As I wrote before, Bagan is one of my favourite sites in the world. Of course, I visited it when Myanmar was just opening up to tourism after years of military rule. That meant it was not yet overrun by tour groups and weekend trippers from Singapore and Hong Kong. In fact, you could have the feeling you had the place almost completely to yourself.
The amazing thing, at least at that time, was that you could find your own sunrise or sunset temple. Sure, there were the well-known designated ones that were popular already then, but you didn’t have to go there. After a day on a bike, I found just such temple – a nameless structure, semi-ruined, like most Bagan pagodas. The night before, I made sure the access to the top tier was not blocked by bricks and that there was no monks staying at the temple. Early next morning, I was there.
I was a little late for the actual sunrise – so easy to oversleep after days of walking and cycling – but still managed to find “my” temple and clamber on its top level before the morning light was gone. The view, just like I had seen the night before, was dominated by the grandeur of the colossal Sulamani – one of the largest Bagan temples (and also not restored at that time).
A balloon appeared over the sky. I knew about the balloon flights over Bagan, but never considered them as an option due to exorbitant pricing. But watching them is free of charge, and I tried to time my shutter just so its basket would be right over Sulamani’s tip, but somehow I missed the exact alignment. Nevertheless, I liked the picture and the panorama I witnessed is perhaps not to be seen again, for there is not one but dozens of balloons flying over the expanse of Bagan nowadays.
I do wonder if my little nameless temple was found by other photographers as a perfect sunrise spot. Or whether it’s been restored. Or even if I’d find it again if I go back.