Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the capital of Myanmar (formerly Burma), appears to be crumbling before your eyes. Time stopped decades ago for this city of four million. It is the Havana of Southeast Asia.
Thankfully, Yangon has at least one beautifully maintained structure - Shwedegon Pagoda - one of the most important and imposing Buddhist shrines in the world. Shwedagon is reason enough to linger.
Heat and humidity conspire to defeat even the most enthusiastic of tourists in Yangon. Yet, even as reservoirs of perspiration pool in your shoes, you can't help being drawn into the charms of this time-warped town.
Date(s): July 2007. Album by David Kohl. Photos by David Kohl & Ross Rosenberg. 1 - 19 of 19 Total. 4079 Visits.
View of Shwedagon Pagoda Early morning view of Shwedagon Pagoda from our hotel - Kandawgyi Palace (www.kandawgyipalace.com).
View of Shwedagon Pagoda From Lake Kandawgyi.
View of Kandawgyi View from our hotel room of one of the many wooden walkways traversing Kandawgyi. The name means Royal(dawgyi) Lake(kan).
Buddha at Sule Pagoda One of the most centrally located pagodas in Yangon. As can be seen here, the buddha shrines are often lit up with multi-colored blinking lights - part carnival, part church.
Moseah Yeshua Synagogue Founded over 100 years ago, this synagogue was orignally founded by sephardic Jews from Iraq and India. In the 1960s and 1970s many Jews fled Burma. Now only eight Jewish families comprise the entire congregation.
Buddha at Chaukhtagyi Pagoda 230-foot long reclining Buddha was being cleaned at the time of our visit.
Buddha close-up There is a 8.5 carat diamond placed between its eyes. 551 smaller diamonds are also attached to the statue. If that isn't enough, one ton of gold leaf is stamped on the body!
Feet of the the Buddha The feet are inscribed with the 108 sacred symbols of Buddha enlightenment. (Our guide - Oo Oo Myat Khaing - can be seen in front of the feet.)
Big feet with big guys
Swedagon Pagoda Early evening at Shwedagon Pagoda. The original pagoda was constructed about 2,500 years ago but, because of numerous earthquakes, it has been rebuilt several times. There are four stairways - one for each direction - leading up to the main circular walkway.
Shwedagon Pagoda There are 64 smaller pagodas, 4 main prayer pavilions, 8 zodiac prayer posts and numerous other shrines and temples that comprise this complex.
Sweepers at Shwedagon "Volunteer" sweepers rotate clockwise around the main walkway. As in all Buddhist temples, footwear is not allowed -so floors need to be kept clean.
Zodiac shrine Every person has an animal symbol (elephant, garuda, etc.) and a planet symbol (Mars, Venus, etc.) associated with the day of the week on which they were born. At different zodiac shrines, believers participate in a water pouring ritual.
Nat at Shwedagon One of the 37 spirits ("nats")that Burmese Buddhists also revere. Nat worship is a pre-Buddhist practice that attributes a live soul to natural objects.
The main stupa The main stupa is over 300 feet tall. It is entirely sheathed in gold leaf and constructed of over 20,000 solid gold bricks!
Zodiac station We joined in with the water pouring ritual at our zodiac station. We were both born on a Sunday. Our animal symbol is a garuda and our planet symbol is the sun.
Bell ringing The bell is struck three times to announce merit that you have performed.
Shwedagon at dusk The tip of the pagoda contains over 10,000 diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The top is crowned by a 76-carat diamond.
Shwedagon at night The pagoda is open every day until 9:30 p.m.
