Young monks at Hsinbyume Pagoda

From Mandalay we took a boat trip up the river to Mingun.  The temple there would have been the biggest in the world if it had been completed, but lack of money meant that didn't happen, and earthquakes have since caused extensive cracks in the base of the structure.

Mingun also features the second largest bell in the world (so it claims).  It is impressively big.

The white pagoda featured here was also very impressive - and very white.  We were lucky to be able to photograph some novice monks on the structure.

After returning to Mandalay, I wandered along to see the large fish market (with huge quantities of fish of many different kinds) and a separate flower market.  The people are all very friendly and generally very happy to be photographed.