A full-on sightseeing day today. Gold leaf beating workshop, pagoda with the 4 tonne gilded Buddha, stone carving street. The latter was quite interesting as they leave the faces uncarved until last and carve to suit customer requirements (Chinese, Thai, Indian etc features as appropriate).

Next was the Buddhist teaching monastery to watch the monks receive their main meal (doesn't seem like a suitable tourist activity to me and I wouldn't want tourists taking pictures of me getting my lunch). It was made interesting by a conversation with a monk (known to our guide) who has written a number of books. An interesting and articulate person.

Next it was the famous "world's longest team bridge" which was a little disappointing - no lines of monks crossing at sunset just hoards of locals and tourists. It wouldn't meet health and safety regulations either!

Then it was over the bridge to the pagodas on the hill and a teaching nunnery then back again to a bronze foundry.

By the end of the day we were exhausted and needed to rest back at the hotel.

Burmese food would not rate as a world cuisine and the same five or six dishes crop up on most menus. Having tried them all and been underwhelmed we have to now try other cuisines like Thai and Indian but unfortunately these are not interpreted at all well. Never mind.