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Christmas in Mandalay. No one would know; it's a Buddhist town. We rode our bikes thru the streets and sang carols, but not one Burmese seemed to appreciate our version of "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Night." | |||
Mandalay
Fort and its moat dominate the city. The last Burmese king used it as a palace,
then the British converted it to a club until the Japanese took over in World
War II. Fierce fighting between the Japanese and British left the palace as a
ruin. The Burmese National Army uses the fort today as a base and farm. Its huge
grounds offer space aplenty for orchards and vegetables. | |||
We wonder: does bad caroling
jeopardize the stability of the State? | |||
Besides
Mandalay Fort, the city's other dominating feature is Mandalay Hill. The Hill
provides a natural focus and offers the city's best view. A Buddhist complex crowns
the top. From there you can view the fort on one side, the prison on the other.
A Buddhist temple, an army fort, and a political prison - the essence of modern
Myanmar. | |||