Yesterday I left Yangon to fly to Bagan (former Pagan), an ancient city in central Myanmar. Although the place is known for its thousands of temples and pagodas, the first thing I noticed was the sweet fragrance of flowers. I smelled it the moment I stepped down the little aircraft. The smell was so strong that I automatically started scanning the nearby bushes for Airwick perfume dispensers. But it was not men-made, nature really was in a festive mood!
Today felt like a visit back in time. Old Bagan is known for its Archaelogical Area, where you can visit an impressive amount of Buddhist monuments. The area is prone to earthquakes (now they tell me?!?) and quite a number of monuments have been destroyed over time. Luckily, about 2,200 have survived the test of time of the over 10,000 built at the height of the Pagan Kingdom (between 11th and 13th century).
What stunned me the most, is the dedication and perseverance of the people who built these works of art all these centuries ago. Kings that were dedicated to spreading Buddhism used mural paintings inside the temples to pass on knowledge in a time where illiteracy rate was very high. The pagodas were as usual impressive, some took several generations to build! (It made me think of Ken Follet’s “Pillars of the Earth”).
But the same dedication can still be found in New Bagan, in the different workshops where all kinds of crafts are showcased. These lovely bamboo lacquer bowls you see in the shops take months and months of work. With techniques passed on from generation to generation.
I cannot help but think with regret of our fast-paced society, where patience has become such a rarity. And where monetary gain is put before the satisfaction of delivering quality and lasting work.
Damn, I sound old.