Fast Forward Myanmar
From Shwedagon Pagoda to the temples of Bagan, discover the must-see and fascinating monuments and temples of Myanmar.
Yangon, Myanmar Tuesday, March 10, 2015
We arrived just after dawn. Outside birds filled the morning sky. I can hear the sound of birds mingling with the sound of the water.
From the moment we arrived, I felt like we all slowed down. Although the city has more than 4 million population, the city retains a peaceful way. Shimmering spikes poke up everywhere. People has a slow stroll amongst them. The cars and automobile looked antiquated. Decades of reclusion have preserved a culture and daily life untouched by Western trends.
Increased social stability. The ruling generals had released Aung San Suu kyi- Myanmar's lone opposition and hope for democracy. Since then, Myanmar has undergone a lot of changes. The government is more open and relaxed while the people are more outspoken.
The Royal Barge.
Our bowl of soup came from the kitchen and arrived on cue.
We'd finished our tea leaf salad with our wooden chopsticks dunking the last piece from ceramic blue bowls. It had the taste of a a mixture of vinegar, chilles, shredded tea leaves and some sugar.
The flavors mingled with the view.
On the opposite, pointy gilded spires glinted in the sun, their glow was reflected on the river.
On our first night, we visited Swedagon pagoda. It has the largest gilded or Buddhist mounded shrine. It stands on the hilltop above the city center. Its gold leaf glitters day and night, all the way up to its diamond encrusted pinnacle.
Removing our shoes at the door, we entered Swedagon pagoda just before sunset approached. It is th emost revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. The 8-sided central stupa is 90 meters tall and gilded with gold leaf. This is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas.
We climbed the stairs to the pagodas platform. Gazed up at the gigantic spire, gleaming in the fading sunlight surrounded by other smaller spires and prayer halls. It was so radiant that I was so entranced by the present and wondered for moment if it was real. Suddenly, there's sounds of bells gonging from a prayer hall. Its grandeur made me think This was a magical moment and a scene of tranquility.
I uttered my prayer starting at the Buddha statue for Thursday, the day I was born. And following the Buddhist tradition, walked clockwise around Swedagon's zedi. As darkness starts to fall, the golden stupas turned into a kind of fairyland illuminated by the dark sky. This spiritual tranquility is all the excitement I needed to end our first day in Yangon !
Tomorrow we looked forward to crossing the Irrawady river.
