Blinded by Golden Pagodas
Pagodas (Paya) in and around Yangon consist of golden Stupas surrounded by more & smaller, tower like structures. They are typically located on (man made) hills so you have to climb a ton of stairs – or take the outdoor escalator. You cannot go inside a stupa because they are chambers which hold a relic of buddha – a tooth, hair or something similar.
Temples are open buildings located by the Stupas and are a place of meditation.
Burmese names are based on the day you were born, as well as your parents names. At Shwedagon Pagoda you can find a Monday Corner, a Tuesday Corner and so on. I was born on a Tuesday, and I am 30. Therefore, I would have to look for the Tuesday corner and pour a cup of water over Buddha 30 times and place my offerings, if I had any religious bone in me.
By the time we got there we had already walked about 8km through the city and it was around 3PM. My Dad and I had to sit down because we were about to faint from the heat. Apart from the afternoons, I am surprised at how mild and awfully lovely 30+ºC can be.
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Photos taken January/February 2018.