03-Jan-2005 -- I visited Myanmar (Burma) for the first time in September 1997 and fell in love not only with the country, but also with a charming lady from Myothit (New Bagan) who is now my dear wife. Ma Ni Ni Too and I are both living together in The Netherlands since January 1998 and we try to visit our Myanmar family and friends at least once a year. It is on one of these occasions that I have visited the degree confluence near Bagan.
In the early morning, when it was still cool, my wife, two of her brothers and I went from Myothit with our pick-up to the small village Thedwin along the road from Nyaung U to Kyaukpadaung just past the branch to Mt. Popa. While one of my brothers-in-law stayed with the car, we went in a southwest direction guided by my GPS receiver to the foot of a small mountain range.
After an hour of pleasant cross country walking through bare fields with palm trees, passing small villages and crossing a broad dry riverbed we reached the degree confluence near the edge of a field.
While I was taking the photos at the degree confluence we were watched by some curious local people. I was surprised about the beautiful scenery around the spot. Northwest of the degree confluence is a small Buddhist temple called Taung Nan Tha Paya on a hilltop with good views over the surrounding landscape. At the bottom of this hill, west of the degree confluence, is a small artificial lake which get filled with rainwater during the monsoon and provides the local villagers with drinking-water.
I let the photos speak for themselves and hope you enjoy them!
You will find many more beautiful photos of Myanmar on my Myanmar (Burma) - Photo Gallery. No big story, only pictures...