It is Friday 13th; a day when many pass time thinking of spirits, good and bad. I thought I would celebrate this date by posting a photo of a most remarkable old nun who I was introduced to as guardian of the Po Win Taung caves.
In 2006 I travelled to these remarkable caves. You must follow the Chidwin river north from Saigaing near Mandalay. When you reach Monywa you travel overland until you find two hills that resemble a reclining Buddha.
In these hills you find the Po Win Taung complex where natural water-shaped caverns have been sculpted and chiselled out by man into caverns and shrines containing 1000s of Buddha statues and remarkable, colourful intracate frescoes.
I was told that, in a very contorted translated way, that this nun was some kind of descendant of the magician alchemist, U Po win. It was apparently he who held the secret Philosopher's stone deep in the caverns. To this day the Nuns protect the site and as there are strong beliefs and many stories about the magic that still endures in these caves.
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