The Magnificent Mandalay

(Dr Maung Maung Nyo)

(Mandalay Fort and Moat)

The word, "Mandalay" enchants me
Since my early childhood entity
My father told me of its fame
He said it has grandeur and game.

(Mandalay Palace)

So, I was glad to go and study in Mandalay
When I was awarded premedical scholar's pay
To begin a scholastic career away from home
I would become a doctor in shortened course alone.

I attended the No. 1 State High School
With zeal, determination and hope full
Excellent teaching with discipline was its rule
Fun and frivolities were furnished sparingly few.

We studied for five days a week
Every subject was taught in English
Except, of course, sport and Burmese
We had to study hard without a hitch.

On Sundays and holidays we toured
To nearby places around Mandalay
By riding bicycles led by our teachers
They looked after us explaining on the way.

(Mandalay Fort, Moat and Mandalay Hill)

We visited the Mandalay fort and palace
The old Mandalay city was a show case
Filled with artifacts of Burmese culture and grace
The “ten flowers” made us proud of our race!

(Mandalay Palace, Newly Built)

Yankin Hill was so near
Yet, so few had visited there
It was cool inside the cave
Marble statues were marvelous to gaze.

(Aerial View of Yankin Hill)

We rode to Mei-U Taung or hill
It was farther in the north east
The road was rugged and dusty
Our bicycles suffered strains and squeaks.

(Burma's Tiger)

The place was barren with bush
We could imagine Me-U being pushed
By Shwe-Phyin-Nge, the zealous admirer
He killed her for unrequited love by his tiger.

(Nats or Spirits like Me-U)

We met a few rebels at that time
They were holding their carbines
But they did not give us trouble
They knew we were students assemble.

(Taung Byone Nat/Spirit Pwe)

We also enjoyed the Taung Byone festival

It was held like a Western carnival

Men, women and children all became jovial

They drank, they danced and became spiritual.

(Shwe Sar Yan Cedi)

We even rode to Shwe Sar-Yan Cedi
It was sixteen miles away uphill
It was situated on the west bank of Dutthawaddy
We missed King Anawrahtar and Sao Mon Hla Devi.

(Myit-nge River or Dutthawaddy)

One Sunday morning we rode to Mingun Bell
We had to keep our bicycles in a Ta-Nga-Tel (fisherman’s hut)
As it was located on the west bank of Irrawaddy
We had to catch a ferry and we were very hungry.

Our teacher negotiated with an old fisherman
He and his wife kindly cooked for us eleven
They gave us rice, tomato “Pun-Htway” and chicken
We ate copiously with heads down like hungry ravens.

We slept in the Mingun monastery
It was cold from wind from the Irrawaddy
But the monks provided us with their robes
We huddled together until awoke.

Next day, we visited the Mingun Bell
We were amazed by its size and weight
Five fives Visses of brass metal, they tell
“Min Phyu Hman Hman Pyaw” indicates.

(Mingun Bell, World's Greatest)

We climbed the unfinished Mingun Cedi
It was just a heap of red bricks entirely
It had cracks and crooked course to the top
If finished, it would be the biggest Cedi lord .

(Mingun Pagoda, the Unfinished Cedi))

It was Monday and we rushed back to Mandalay
We arrived at the school gate after 10 AM
It was closed by then as always
The Head Mistress opened it with reprimand.

“Misfortune never comes alone”
We went to Maymyo in two buses
It was a picnic for two classes
Pyin-Oo-Lwin was well shown.

But, while playing Shan O-Si or drum
Some students were in overt enthusiasm
They punctured one leather tympanum
We had to pay compensation at maximum!

We frequented Mandalay Hill often
Whenever there was festivity on hand
We climbed with song and dance on ascend
We were happy to be in line with local trend.

We visited Tada-U Inwa region
That was the seat of many Burmese kings
Legends abound for Thado Minbya to Sinbyushin
I saluted those famous kings with attention.

Sagaing is a sedate sagacious city
It has pagodas and rest houses so many
It provides solace for monks and men meditating
Nuns and women were also found contemplating.

Kyauk-Se was also a silent scenic site
We visited by train in early morning light
Saya Khin-Maung-Nyo’s uncle was delighted
He provided us breakfast, bicycles and brave guides.

(Webu Sayadaw)

We ascended the Kyauk-Se Hill,
Paid homage to Buddhas and Phongyis
Kowtowed Webu Sayadaw in person with piety
It was a meritorious trip so worthy.

Kyauk-Se is famous for its strategic position
It’s located in the central irrigated region
Gordon Luce took it as the place of Burmans’ origin
His hypothesis attracted much discussion and derision.

Inside Mandalay we missed nothing really
We enjoyed Pwe-Htaing tea and Saturday music
When Myo-Ma troupe entertained us melodiously
Myo-Ma Nyein’s songs were just terrific.

As regards movies and entertainments
We were regular cinema attendants
Win-Lite, Myo-Gon-Yaung we frequented
Ma-Soe-Yein and Shwe-Taik were also supplemented.

Mandalay was famous for Burmese drama and dance

We watched Anyein and Zat Pwe from October to March

Free food was offered to every one at the festivals of pagodas

I can never forget the Cetana of Mandalayers.

(Zegyo Market)

Ze-Gyo or “cheap market” is also visited often
It’s the place for buying clothes, books and other items
The sale girls were so sweet, cultured and courtesan
We had to control and suppressed our sentiments.

Ze-Gyo Clock Tower was the centre of Mandalay
It was also the center of our universe
We could go from it to any place in every way
We used to go to Yone-Daw Gyi for food stuffs.

We also visited Mahamuni Pagoda
We paid homage on arrival here

We also showed obeisance when exam near

Burmans are fond of relying on Buddha.

It's the most famous pagoda in Upper Burma

Prince Shwedaung brought it over Arakan Yoma

It belonged to the Arakanese before it was here

We can still see brass Arakanese soldiers near.

(Entrance to Mahamuni Pagoda)

We have a saying,” Mandalay people excel in speech”
Yes, they are sweet and polite indeed
They speak standard colloquial Burmese
We learn from them to be civil and sweet.

(Mahamuni Buddha Statue)

I learned a lot from Mandalay
Not only school lessons, discipline and morality
But also culture, language, speech and civility
It thus made me a patriot in all categories.

(The Last King and Queeen of Burma)

Mandalay is really a magnificent place
It befits the fame of the last royal palace
It tells us all its myths and magnificent grace
I owe a debt of gratitude so significant and suave!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
29.10.2008 (original)