There are just so many amazing, world-class places in this one, very Buddhist country. It includes the gold covered rock of Kyaiktiyo, the 5,000 temples of Bagan, the culture of Mandalay, the Hill Tribes in the Golden Triangle, Schwedago Pagoda, the boat culture of Inle Lake, Buddhist monasteries, Mingun Pagoda, Mount Popa Temple and so many more.
Myanmar is also one of the most corrupt and repressive regimes in the world (we do not let politics dictate where we go). Visiting these types of countries allows us to see first hand what is happening politically and culturally, and to share that information. Our first visit, coincided with the release of Nobel Prize Winner Aung San Su Kyi from house arrest. We went to her headquarters at great risk of arrest and that remains a truly transcendent experience. While her release was an optimistic sign, unfortunately she was put under house arrest again and remains there today.
The Schwedago Pagado (above) in the capitol Yangon, is covered with gold and is the tallest religious building in the world. It is reported to contain over $1B in gold and it continues to grow daily. Buddhist worshippers purchase small amounts of gold leaf and use an adhesive to attach it to the side of the temple. Not all of it sticks and sometimes a little wind blows small flakes of gold around your feet.
A precariously balanced rock, in Kyaiktiyo
is covered with gold leaf, and sacred to Buddhists.
Mount Popa is an amazing temple built on top of a volcanic crag.
There are 5,000 temples in sixty square miles in Bagan. They are over 1,000 years old and were built by wealthy Buddhists in order to have a better afterlife.
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