{"id":1110,"date":"2018-11-10T18:47:38","date_gmt":"2018-11-10T17:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatt.org\/?p=1110"},"modified":"2018-11-10T18:52:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-10T17:52:39","slug":"hpa-an","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatt.org\/en\/2018\/11\/10\/hpa-an\/","title":{"rendered":"Hpa-An"},"content":{"rendered":"

We came 'only' for the sunrise, but we were offered much more!<\/p>\n

Hpa-An is a place surrounded by beautiful rice fields and limestone mountains scattered in the (otherwise flat) landscape. Not only do they look amazing, but you can also walk around in and around them.<\/p>\n

One of these mountains is the Zwegabin, which rises more than 700 meters from its surroundings. We got up specially at 4 o'clock and made our way with the rental scooter and headlamps to see the first rays of sunshine from the top at point 6.
\nThe path is short but tiring because of the steepness. After all, the temperatures are just before sunrise at 25 degrees still reasonably bearable.
\nAt 6 o'clock a perfectly covered sky awaited us ... but a special atmosphere at dawn. A lot of believers (including monks, nuns, and novices) were present (of course, there is a pagoda at the summit) praying and posting their usual offerings. This, in turn, has delighted the monkeys, who soon after joined it and rejoiced over the quasi-beautifully laid table. What a feast that enjoy every day there! Since you can be picky ever ... (And clearly, that I have to bring after cats and dog puppies sometimes monkey photos.)<\/p>\n

That was a real highlight, but not only on the mountain, but also in the mountain it is exciting. How visited the Saddan cave, a huge part, of course not to photograph in its effect. Of course there is a lot of Buddha in the mountain.
\nAnd we were at the monastery of Ka Lat, whose pagoda perched Hollywood-worthy on a spire in the middle of a small lake.<\/p>\n

Bonus Challenge: Find Leonid Brezhnev on a photo! (Just my interpretation, I like reading other suggestions!)<\/p>\n