only men

Many paya have an area of shops close by, this one has

cool marble floored walkways. Only men can add gold leaf

to the large buddha. I don't recall ever reading that

in what the buddha taught, although he did supposedly say

that women could not be enlightened.

Well, who could be?

The head of this buddha is wonderfully beautiful,

though the body is lumpy with gold.

Possibly could have been more of a shopper in Burma, except

the overwhelming feeling was 'we have too much stuff already'.

If I go again, I'll stay longer in the Mandalay area,

& countryside.