These posts are from 2016. We begin with our arrival in Yangon, Myanmar

…..We continued onto our next site, the Shwedagon Pagoda, also known at the Great Dragon Pagoda or the Golden Pagoda… the stupa alone of the pagoda is covered with 8,688 solid gold blocks. People all over the country, as well as monarchs in its history, have donated gold to the pagoda to maintain it. The top of the stupa holds 5,448 diamonds and a combination of 2,317 sapphires, rubies and topaz. Immediately below the diamond bud is a flag-shaped vane. The very top—the diamond bud—is tipped with a 76 carat diamond. It is there to capture the sun’s rays, which particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
Below the golden stupa are 7 more gold blocks, which are attached to 1,485 bells. Of those bells, 420 are made of pure silver, and 1, 065 are made out of gold. It is rumored that even more riches lay hidden deep within, offerings made long ago to the relics of the Buddhas. This has never been proven, but it adds to the mystery and lore of this sacred site.

 

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day 1 Jan 6 Yangon