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+===== Hiking In Burma's Holy Hills. =====
-HIKING' IN SURNIL'S HOLY Ht-T,S.
 Marie B. Byles.
- suppose you would call it hiking, not bushwalking, though there is plenty of wild prickly jungle in the Sagaing Hills near Mandalay. Indeed, they are almost impassable without a path, and you cannot very well wear walking shoes and socks because you have to Slip them off every time you see statues of white lions for these mean sacred ground, either a monastery or a pagoda.
-' But even though it was only hiking I thoroughly enjoyed the days I was taken on pilgrimage up the sacred againg hills this Christmas. They were a break in the life at meditation centres of which I have told in Journey into Burmese Silence that ..lien and Unwin have just published. Nearly every crest of these holy hills is crowned with a white and gold pagoda instead of a prosaic cairn or trig station and you are always meeting mythological beasts and golden Buddha statues and curious Nuts, the effigies of nature-spirits.
+I suppose you would call it hiking, not bushwalking, though there is plenty of wild prickly jungle in the Sagaing Hills near Mandalay. Indeed, they are almost impassable without a path, and you cannot very well wear walking shoes and socks because you have to slip them off every time you see statues of white lions for these mean sacred ground, either a monastery or a pagoda.
-crossed the wide Irrawaddy river in a bat like abird apinted with gay designs, climbed up the muddy blnks to a flagged footpath whose entrance' was guarded by two lifelike dragons. Their tails mere firmly held by a mythological bird perched on a stone archway. This bird likes eating dregons as a ;change of diet from worms, but as the dragons don't like being eaten there is sometimes a difference of epinion between them..
-The path mounts steeply passing varinu6 humble bamboo nunneries roofed same- times with the very latest roofing material, corni-getedynn which must, make them something like ovens in-Summer. 'hove them are paletial m-masteries, of course all with corrigated iron roofs! One is so magnificent that-even a luxourous hotel could hardly better it. The 3againg Hills are compoe'ed of a metamorphosed limestone riddled with caves. In this palatial monastery the caves have been carefully rounded, floored and whitelmshed. They provide comfnrtable bedrooms warm in winter and a cool escape in summer from the space beneath the corrigated iron, I imagine,
+But even though it was only hiking I thoroughly enjoyed the days I was taken on pilgrimage up the sacred Sagaing hills this Christmas. They were a break in the life at meditation centres of which I have told in Journey into Burmese Silence that Allen and Unwin have just published. Nearly every crest of these holy hills is crowned with a white and gold pagoda instead of a prosaic cairn or trig station and you are always meeting mythological beasts and golden Buddha statues and curious Nuts, the effigies of nature-spirits.
-Higher up, the nunneries and monasteries become fewer and fewer, likewise the huge concrete' water tanks with cement catchment areas generally guarded by two faithful dragons whose long tails keep away both rubbish and human beings.
-Some of the paths pass through shady jungle whose taller trees, such as frangipani, and tamarind have been imported but which would now grow wild. Some 'of'them lead you up frightfully steep steps the first ten or so of' which are as high as they are -wide, and the others not much gentler so that you almost feel as if you were rock-climbing. Others again are sloping colonades roofed with corrigated iron in picturesque tiers and sugeorted on huge teak wood columns. J'en the flagged paths are not roofed over they can get very hot in the tropical sun when you are wearing only thin Slippers.
+We crossed the wide Irrawaddy river in a boat like a bird painted with gay designs, climbed up the muddy banks to a flagged footpath whose entrance was guarded by two lifelike dragons. Their tails were firmly held by a mythological bird perched on a stone archway. This bird likes eating dregons as a change of diet from worms, but as the dragons don't like being eaten there is sometimes a difference of opinion between them.
-However, there are large earthenware pots containing drinking water - except being a foreigner it is unwise to drink unboiled water.- at convenient resting
-The Sydney Bushwalker 11.
+The path mounts steeply passing various humble bamboo nunneries roofed sometimes with the very latest roofing material, corrigated iron which must make them something like ovens in Summer. Above them are paletial monasteries, of course all with corrigated iron roofs! One is so magnificent that even a luxourous hotel could hardly better it. The Sagaing Hills are composed of a metamorphosed limestone riddled with caves. In this palatial monastery the caves have been carefully rounded, floored and whitewashed. They provide comfortable bedrooms warm in winter and a cool escape in summer from the space beneath the corrigated iron, I imagine.
-places, and tea-Shops and stalls at all the principal shrines, and no lack of strictly teetotal. beveragps for the hundreds of pilgrims Who come every sabbath day and sometimes on other days also Many of them have came from the most distant parts of Burma and it it usually these'Who fill the offering bokes at the Shrines with especially generousdonations for the upkeep of the pagodas. And pagodas need ceaseless upkeep; usually some part of them spoils the photograph by being draped in scaffolding or bamboo-matting or women labourers carrying anything up to 140 lbs on their heads
-But perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the sacred hills nre the countleSs small pagodas falling into ruinwhich no one bothers to repair. Gradually-the coating of white washed concrete chips off aided by a few earthcuakes and reveals the red bricks beneath, the most vulnerable of all materils to the trembling of
+Higher up, the nunneries and monasteries become fewer and fewer, likewise the huge concrete water tanks with cement catchment areas generally guarded by two faithful dragons whose long tails keep away both rubbish and human beings.
-the earth, One large pagoda Ms h3d a huge piece bitten nut of it by an earthcuake and now stands perilously above monasteries, nunneries and a lime-makers village. I said these ruinous pagodas are the best feature of the hills; this is not on account of their beauty but because they insure that the hills will never be over pn?ulat,A; for you may never destrgy a pagoda or build on its sacred Lround, and always must you remove your shoes in its pracints even though the prickles are as big as needles and far stronger.
-little further up the Irrawaddy ric)-er arc the'sacred hills of Mingun where you may travel along sandy tracks in bulli-cck wagF;ins; far pleasanter for tender white feet in the noonday tropic sun. Here the lower hills'ar composed of hardened sand, former 111Uvia1 flats of the river. Birds hollow out holes in them for nests and monks for meditation caves, but as the caves are prone to fall in,
+Some of the paths pass through shady jungle whose taller trees, such as frangipani, and tamarind have been imported but which would now grow wild. Some of them lead you up frightfully steep steps the first ten or so of which are as high as they are wide, and the others not much gentler so that you almost feel as if you were rock-climbing. Others again are sloping colonades roofed with corrigated iron in picturesque tiers and supported on huge teak wood columns. When the flagged paths are not roofed over they can get very hot in the tropical sun when you are wearing only thin slippers.
-the meditator wrIuld have to be fairly proficient to sit in them without distraction.
-Alway-s from the tops of the hills you look oler hUngle and gleaming white  shrines to the calm blUe waters of the Irrawaddy river, whose banks in winter are
+However, there are large earthenware pots containing drinking water - except being a foreigner it is unwise to drink unboiled water - at convenient resting places, and tea-shops and stalls at all the principal shrines, and no lack of strictly teetotal beverages for the hundreds of pilgrims who come every sabbath day and sometimes on other days also. Many of them have come from the most distant parts of Burma and it it usually these who fill the offering boxes at the Shrines with especially generous donations for the upkeep of the pagodas. And pagodas need ceaseless upkeep; usually some part of them spoils the photograph by being draped in scaffolding or bamboo-matting or women labourers carrying anything up to 140 lbs on their heads.
-planted with a patchwork of crops bordered with a fringe of emerald green rice. Here the hard-working peasant, his wife and his faithful bullocks ploughs the earth
-With the same wooden Plough that has been used for thousands of yeart and sow and
+But perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the sacred hills are the countless small pagodas falling into ruin which no one bothers to repair. Gradually the coating of white washed concrete chips off aided by a few earthquakes and reveals the red bricks beneath, the most vulnerable of all materils to the trembling of the earth. One large pagoda has had a huge piece bitten out of it by an earthquake and now stands perilously above monasteries, nunneries and a lime-makers village. I said these ruinous pagodas are the best feature of the hills; this is not on account of their beauty but because they insure that the hills will never be over populated; for you may never destroy a pagoda or build on its sacred ground, and always must you remove your shoes in its precints even though the prickles are as big as needles and far stronger.
-reap the harvest. He does not mind much whether he pays his taxes to U Nu's Government or General Ne Win's or to some rebel chief, On special days he visits the shrines; at other times he makes gifts to monks and pagodas and puts flowers before the effigies of the NUts. There is no hunger in-Burma and at all times hecalls his bullocks by endearing names, pets his children and is always ready to laugh and be friendly.
-The sacred hills are a delic htful district for hiking provided you go with a heart that does not mind taking off shoes and going down with the-face on the gmand before sacred shrinee and orange-robed monks - nuns do not count:
+A little further up the Irrawaddy river arc the sacred hills of Mingun where you may travel along sandy tracks in bullock waggons, far pleasanter for tender white feet in the noonday tropic sun. Here the lower hills are composed of hardened sand, former alluvia1 flats of the river. Birds hollow out holes in them for nests and monks for meditation caves, but as the caves are prone to fall in, the meditator would have to be fairly proficient to sit in them without distraction.
-Overheard in the clubroom. "le 's a real puritan. HuTs myver cot over being born in bed with a 1,1dy.
-SEN Crossword L '1
+Always from the tops of the hills you look over jungle and gleaming white shrines to the calm blue waters of the Irrawaddy river, whose banks in winter are planted with a patchwork of crops bordered with a fringe of emerald green rice. Here the hard-working peasant, his wife and his faithful bullocks ploughs the earth with the same wooden plough that has been used for thousands of years and sow and reap the harvest. He does not mind much whether he pays his taxes to U Nu's Government or General Ne Win's or to some rebel chief. On special days he visits the shrines; at other times he makes gifts to monks and pagodas and puts flowers before the effigies of the Nuts. There is no hunger in Burma and at all times he calls his bullocks by endearing names, pets his children and is always ready to laugh and be friendly.
-across. - Silence a letter to make a product that wasn't very popular A rencint social evening.
-pamiNG LKS.
+The sacred hills are a delightful district for hiking provided you go with a heart that does not mind taking off shoes and going down with the face on the ground before sacred shrines and orange-robed monks - nuns do not count!
-APRIL. St. Anthony's - Flaunted House Yeola Kiama. 25m.. R.
-.14.1 Leader; Peter Stitt. 1.a33817e*tn 23 (3)'. Private transport.
+----
-.11 mystery walk. Be warned, Peter has not -been ,here and is 'going
-on Boy BroWn's advice.. Good wilkini; country, so Should be Quite intersting ould probably be classed '3.S a test yialk.
+Overheard in the clubroom. "He's a real puritan. HuTs myver got over being born in bed with a lady."
--
-.20.21. Easter' (as if you didn't know).
+----
-.23. There are three official walk s Eoing. Prospectives should note that while these are not m-Irked as t. -.,-stwalks they may be accepted as such on a recommendation of the leader. -"Moral; Look after the luader.
-Cars to  The Vince - the Castle rmd. return - 30m - R. 'Fascinating, Spectacul'Ir country P nd ,ond walking. You can 2.6arn a
+__SBW Crossword__
-' bit bout it before you go y rending Colin 'Vatsnn's article in this year's "The BushwalkDr"  If you haven't a copy (3/-) see David Ingram.
-Leader Eric dcock U 3257. Private transport.
+|X|1| | | | |X|
-. Glen Davis - Capertee R. - Mt. Uraterer - Capertoe R Wolgan R. - Newnes Glen Davis. 14.8ra. R.
-trip for the rugged and energetic. (A poor sense of smell will also be an advantage if Wilftakes his acetylene lamp). This is ciillenging, ibteresting country where if you take your eye off the map and compass Pr more than 5 minutes, you're a case for S & R.' See Wilf Hader - 1B3144 - Private Transport.
+across. - Silence a letter to make a product that wasn't very popular at a rencent social evening.
-Badgery's - Iron Pot Ck Tolwong Plateau - Tim's Gully -Shoalhaven R Badgery's - M.
-This is good walking-country. Half the walk is on the tops till"' ough woodlands half along the river, River crnssings are mcessary but ,most can be wa,ded, if the river is low enough. Hov rever, you'll hare to swim the Block--Up abnut 150 yards. (If you're like the leader and can't make that distance you'll just float down on your Dack, too). Leader -.)-tuart Brooks - J..4343. V Private Transport.
+----
-Blackheath - Blue Gum - Locklay's Pylon - Leurn. Leader Johnhite -Mx2271 (B) -.4W6526 -
-perennial favourite you'll 'really enjoy -'Rutpe'd. Grnse,s6ehery. Beautiful Blue um.Foresi. ,-lnd2,n_intere_stinE walk up Lnckleys. 12.50 pm train from Central. to laackheath.
+===== Coming Walks. =====
-MI
-.5.6 Barallier - MUrrun Ck Bindnck Gorge - Murrun CR - Barallier - 25m R. Rugged stuff. - trip for the coeri ed walker, to whom it should prove most interesting
+=== April. ===
-Leader - Mick Elfick Private Transport.
-.6 Glenbrook - St. Helena - Western Ck Martin's lookout - Springwood4 Pleasant country. Should be a nice relaxing kind of walk. Leader Lynette White - JF6065,- (B).
+__13.14.15__. St. Anthony's - Haunted House - Yeola - Kiama. 25m. R. Leader: Peter Stitt. MX3381 extn 238 (B). Private transport. A mystery walk. Be warned, Peter has not been here and is going on Boy Brown's advice. Good wilking country, so should be quite intersting. Would probably be classed as a test walk.
+__19.20.21.22.23__. Easter (as if you didn't know). There are three official walks going. Prospectives should note that while these are not marked as __test walks__ they may be accepted as such on a recommendation of the leader. Moral; Look after the leader.
+. Cars to "The Vines" - the Castle and return - 30m - R. Fascinating, spectacular country and good walking. You can learn a bit about it before you go by reading Colin Watson's article in this year's "The Bushwalker". If you haven't a copy (3/-) see David Ingram. Leader Eric Adcock - U 3257. Private transport.
+. Glen Davis - Capertee R. - Mt. Uraterer - Capertoe R - Wolgan R. - Newnes Glen Davis. 48m. R. A trip for the rugged and energetic. (A poor sense of smell will also be an advantage if Wilf takes his acetylene lamp). This is challenging, interesting country where if you take your eye off the map and compass for more than 5 minutes, you're a case for S & R. See Wilf Hilder - XB3144 - Private Transport.
+. Badgery's - Iron Pot Ck - Tolwong Plateau - Tim's Gully -Shoalhaven R - Badgery's - 40 M. This is good walking country. Half the walk is on the tops through woodlands - half along the river. River crpssings are necessary but most can be waded if the river is low enough. However, you'll have to swim the Block-Up - about 100 yards. (If you're like the leader and can't make that distance you'll just float down on your pack, too). Leader - Stuart Brooks - J 4343. Private Transport.
+__28.29__. Blackheath - Blue Gum - Lockley's Pylon - Return. Leader John White - Mx2271 (B) XW6526 - 16m. A perennial favourite you'll really enjoy - Rugged Grose scenery. Beautiful Blue Gum Forest and an __interesting__ walk up Lockleys. 12.50 pm train from Central to Blackheath.
+=== May. ===
+__4.5.6__. Barallier - Murrun Ck - Bindock Gorge - Murrun Ck - Barallier - 25m R. Rugged stuff. A trip for the experinced walker, to whom it should prove most interesting. Leader - Mick Elfick. Private Transport.
+__5.6__. Glenbrook - St. Helena - Western Ck - Martin's lookout - Springwood. Pleasant country. Should be a nice relaxing kind of walk. Leader Lynette White - JF6065 (B).
+----
 .
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