KAKKU – SHARED TAXI
The cost of the taxi is 60000 MMK, we are 4 people, I could convince with my enthusiasm other 3 Vietnamese guests of my pension. The driver is the husband of one of the women who works at Red Star restaurant. He is a quiet, caring, reliable person. Not only he takes us where originally established, but suggests additional stops he considers worthy along the road. He waits for us without putting pressure or hurry us, he purchases local food at the stalls and let us try it, he translates, so very happilly we give him a tip at the end of the day, and contact him again for other excursion
The first unforeseen stop is Nar Baung. We see from the car window a rural market, a large field where cattle chew the cud, and groups of people observe and assess it. The driver kindly stops and accompanies us. Next to the grassy area, in a dedicated zone, we go around in what I think it’s the most genuine and traditional market I have seen in Myanmar.
Many of the clients are from ethnic minorities, the so-called hill tribes, recognizable by the turban knotted towel on their heads. I think they are Karen.
There are no souvenirs. It’s clear that this is a sort of fair, an occasion of celebration and meeting place for the people, because they organize a chinlon tournament, the typical game where they use to hit a rattan ball
The Kakku religious site, spectacular, is composed of about 2,500 pagodas, small and slender, the average height is only 3/4 meters, with nicely decorated stucco like laces. Almost absolute silence around, broken only by the tinkling of the bells on top of the spires, and the chirping of birds. Very few visitors
The entrance costs 3000 MMK. Some people say it is mandatory to pay a Pah-o guide for the visit. In fact I see a French couple who are accompanied by a girl belonging to this ethnic group, but we have entered alone and no one told us anything
Also today the weather does not help, cloudy first, rainy later. It has been still beautiful, however. We have lunch in the restaurant which is situated in front of the site (2500 MMK), I believe the name is Hlaing Konn Restaurant.
Close to the restaurant, a small touristic market
In the afternoon, coming back, we visit some smaller but nice localities, worthy of note, suggested us by our driver. Tang Caves and relative Pagoda, the Hamsi Mahamuni Pagoda, the Sulamuni Pagoda in Taungyy. There is none, and it is great to explore on our own
The last stop is at the Shwe Yan Pi Monastery, very much beloved by photographers, and which is located on the outskirts of Nyaungshwe. We arrive precisely during the novices prayer. It is possible to assist