After burning some calories cycling around Bagan, the biking guide brought me to the oldest and finest monastery of its time, Myo Daung Monastery. Myo Daung Monastery means the monastery at the corner of the city. It is now located within old Bagan, right up north. With east-meet-west architecture, the numerous intricate woodcarvings from the late Kon-baung period stay vividly in my mind. I could not remember how I chanted in my heart, I want a wooden house similar to Myo Daung Monastery.

Although Myo Daung Monastery is one of the many attractions in Bagan, apart from few Americans, I saw less tourists in this part of Bagan. Burmese people, most of them appeared very sick, surrounded the monastery. I was then told by my guide, they were waiting for an audience with the monk to get blessings and ‘medical advice’.

A hut of sick villagers waiting for their turns to see the monks.

While waiting, some of the villagers were preparing food for the sick.

Here are the impressive wood carvings:-

The front view of Myo Daung Monastery

The door leaf

The house frame!!

Door Frame

Door Handle