Mount Popa

We take a day-trip with a guide and driver from Bagan to Mt Popa. We are headed to the most important Nat shrine in Myanmar. Nat's are spirit gods and are worshipped in conjuction with Buddhism in Myanmar. Along the way is some fascinating scenery of everday life in rural Myanmar.

Traffic jam, Myanmar style! We're on our way to Mt Popa.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We stopped at a farm on the way to Mt Popa. Here a man grinds palm fruit.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Tim taking a turn. The liquid from the palm fruit is distilled into a liquor called Arrak or Arak.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The ground palm fruit is used to make Jaggery, a kind of candy.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Trying some of the locally produced candy with some tea.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Kids at the market, Popa Village.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Kids on a scooter at Popa Village.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Tony and Tim with our guide Pu.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Lady with baskets, Popa Village.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Stawberries are grown on the hillside nearby.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Our first glimpse of Mt Popa.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Our first glimpse of Mt Popa.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Buddha in a new cobra shrine. The new shrines lack the charm of the old ones.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The entrance to the steps at the base of Mt Popa. There are 777 steps to the top...here we go!
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
These are "Nats."
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Nats are spirit gods worshipped in Myanmar.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Each nat has a story.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mt Popa is the most important Nat pilgrimage site in Myanmar.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Nat worship is practiced along side and is commingled with buddhism in Myanmar.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Working our way up the steps past all the vendors.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
There are Macaque Monkeys all over Mt Popa.
Asia Buddhism Burma Macaque Monkeys Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The monkeys are big moochers.
Asia Buddhism Burma Macaque Monkeys Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Some of the monkeys are pretty sad looking. They basically live off of handouts and garbage.
Asia Buddhism Burma Macaque Monkeys Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Our guide explains the Buddha's footprints.
Asia Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Myanmar Places Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The view of Mount Popa from the shrine.
Asia Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Myanmar Places Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
I wouldn't touch that if I were you.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The golden stupa at the top of the Mount Popa shrine.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Money offerings.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The roof of the steps.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The gang at the top of the Mount Popa shrine.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
A monk prays at the Mt Popa shrine.
Asia Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Myanmar Places Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Headed down the 777 steps.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Back down at the base again.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Women carrying produce at the market near the shrine.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
On our way back to Bagan we stopped at a strawberry farm.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The gate at the entrace to a small, family strawberry farm.
Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Our guide chats with the strawberry farmer.
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Asia Buddhism Burma Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Popa Mt Popa Myanmar Nat Worship Places Religion Southeast Asia michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com

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