Meet the Moustache Brothers

Hundreds of monks are supposed to cross U Beins Bridge in one of Mandalay's southern subburbs. I went there, but I guess I was too late to see the "Monk Parade". U Bein bridge is with it's 1.6 km still the longest Teak bridge.

When climbing Mandalay hill to visit the pagoda on top of the hill, I was all of a sudden surrounded by locals who wanted to practise their english. Eventually I didn’t pay too much attention to the pagoda and the sunset over the city of Mandalay and the Palace (which was both impressive afterall), but it was so nice to talk to all these burmese students. I spent about 3 hours up at the hill and almost forgot to head back into the center to see the show of the Moustache Brothers.

 

These guys are activists in Myanmar mainly making jokes about the military government. All oft hem were arrested for their show at least once, but since it has become kind of a tourist attraction, they are now more or less tolerated. The show is held in the garage/kitchen of their house in mandalay and they provide some 20 plastic chairs for the audience, which creates kind of a familiar atmosphere.

Next morning 4 am was the time to visit Mahamuni Paya, where a team of monks lovingly washes an polishes a golden Buddha image and a lot of people in front of it praying. In the afternoon it was time to take the train south to Bago…