I am sure for many foreign visitors as well as local visitors alike, once arrived in Bagan getting hand painting is one of the highlight experience. When you go around famous temple in Bagan, you can easily notice these beautiful tattoo designs, which are being displayed a long the entrance of the temples by the temporary tattoo painters.
After visiting Thatbyinnyu Temple, we headed back to the car park area, which is a few walking distance from the Temple. By the way, the Thatbyinnyu raises to a height of 201 feet above the ground and overtops all the other monuments in Bagan.We had been touring around Temples since early morning, and even though it was just about 11 am the heat was too strong, so, we decided to rest for a while at the shop, where soft drinks and young coconut juice are selling.
The cold young coconut juice was very refreshing. While we were enjoying the drinks and the beautiful view around Dammayangyi temple, this painter approached me and my sister and convinced us to get hand painting. He showed us his beautiful tattoo designs, and said it only cost 2500 to 3000 kyats depending on the design that we choose.
At first, we both said no. But the man didn’t walk away instead start conversing in a friendly way with us. He said, since the political situation in Rahkine State, the number of foreign visitors in Bagan have dropped significantly. He said, few visitors mean less income for him. He shared us about his life a painter in Bagan. He used to sell send painting, but now, he said, he enjoys his life as temporary tattoo painter.
I found him quite decent and friendly; well… his friendly conversation could be his way of doing marketing. My sister and I finally decided to get hand painting from him, after all it didn’t cost much and we wanted to help our fellow country man in a small way we can.
He asked his friend to come over to help with the painting. He did the painting on my sister hand and his friend put beautiful painting on my hand. After drying the tattoo, the surface was sprayed to make it water repelling.
The whole process took only about 20 minutes, and I was very happy with the result. He told us that if we are careful with the tattoo getting wet by the water, the panting could last 2-3 days, true enough the beautiful tattoo lasted 3 days on my hand. Before I departed I told him that I sincerely wish for peace in our country so that more visitors will be coming to Bagan and more customers for him. He gave me a big smile.
Julie Bawk ( Kachin)
Photos credit: Google Image, by me