movie stars and generals posing with the great constrictors.
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