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The Guardian of Po Win Taung

Posted by
: Helen : (is currently photographing in Melbourne, Australia) on 13 July 2012 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

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.

FUJIFILM FinePix S9500 1/140 second F/3.8 ISO 200 25 mm

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k@ from Paris, France

Love his smile and your low angle.

13 Jul 2012 6:45am

l'Angevine from France

ben il a mis comment son pull ,il a une manche en moins....bon là c'est moi qui a soit trop fumer et soit j'ai rien compris à sa tenue

13 Jul 2012 7:41am

Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece

you-you are a truly gatherer of cultural international experiences, YOU*****

13 Jul 2012 8:17am

Curly from South Shields, United Kingdom

Holy Moly what a great portrait, and what the heck is he smoking?

13 Jul 2012 10:34am

Mariana M. from Waterloo, Canada

extraordinary portrait . love these tones too

13 Jul 2012 1:11pm

Lalena from Barcelona, Spain

Sublime portratit!!!! 5* :)

13 Jul 2012 4:37pm

ISA.H from Paris, Vitry et Ailleurs..., France

Oh ! superb !

13 Jul 2012 6:17pm

Skyriani from Nelson, New Zealand

Made my day, this one did!

14 Jul 2012 11:37am

Riccardo from Rome, Italy

Great portrait!!!

16 Jul 2012 6:01am

Aigleloup from Rebecq, Belgium

Formidable cette vieille bonzesse, nous l'avons vue lors de notre voyage en 2012

22 Mar 2015 9:37am