Yangon, Myanmar (General Photos) (11/2006)

Yangon, Myanmar (General Photos) cover page.	Map of Myanmar with the star indicating Yangon.	The Town Hall of Myanmar which is located in the downtown section of Yangon.	Large square in front of the Town Hall near the Sule Pagoda.
The Sule Pagoda is in the background in this bustling part of Yangon.	Every day people crossing the street outside of the Sule Pagoda.	The octagonal-shaped Sule Pagoda is claimed to be over 2,000 years old.	It is also believed to enshrine a hair of the Buddha within the tip of the central dome.
The golden stupa of the Sule Pagoda.	Two women walking by some of the spires at the Sule Pagoda.	Interesting and colorful statue at the Sule Pagoda.	These two oval heads are in front of the colorful statue.
A Buddha statue with an electric halo behind it at the Sule Pagoda.	Two beautiful spires next to the main stupa of the Sule Pagoda.	These decorative paper flowers were for sale at the Sule Pagoda.	Detail of some of the ornamentation at the Sule Pagoda.
Yangon is bound on three sides by water. This is the ferry that crosses the Yangon River from the Mawtin Jetty.	Entryway to the Botahtaung Pagoda (which is situated in downtown beside the Yangon River).	A golden Buddha image at the Botahtaung Pagoda.	Another golden Buddha image at the Botahtaung Pagoda.
Like the Sule Pagoda, the Botahtaung Pagoda is also said to enshrine ancient hair relics of Buddha.	A colorful statue at the Botahtaung Pagoda with offerings of fruit in front of it.	The name “Botahtaung” means "1,000 military officers" (said to have escorted the Buddha relics from India 2,000 years ago).	Dragon sculpture at the Botahtaung Pagoda.
Closeup of the dragon sculpture. The pigeon on top does not seem to be phased by the dragon!	Me performing the sacred ritual of washing a Buddha statue at the Botahtaung Pagoda.	The Kabar Aye Pagoda in Yangon was built in 1954 in dedication to the 1954-56 Sixth Buddhist Council.	Interior Buddha shrine at the Kabar Aye Pagoda.
Closeup of the Buddha in the Kabar Aye Pagoda.	A history of how the Royal Palace Buddha was captured by the British in 1885 and returned to Myanmar in 1948.	Me riding a rickshaw along the Yangon River. They would not work for large butts (since the seats are so narrow)!	Large ships on the Yangon River.
There are also small boats on the Yangon River.	Produce market in downtown Yangon.	It was a busy shopping day at the produce market.	Fish and poultry vendors in Yangon's Chinatown section.
More fish and poultry vendors in Chinatown.	Me standing in front of the Chauk Htat Gyi (76 meters long and 16 meters high) Reclining Buddha in Yangon.	The scale of this Reclining Buddha is unbelievable.	The Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha is second only in size to the Shwe Tha Lyaung Reclining Buddha in Bago.
Side view facing the Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha's head.	Side view facing the Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha's feet.	A full body view from the Buddha's feet.	View of the soles of the Buddha's feet with the distinguishing markings on them.
Closeup of the soles of the Buddha's feet.	According to this sign, there are 108 marks on the Buddha's feet representing different worlds.	Hand and heatshot of the Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha.	A different hand and head shot angle.
Closeup of the Reclining Buddha's flawless porcelain head.	Naga king Nandopananda on left, on right, Buddha's disciple Moggalana, who turns into a bigger naga to subdue the naga king.	They are coiled around a cosmological mountain. After Nandopananda was defeated, he accepted Buddha's teachings.	View of Karaweik Hall, a floating barge on the Royal Lake in Yangon.
It is named after a sacred mythological bird Karaweik. Today, it is used for banquets and other entertainment.	A covered part of the passageway leading to the entrance of Karaweik Hall.	Pathway to the entrance of Karaweik Hall.	A fabulous dragon ornament inside of Karaweik Hall.
Closeup of the dragon.	Frontal view of the dragon.	Dragon's head holding a ball at the stern of Karaweik Hall.	Another view of the dragon's head at the stern of the barge.
It was a hot day at Karaweik Hall. Here one way to deal with the heat!	After leaving Karaweik Hall, we walked through Kandawgyi Nature Park located on the Royal Lake.	Bridge at the Royal Lake.	These excited children were running across the bridge coming towards me.
A distant view of the Royal Lake with Karaweik Hall in the backgound to the right.	View of the Royal Lake with the Shwedagon Pagoda in the background.	A thirsty goose was drinking out of the Royal Lake at the Kandawgyi Nature Park.	Some of the many gem dealers in Yangon.
The Bogyoke Aung San Market (well known for gems & jewelry, arts & crafts, fabrics & fashions and local products).	Another view from inside the Bogyoke Aung San Market.	Entrance to the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda in Yangon with 2 guardian lions.	Closeup of one of the guardian lions in front of the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.
A dragon sculpture going up the railing of the stairs.	Pathway with stairs into the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.	The pathway leads to a large white marble Buddha image carved from a single block of stone.	This Buddha is protected by plexiglass.
Sideview of the Buddha with light reflecting off of the plexiglass.	The Kyauktawgyi Pagoda is also known as the "Heavy Pagoda" because of the weight of the marble Buddha.	Closeup of the marble Buddha which is the largest stone Buddha in world.	Nice architectural details around the pagoda.
Painting depicting the marble Buddha being moved from Sakyin Hill, Mandalay Division (where the marble was excavated) to Yangon.	The monolithic marble Buddha image was brought down the Ayeyarwaddy River to its present location on top of Minn Dhamma Hill.	This represents a footprint of Buddha. Notice the distinguishing markings on them.	A side view of the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.
The decorative stairs and passageway leading out of the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.