Schwedagon Temple in Yangon is said to be 2,500 years old and is covered in gold and precious jewels.
Barefoot explorers in Yangon's temple. Ouch to the feet. Schwedagon Temple
People rest and pray in the shade at Yangon's Schwedagon Pagoda.
Kai at Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar
Schwedagon in Yangon, Myanmar
Keeping the Schwedagon temple meticulously clean.
Scaffolding for workers to paint fresh gold leaf on Schwedagon Temple in Yangon
Boy monks--Yangon
Schwedagon Temple in Yangon with begging monks.
Elaborate woodwork--Yangon
One of the world's largest reclining Buddhas at the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda in Yangon.
A monk prays in the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, where there is a (70m) 230-foot-long reclining Buddha, built in 1966.
Burmese Buddhists worship the 108 symbols on Buddha's feet.
Restaurant on city park lake in Yangon.
Participant in a religious parade--Bagan, Myanmar
Bad hair day. OK, just an old woman watching the parade.
Procession of little children in Bagan, Myanmar, in a novitiation ceremony.
"These are my babies!" Burmese version of "Les Miserables" kids.
One of 2,000 Bagan-area temples. About 1,000 years old.
Temples in Bagan as far as the eye can see. 1,000 years ago it was the belief that if you built a temple, your sins would be forgiven.
Some temples you can climb on, which gives people a great view.
Some sins were bigger than others. Hence, bigger temples!
Bagan, Myanmar is simply fantastic. Every temple is different.
One dollar per photo. The makeup is used to keep them cool.
One of the many larger temples. Lots of souvenirs to buy.
Neither temples nor transportation methods have changed in 1,000 years.
Farmers with oxen.
Gawdawpalin Temple built in the 12th century by King Narapatisithu, 60 meters high
Typical Burmese home in Bagan. Cooking is done outdoors.
Burmese kitchen.
Hundreds of tiny Buddhas at the Mahabodhi Temple from the 12th century. Each looks different.
A vendor mixed pulverized tree bark with water to make a paste to put on Kai's face. Keeps bugs away and the skin cool, they say.
Bagan is a must-see. We met a German tourist with too much vacation time who spent a month here but still hadn't seen all the temples. That's a bit extreme.
Top of the world, Ma! On top of the Mingalarzedi Pagoda from, 1277 AD.
Laboring long and lone by the shore.
Bathtime
The Little Merman: Evening boat ride on the Irrawaddy River, Bagan
Ferry for bicycle across the Irrawaddy River, Bagan, Myanmar.
Not comfortable, but traditional transport in Bagan.
Dhammayangyi Temple
Dhammayangyi Temple: The horse and buggy carts are a popular way to get around the area and visit temples.
Entrance gate to Dhammayangyi
Three ancient Buddha paintings and one little boy.
Dhammayangyi, the largest temple in Burma. The king who built it, was also assassinated here.
Little Buddha
1,000-year-old temple art telling the story of Buddha's enlightenment.
The Barefoot Explorer: Can't recall name of this temple, but the frescos were wonderful.
11th-century Gawdawpalin Temple: After the 147th temple my feet were starting to feel so sore.
Ananda, one of Bagan's largest temples. Rugs are out to dry.
This is a stupa, rather than a temple.
Beyond Rangoon... the only all-white temple, named Leimyethna from 1223 AD.
