Random weekend part 2

The random activities continued with a trip to see the white elephants of Yangon in their golden elephant house. Historically white elephants have been considered sacred and bearers of good luck and power in several south east Asian countries. These ones are no different and had a small troop of carers who when we visited were singing to the elephants and scratching them with long bamboo poles. Actually the elephants are not at all white. There were 3 in total and 2 were pinky-brown in colour and one was fairly grey… but officially they are “white”. I think they are albino, and so although it doesn’t look much fun chained up in their concrete palace, they are probably fairly happy to be out of direct sunlight, even if they might like a lot more freedom.

    

After the elephants it was across the road to the giant marble Buddha – quite impressive as it was carved from a single piece of marble. The temple was on a hill and we spent ages sitting around, catching the breeze and watching people watching us (and often failing at their attempts to take discrete photos of us). It was a lovely evening. Much less rain now then when we first arrived. On the way out of the temple Mel was able to continue her tour of Myanmar street food with the purchase of mini samosas cooked on the mini stove in front of her in the photo below.

  

We also wandered around a pond with a temple in the middle, and nice little cafe stalls around the edge… later on we had yummy food and juices downtown in Monsoon. Mel and I were particularly impressed with our pointed piles of rice.

  

To end the randomness here is a sign outside the Armenian Church, and Ant with a baby baby ginger kitten. Alas taken, or I would be tempted to claim him as our own! The Armenian church is bizarre… a relic from a time when there were Armenian traders living in Myanmar. According to Wikipedia (source of all knowledge) 76 Armenians were baptised, in what was then Burma, between 1851-1915, 237 Armenians were married between 1855-1941 and over 300 Armenians died between 1811-1921. I have no idea (and neither does Wikipedia) if the church is still in use, and if it is, if any Armenians descended from all those that married between 1855-1941attend it… or if any Armenians descended or otherwise live in the country today.

 

I think enough randomness for today.