Our Myanmar travel started with a blink of a stop in the bustling city of Yangoon. Kristin & I took advantage of the hours after sunset by visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda, a huge 100 meter pagoda that stands in the city, walking distance from our hotel. As the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in the country, the place was absolutely packed, though it was interesting to see how few tourists were there. Blinged to the nines, the Pagoda is used by all the locals to come worship. Buddhism is more than a religion in this country, it is an absolute way of life. We wandered around and witnessed many forms and styles of worship at the variety of 'stations' around the pagoda.
The following morning we packed up and met up with the 11 others that were booked in to our Butterfield & Robinson bike focused trip. Group tour travel has never been something that I've partaken in, so it was an interesting adventure in itself to travel with guides, with such a large group of people. The benefits of the tour travel quickly became apparent to me when I almost immediately lost my sunnies, one flip flop, along with any semblance of the day of the week – since all details were managed by our wonderful B&R guides, Tim & Dane.
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| The vary tall, impressive & gold Shwedagon Pagoda |
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| I thought this was such a sweet moment, capturing a monk resting in one of the corners of the stupa – turns out he was just texting on his cellie |
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The Pagoda is by so many people to worship in so many ways
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| And has many different images and statues of buddha for all types of worship |
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| Blingged out buddah – LED brings adorning into the 21st century |
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| Interesting contrast of the traditional monk robe under the LED decorated buddha |
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