MON STATE
Mon state is a green state. It has lots of
rain, soil is fertile, Mon people are so honest and friendly. It has (2) major
rivers around Capital Mawlamyine, Than Lwin and Thaung Yinn. We passed newly
opened Bogyoke Aung San bridge on our way to Devil island (Bilu Kyun) all the
way to Chaung Sone. We had many many durian fruits there. Fresh out of tree,
delicious like the air we breathe. Then we went to Maylamyine. City has nice
and wide riverfront avenue with hotels, shops, restaurants and apartments. It
is a man made riverbank. Then visited ancestral places where my relatives
resided over (100) years ago during 1800s and 1900s. And went to Kyaik Ma Yaw
pagoda.
Next day went to Mawlamyine university. It has rich history,
a beauty with lots colorful trees all over. Dr Maung Di, Dr Mahn Thet San and
Thetkatho Phone Naing were past rectors. Plus went to see locations of old
missionary schools in Mawlamyine. Mawlamyine is famous for its religious and
educational institutes. Mon people are deeply devoted to religion. They
traditionally keep the monasteries and pagodas need and tidy. They are
intelligent, gentle and keep all relics, ancient artifacts, pictures, paintings
and all religious documentation straight up. Mon state is also famous for its
Mon traditional food such as Thingyan Dish (Thingyan Htamin), Chetty dishes
(Bengali style dishes), and other Mon dishes and snacks are quite different
from the rest of the nation.
Next day, went to visit city of Kamarwet which has enormous
ancient Buddhist monasteries still being used by Sanghas. I was moved to see
these humongous gilded, wooden religious institutes are which remain
intact after being built centuries and centuries ago without proper instruments
and tools. Also paid visits to Pher Out
retreat, Jone Jone Kyah retreat and Win Sein retreat gave me a lots of
happiness and satisfaction. After that
went to Zah Voot ( Thanphyuzayat in Myanmar) where I still have relatives there
where we had Mon lunch and more durians. Great religious community. Then we
went to city of Mudon where city plan fascinated me quite. People are very
religious there. Still has several relatives there too. In Mudon, we visited famous Kangyi Zedi and very scenic Kan
Daw Gyi lake. Fabulous lake, green tress all around, humongous Buddha status by
the lake.
Next day we headed out to Kyaik Hka Me beachfront pagoda.
The internationally renowned pagoda was built by the ocean, one of its kind in
the world and in Myanmar. The construction was way ahead of time, by looking at
architectural feat and engineering at that time giving me goose pimples. The
pagoda has to be cleaned up from garbage pile dumped by many pilgrims. That has
to keep clean all time. On our way back we spent one night SetSe’ beach. Great
natural beach, great weather, great wide white sand beaches that never ends.
The only problem there is not a lot of edible restaurants in that village
except you eat in your hotel
On our way back to Yangon, we visited famous Zin Kyaik
waterfalls, one of the nature's wonders
Like mentioned above, Mon State has a lots of tourist
attractions then and now, however, there is no big tourism industry exist. How come?
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