Monks and Nuns - Shwedagon Paya

Lonely Planet begins their description of Myanmar with the sentence "Is there a more stunning monument to religion in Southeast Asia?  We don't think so."


They are describing the Shwedagon Paya in Yangon.  I have to agree with their description.  It was an amazing complex of temples, shrines and Buddha statues. 

When I visited early on a Sunday morning it was crowded and teeming with people.  Dressed in fine clothes;  they were praying, placing garlands of flowers on statues, lighting candles and incense, walking around the main stupa, congregating in family groups of all ages, taking photos and selfies and moving from temple to temple.  It was busy.  There were others selling gold leaf to put on the statues, polishing statues with Brasso, checking the neon lights were working, climbing the scaffolding surrounding the main spire, selling food, drink and flowers  or arranging flowers behind the scenes.  There were monks and nuns, old and young.  It really is a stunning and living monument to the Buddhist religion.