Myanmar Hoodies

The Shwemawdaw Paya in Bago is the tallest pagoda in Burma. With its height of 114 meters it is 15 meters taller than the Shwedagon Pagoda in nearby Yangon. The impressive Shwemawdaw, which translates to “Great Golden God” was built by the Mon people over a thousand years ago. It is one of Burma’s most sacred sites, because it enshrines several relics of the Buddha. The towering pagoda glittering in the sun can be seen from miles around. Over the centuries, the pagoda has been rebuilt and enlarged several times, as a result of the destruction caused by earthquakes. Two huge Chinthe, mythological animals that look like a lion stand guard at the entrance of the temple grounds. Numerous small pagodas are placed at the base of the 114 me...

On the terrace of the Sutaungpyei Pagoda, a panoramic view of the Mandalay plain stretches to the horizon, with the old city walls and moat, the Thudhamma Zayats (rest houses), and various stupas such as the Kuthodaw Pagoda and its 7oo odd satellite stupas each housing a page inscribed in stone the world's largest book, Kyautawgyi and Sandamuni Pagodas, the Irrawaddy to the west and the Minwun Hills on its opposite bank.

According to Burmese legend the site where the Sule pagoda now stands was once the home of a powerful nat (spirit) named Sularata. The king of the Nats, Sakka, wished to help the legendary king Okkalap build a shrine for the Buddha's sacred hair-relic on the same site where three previous Buddhas had buried sacred relics in past ages. Unfortunately, these events had happened so long ago that not even Sakra knew exactly where the relics were buried. The Sule nat, however, who was so old that his eyelids had to be propped up with trees in order for him to stay awake, had witnessed the great event. The gods, Nats and humans of the court of Okkalapa therefore gathered around the Sule Ogre and asked him the location, which he eventually remem...

The Shwethalyaung Buddha is a reclining Buddha in the west side of Bago (Pegu), Burma (Myanmar). The Buddha, which has a length of 55 m (180 ft) and a height of 16 m (52 ft), is the second largest Buddha in the world, after the 74 m reclining Buddha in Dawei (Tavoy). The Buddha is believed to have been built in 994, during the reign of Mon King Migadepa. It was lost in 1757 when Pegu was pillaged. During British colonial rule, in 1880, the Shwethalyaung Buddha was rediscovered under a cover of jungle growth. Restoration began in 1881, and Buddha's mosaic pillows (on its left side) were added in 1930. This is a view from behind the Buddha.

Sagaing Hill is located on the Irrawaddy River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river, Sagaing with numerous Buddhist monasteries is an important religious and monastic center. The pagodas and monasteries crowd the numerous hills along the ridge running parallel to the river. The central pagoda, Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, is connected by a set of covered staircases that run up the 240 m hill. Sagaing was the capital of Sagaing Kingdom (1315–1364), one of the minor kingdoms that rose up after the fall of Bagan dynasty. During the Ava period (1364–1555), the city was the common fief of the crown prince or senior princes. The city briefly became the royal capital between 1760 and 1763 in the reign of King Nau...

On the Chindwin near Kindat, Myanmar 8E1608.9262 Nikon D800E | Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII @ 86mm f/11 1/320s ISO500 | Raw

Young monk on way to prayer at Bago monestery.

Many women will buy fish from the fish market, packed in baskets of ice, then try to sell what they've bought at a slight profit. Taken outside fish market in Mandalay.

Saw this man at work along 84th Street Mandalay

Bus stop in Mandalay caught my attention given the traditionally dressed mad and the youths.

Bagan, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan became a central powerbase in the mid 9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Burma. Approximately 2,000 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. Despite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site, beca...

Kalewa, Myanmar 8E1608.9040 Nikon D800E | Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 VC @ 30mm f/3.2 1/160s ISO1000 | Raw Top 10 in Piers, Jetties, Bridges and Lighthouses “Under the Bridge” (27 November 2016)

Climbing to top of Sagaing Hill in Mandalay, came across these Burmese having a snack part of the way up.

The Kuthodaw Paya (Pagoda), or Maha Lawka Marazein Paya, contains what often is called the world’s largest book. It is a large walled complex situated at the base of the southeast stairway to Mandalay Hill and was built by King Mindon at the same time he was constructing the Royal Palace. Its central stupa is modeled on the Shwezigon at Nyaung U near Bagan. An on-site carved tablet indicates that the pagoda’s height is 187 ft 9 in, high, while some guide books list it at 100 ft (30 m). The former includes the platform in the measurement.

Not sure what's going on here, looks like he or his mum have sold out of fish. Otherwise his mum could still be shopping. Taken at fish market Mandalay

The Sandamuni Pagoda is located to the southeast of Mandalay Hill and looks similar to nearby Kuthodaw pagoda because of the large number of slender whitewashed stupas on the grounds. The pagoda was erected on the location of King Mindon’s provisional palace. It was built as a memorial to King Mindon’s younger half-brother Crown Prince Kanaung, who had helped him seize power from Pagan Min in 1853. Poor Crown Prince Kanaung was assassinated by 2 of Mindon’s sons who were disappointed being excluded from the succession. In 1874, King Mindon had the pagoda built near the graves of the Crown Prince. In this image Mandalay Hill is in the background.

These young nuns are walking round town collecting alms. In this case some rice, but other items are sometimes given including money. I was given to understand that monks were allowed to collect alms 5 days a week, while nuns were allowed only two days. Didn't get this confirmed though.

Bagan (formerly Pagan) is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Burma (Myanmar). From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 4,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.

Photo taken of people unloading barge on Irrawaddy, Mandalay. They get paid about 50 cents (US) a day and they work all day. They're unloading firewood for the city, of which a lot is used.

The site of the deserted Palace of Ava is now marked by a solitary masonry 27 metres high watchtower, an example of early 19th century Burmese architecture.

Seen on way to Sagaing, outside Mandalay.

An alternative view. Located close by the Shwethlyaung temple, the Mya Tha Lyaung temple is one of the newer in the region Built in 2002, it is unusual because of the outdoor nature of the Buddha. In this instance, the reclining Buddha is not covered by any building or structure, which leads many to believe that the complex may not be completed. The detailing and composure of the image make it one of the more striking reclining Buddhas around. The size of this Buddha image exceeds that of the image in the neighboring Shwethlyaung temple.

Taken on trip along railway line that circles Rangoon. This mans home was near the track.

Bananas for sale near fish market on Irrawaddy River at Mandalay. Not sure what the brown ones are.

Having bought a quantity of small fish it is being shared out for all family to carry. Fish market Mandalay

Monks waiting for sunset atop Mandalay Hill. Mandalay city took its name from the hill. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries. At the top of the hill is the Sutaungpyei (literally wish-fulfilling) Pagoda. A panoramic view of Mandalay from the top of Mandalay Hill alone makes it a worthwhile climb. Many people climb to see the sunset, as did I.

Old craftsman finishing off some furniture on the street outside his workshop in Mandalay.

Sort of sunset from top of Mandalay Hill. Mandalay city took its name from the hill. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries. At the top of the hill is the Sutaungpyei (literally wish-fulfilling) Pagoda. A panoramic view of Mandalay from the top of Mandalay Hill alone makes it a worthwhile climb. Many people climb to see the sunset, as did I.

Burmese lads unloading a boat at the Irrawaddy River near the fish market, Mandalay

There are over 2000 pagodas in Bagan. Most have numbers. These are some of them. Mainstream scholarship holds that Bagan was founded in the mid-to-late 9th century by the Mranma (Burmans), who had recently entered the Irrawaddy valley. From 1044 to 1287, Bagan was the capital as well as the political, economic and cultural nerve center of the Pagan Empire. The influence the city had can be demonstrated in the archaeological evidence in the brickwork. Bagan did not appear to pay tribute to other villages, indicating it held a higher place in the settlement hierarchy of the state. Over the course of 250 years, Bagan's rulers and their wealthy subjects constructed over 10,000 religious monuments (approximately 1000 stupas, 10,000 small temp...

Bagan, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan became a central powerbase in the mid 9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Burma. Approximately 2,000 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. Despite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site, beca...

Bagan, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan became a central powerbase in the mid 9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Burma. Approximately 2,000 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. Despite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site, beca...

fight for freedom and democracy

Bagan, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan became a central powerbase in the mid 9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Burma. Approximately 2,000 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. Despite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site, beca...

Yangon, Myanmar 8E1608.7431 Nikon D800E | Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII @ 200mm f/4.5 1/500s ISO800 | Raw