Myanmar – Places I've Been, Beauty I've Seen

Profoundly Buddhist, Myanmar is the country with the most pagodas, stupas and temples in the world. Despite years of colonization and military rule, the Burmese have managed to preserve many of their ancient traditions. I looked forward to seeing this amazing but once isolated country to compare my experience to that of a friend who traveled there in the ‘70s when Myanmar, then Burma, didn’t have democracy and the foreigners allowed to enter could not speak with the local people. Myanmar is safe with so much beauty to see, culture to admire, and lovely people to meet.

Mount Kyaiktiyo, 1,000mts above sea level, Sacred Golden Rock on back

Mount Kyaiktiyo, 1,000mts above sea level, Sacred Golden Rock on back
Rock defies gravity, sways over the cliff, estimated to weigh 600tons

Rock defies gravity, sways over the cliff, estimated to weigh 600tons
Pagoda built on top holds relics of Buddha, pilgrims have worshiped for centuries

Pagoda built on top holds relics of Buddha, pilgrims have worshiped for centuries
From below you can see a large gap where the rock does not make contact with the base

From below you can see a large gap where the rock does not make contact with the base
My first sight of Mandalay, Myanmar, 2017

My first sight of Mandalay, Myanmar, 2017
Sunset from Shwesandaw Pagoda, Bagan

Sunset from Shwesandaw Pagoda, Bagan
Nature of Bagan, Myanmar, 2017

Nature of Bagan, Myanmar, 2017
Sunlight made it hard to see, the hot tile baking my bare feet while trying to get a good photo

Sunlight made it hard to see, the hot tile baking my bare feet while trying to get a good photo
Shwemawdaw Pagoda, 114mt tall, the pride of Bago, charming town east of Yangon

Shwemawdaw Pagoda, 114mt tall, the pride of Bago, charming town east of Yangon
Stupa in mint-conditions in remote area of Bagan

Stupa in mint-conditions in remote area of Bagan
Ayeyarwady Pagoda contains large plaques with scenes of Buddha’s past lives

Ayeyarwady Pagoda contains large plaques with scenes of Buddha’s past lives
Shwezigon Paya, Bagan

Shwezigon Paya, Bagan
Waiting to be restored, temple continues emanating peace and tranquility, Bagan

Waiting to be restored, temple continues emanating peace and tranquility, Bagan
Gawdawpalin Temple was built by King Narapatisithy in Old Baga

Gawdawpalin Temple was built by King Narapatisithy in Old Baga
Gate has kept vegetation from entering the temple

Gate has kept vegetation from entering the temple
Bagan, once a prosperous empire with over 10,000 temples until invaded in 1287

Bagan, once a prosperous empire with over 10,000 temples until invaded in 1287
South side gate of Ananda Temple surrounded by vegetation

South side gate of Ananda Temple surrounded by vegetation
Appears the same blue-print was used on these two pagodas, Old Bagan

Appears the same blue-print was used on these two pagodas, Old Bagan
Not a single sound while exploring Htilominlo Temple in Bagan

Not a single sound while exploring Htilominlo Temple in Bagan
With a Burmese friend outside of Htilominlo Temple, Bagan

With a Burmese friend outside of Htilominlo Temple, Bagan
Bagan, over 2,500 pagodas in the city, the most religious structures in the world

Bagan, over 2,500 pagodas in the city, the most religious structures in the world
“Au naturel” this pagoda looks radiant despite the loss of stucco coating due to erosion

“Au naturel” this pagoda looks radiant despite the loss of stucco coating due to erosion
On the top of an old temple to catch the sunset

On the top of an old temple to catch the sunset
Htilominlo Temple, 45mts high stands proudly in the Valley of Temples in Bagan

Htilominlo Temple, 45mts high stands proudly in the Valley of Temples in Bagan
Old temple remains, 1000 yrs old, Bagan

Old temple remains, 1000 yrs old, Bagan
Hundreds of years aged entryway of a temple in Bagan

Hundreds of years aged entryway of a temple in Bagan
Sunset, Shwesandaw Paya pagoda on the foreground

Sunset, Shwesandaw Paya pagoda on the foreground
Sculpture, ‘Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree’

Sculpture, ‘Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree’
Mount Popa is an extinct volcano 1,518mts high, 50km southeast of Bagan

Mount Popa is an extinct volcano 1,518mts high, 50km southeast of Bagan
After 777 steps and avoiding monkeys, I made it to the temple

After 777 steps and avoiding monkeys, I made it to the temple
Golden stupa, sight from the top of Mount Popa

Golden stupa, sight from the top of Mount Popa
Reclining Buddha, 55mt long, built in 994yr, discovered under vegetation in 1881

Reclining Buddha, 55mt long, built in 994yr, discovered under vegetation in 1881
Corridor of a Buddhist temple in Bagan

Corridor of a Buddhist temple in Bagan
Corridors were cool despite the hot temperature outside, Bagan

Corridors were cool despite the hot temperature outside, Bagan
Devotion of Burmese people, inspiring, Bagan

Devotion of Burmese people, inspiring, Bagan
Meditate to evolve, Myanmar is one of the most devoted Buddhist countries

Meditate to evolve, Myanmar is one of the most devoted Buddhist countries
6AM, young novices leaving after morning prayer, Shwedagon Pagoda

6AM, young novices leaving after morning prayer, Shwedagon Pagoda
Teenager deep in thought or prayers at 5AM, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon

Teenager deep in thought or prayers at 5AM, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon
Perhaps it is not who you pray to, but how much faith you have

Perhaps it is not who you pray to, but how much faith you have
Main gallery, Maha Buddhavamsa Museum , Mandalay

Main gallery, Maha Buddhavamsa Museum , Mandalay
Paintings depict the life of Buddha, Maha Buddhavamsa Museum

Paintings depict the life of Buddha, Maha Buddhavamsa Museum
Lokanat Gallery Building was built while a British colony, Mandalay

Lokanat Gallery Building was built while a British colony, Mandalay
Pagoda at the center of Maha Bandoola Park, Yangon

Pagoda at the center of Maha Bandoola Park, Yangon
Charming spot, the back of the hotel, Mandalay

Charming spot, the back of the hotel, Mandalay
National Museum holds Myanmar’s treasurers and gold Royal Regalia, Yangon

National Museum holds Myanmar’s treasurers and gold Royal Regalia, Yangon
Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar was its capital until 2006

Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar was its capital until 2006
Colonial building, now Aya Bank, Yangon

Colonial building, now Aya Bank, Yangon
Yangon City Hall building is a good example of Burmese Architecture

Yangon City Hall building is a good example of Burmese Architecture
International Building next to a once ‘modern in its times’ building, Yangon

International Building next to a once ‘modern in its times’ building, Yangon
Sampling local dishes in Yangon

Sampling local dishes in Yangon
5AM, Shwedagon Pagoda the most sacred structure in Myanmar

5AM, Shwedagon Pagoda the most sacred structure in Myanmar
Structures looked like giant pieces of jewelry, Shwedagon Pagoda

Structures looked like giant pieces of jewelry, Shwedagon Pagoda
Original pagoda, built 2,600 years ago by someone who met Buddha and asked King Okkalapa to do it

Original pagoda, built 2,600 years ago by someone who met Buddha and asked King Okkalapa to do it
Dawn, sacred structure with a deep blue sky as background

Dawn, sacred structure with a deep blue sky as background
Pagoda, 27tons of gold, thousands of diamonds and gems, believed to enshrine hair of Buddha

Pagoda, 27tons of gold, thousands of diamonds and gems, believed to enshrine hair of Buddha
Sunrise, Shwedagon Pagoda looking like it had flames burning inside

Sunrise, Shwedagon Pagoda looking like it had flames burning inside
Shwedagon Pagoda was built by the Mon People in the 9th century

Shwedagon Pagoda was built by the Mon People in the 9th century
Burmese people enjoying the early morning hours, Singuttara Hill

Burmese people enjoying the early morning hours, Singuttara Hill
Hundreds of glittering shrines, admired but not touched, Shwedagon Pagoda

Hundreds of glittering shrines, admired but not touched, Shwedagon Pagoda
Shwedagon Pagoda survived occupations and pillaging by foreign forces

Shwedagon Pagoda survived occupations and pillaging by foreign forces
Shwedagon Pagoda, an unforgettable place for the devotion of its visitors

Shwedagon Pagoda, an unforgettable place for the devotion of its visitors
Mya, smart and curious about foreigners, Mount Kyaiktiyo

Mya, smart and curious about foreigners, Mount Kyaiktiyo
Burmese beauty, Old Bagan

Burmese beauty, Old Bagan
Over sixty and healthy as can be, she proudly said before leaving, Bu Paya, Mandalay

Over sixty and healthy as can be, she proudly said before leaving, Bu Paya, Mandalay
Horse carriages are still used in the countryside of Myanmar

Horse carriages are still used in the countryside of Myanmar
She weaves hand-dyed silk threads five days a week at this weaving shop, Mandalay

She weaves hand-dyed silk threads five days a week at this weaving shop, Mandalay
Instructions are followed, and in two months a fancy dress is completed

Instructions are followed, and in two months a fancy dress is completed
Burmese teenagers are friendly yet conservative and respectful, Mount Popa

Burmese teenagers are friendly yet conservative and respectful, Mount Popa
A happy fourteen months old boy in Yangon

A happy fourteen months old boy in Yangon
Novice monks on the way for daily alms collection, Mandalay

Novice monks on the way for daily alms collection, Mandalay
Covered with Thanaka, paste made from ground bark, it cools and protects skin from the sun

Covered with Thanaka, paste made from ground bark, it cools and protects skin from the sun
Beautiful smile, Burmese woman near a market in Yangon

Beautiful smile, Burmese woman near a market in Yangon
Sunday morning in Yangon

Sunday morning in Yangon
Morning washing, Irrawaddy River in Mandalay

Morning washing, Irrawaddy River in Mandalay
Lake Taungthaman, conservation site to protect marine life from nearby polluters

Lake Taungthaman, conservation site to protect marine life from nearby polluters
Standing on U Bein Bridge, the longest and oldest teakwood bridge in the world

Standing on U Bein Bridge, the longest and oldest teakwood bridge in the world
Sunset in Amarapura, Myanmar, 2017

Sunset in Amarapura, Myanmar, 2017
Marionettes are part of Burmese culture for centuries, Mandalay

Marionettes are part of Burmese culture for centuries, Mandalay
Marionette Theatre in Mandalay, musicians tune strings, gongs and cymbals

Marionette Theatre in Mandalay, musicians tune strings, gongs and cymbals
Marionette Theatre in Mandalay, musicians tune strings, gongs and cymbals

Marionette Theatre in Mandalay, musicians tune strings, gongs and cymbals
Puppetry was revived by U Pan Aye (second from left) the oldest living master puppeteer in Myanmar

Puppetry was revived by U Pan Aye (second from left) the oldest living master puppeteer in Myanmar
Woman in the countryside of Inwa, Myanmar

Woman in the countryside of Inwa, Myanmar
Nun reaching for a kitten while one of the orphans gave me a shy smile, Shwedagon Pagoda

Nun reaching for a kitten while one of the orphans gave me a shy smile, Shwedagon Pagoda
Thinker at early age, or perhaps a future novice walking already her path, Myanmar, 2017

Thinker at early age, or perhaps a future novice walking already her path, Myanmar, 2017