SHAUNVEN

Cambodian Monk and Bagan

My foot was trembling in fear as I climbed the stairs of an ancient pagoda. The rusted iron bar was the only lifeline holding me from falling. The steps were 2 ...
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My foot was trembling in fear as I climbed the stairs of an ancient pagoda. The rusted iron bar was the only lifeline holding me from falling. The steps were 2 inches smaller than my foot, which intensified my fear of heights. Why is this story significant?

The moment you reach the top of the pagoda, you are met with a walkway that spans 5 feet off a ledge that is barricaded by a rather small "gate" - 2 feet to be precise. So what?

I hugged the wall. My back was against stone, and tried my best to not move. I was then greeted by this man. He was standing a foot away from me, next to another monk. Although I did not get his name, I did get his story. He told me that he was doing pilgrimage to holy sites in Myanmar. The monk came all the way from Cambodia to explore Bagan. I politely asked him if it was okay to take a picture of him. The man calmly said, "yes". He took a few steps back and posed. Calm and collected. I showed him the shot and he smiled.

The next day, I was able to climb another pagoda without fear.
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