fbpx

C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / AtoZBlogChallenge:B is Bagan and Bamboo

AtoZBlogChallenge:B is Bagan and Bamboo

By

Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more on AtoZers on the Linky.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy a bit of what I learned and see some of what I saw.  So here we go. . .

Began Beauty

Bagan is the land of a ten thousand stupas and temples. And I’d call it the Switzerland of Burma. It’s immaculate. Signs along the road read, A Non-Plastic Bag Area. And, for the most part, it is. 

Some Stupas of Bagan

Bamboo sprouts everywhere in Burma and at an alarming rate. It can grow 2-3′ in a single day. See how it shot up just while Wyn was telling us how fast bamboo grows.

My guide, Wyn, is telling how fast this stuff grows.
Rule #1 never plant bamboo in your garden. 

Answers to A: What do you know about Aung San Suu Kyi
T 1. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. 
T 2. She lived under house arrest from 1989 to 2010.
NOW what do you know about Began, Burma?
T/F 1. Began is a landlocked city in the middle of Burma.
T/F 2. Began was founded in 1942. 
Answers tomorrow. ๐Ÿ™‚

Something that just came up yesterday!!!! Crystal Kites are now open around the U.S. SCBWI Golden Kite Award. If you’re a member, you can vote now. Good gravy, what a time for this to happen. 

Comments

  3. Popped in to wish you luck with the challenge. Your pictures are very good by the way and good luck with the award votes, You deserve one. Blessings from South Africa, Geoff.

  4. Love your quiz idea at the end of the post. Began is beautiful, and somewhere I would love to see someday. in the meantime I am enjoying your photos.

  5. The "Began Beauty" photo is stunning! What an amazing journey you must have had. Also, your bamboo tip is genius. Not a lot of people know how invasive and hard to get rid of it is ๐Ÿ˜‰

    You can find me here:
    ClarabelleRant;

  9. My parents visited Burma last year and loved it (Bagan was one of the places they raved about)! I can't wait to read more!

  10. I guessed true for both about Aung. But I'm still hoping she's able to be to her people what she needs through another option.

    Bagan looks uniquely beautiful with the stupas and temples ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. It is so beautiful to see all those temples. My friend saw them a year ago. he was humbled by its majesty. Well I got 1 right from yesterday. So I will say False to the first and true to the 2nd-I feel very brain cell empty

  15. I love that part of the world, but I've never heard of Bagan. I enjoyed the photos . I'm a big traveler and love learning about interesting places.

  19. It's so cool that Bagan has so many stupas and temples! I imagine it must be an interesting place to visit. Reading your blog today has me thinking of a Bamboo plant that I once received as a gift and it didn't last very long, as I wasn't sure how to properly take care of it, despite it coming with a card listed with instructions. I had high hopes for that plant so I was disappointed when it withered away….and stunk like a fox too, lol.

    ~Nicole
    #AtoZChallenge Co-Host
    The Madlab Post

    • oops hit enter…. there is an "American Bamboo" that is just as invasive… we had a miserable time trying to keep it under control behind our house.

  27. The landscape looks so exotic. Very much wanted to cross the border to see in 1995, while visiting Chang Rai, Thailand….but border was blocked due to civil war at time. When did you live in Laos? I lived in Malaysia 9 months (95-96).
    Good luck with the award!! I recently saw your book listed in SCBWI bulletin and wondered. You have my vote, Lee!

  28. Living in Laos must have been fascinating. Bagan is beautiful and I'm enjoying this travelogue immensely Looking forward to the next stop. โ˜บ Good luck with the award.

  30. Wow Bagan looks unbelievably beautiful and so serene. I'd love to visit there. I didn't know you used to live in Laos. How interesting. I've never been to that part of the world but maybe someday.
    Congratulations on the nomination and best of luck! I'd vote if I could but since I can't I will keep my fingers crossed!

  35. Thanks for commenting on my post! I'm happy to discover your blog, because I LOVE traveling and am obsessed with Asia in particular. I haven't made it to Burma yet, but a close friend went last year, while I visited China, Bali, and Lombok.

    Looking forward to seeing the rest of your posts! And I love your initial landing page…so cute.

  40. Hi Lee – the Bagan area looks incredible and I love the idea of plastic-bag free zone …

    While bamboo is awful .. and grows underground too – so pops up everywhere ..

    Definitely landlocked and must pre-date 1942 – I'd have thought! Cheers Hilary

  48. Looks a beautiful place. I HATE bamboo. Our neighbours planted it in there back garden and so it's constantly invading ours!
    Congratulations on the nomination!

  49. Looks a beautiful place. I HATE bamboo. Our neighbours planted it in there back garden and so it's constantly invading ours!
    Congratulations on the nomination!

  50. I knew bamboo could grow fast, but not THAT fast! I'm going to enjoy learning about Burma.

    Congratulations on the nomination, Lee!!!!!