[Leica] Mahagandayon Monastery, Amarapura, Mandalay

[cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer)]

Hello again Luggers,
While in Mandalay we visited the Mahagandayon Monastery, located in 
Amarapura, just outside Mandalay.
Mahagandayon is one of the largest teaching monasteries in Burma and between 
1,600 and 2,000 monks live (and eat) in the monastery every day. They take 
their main meal at noon and line up to march into the dining room. Many 
tourists and believers come to see the monks and to offer alms at the same 
time. It happens every day just before noon. We arrived earlier to walk the 
grounds and see some of the preparations for the meal.

While lining up to wait for the monks a butterfly landed on my M9 - how's 
that for a blessing! Esther's quick work caught the moment:

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/Butterflyw.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/c95n67y

Walking through the outdoor kitchen I took a turn stirring the stew. The 
kitchen was not hallowed so I was allowed to keep on my sandals.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/HCStewStirw.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/d2d98a8

The monks stir the several vats of rice to keep it from sticking:

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/RiceStir3w.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/c7kr2gb

Here is a two panel of the monks stirring:

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/2MonkRicew.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/bvdt2jm

The novice monks wear white and are very young;

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/Novicew.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/c5ru2kv

The visitors give alms to the monks as they march along. US$ are preferred.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/MonkMoneyw.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/boge5z7

Another view of the marching monks:

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Burma2013/MonkMarchw.jpg.html>

http://tinyurl.com/c7jjvhm

Please look large. C&C always welcome,

Howard (in HOT (by West Coast standards) Vancouver)