Awoke at the break of dawn to record the monks receiving alms. As you can see from the video, it is a beautiful and important Buddhist ritual for the monks. Unfortunately, it has also become uncomfortable for them due to the amount of tourists that come to take pictures. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii4SvzGt5iw?t=10s]
Touring Buddhist Caves Around Hpa-an
After traveling for nearly a year, Tara and I seem to have found a perfect balance between going on our own and hiring a guide/tour to take us around. The benefits of both (you pay a premium for knowledge and access with a tour, but it also means giving up freedom and flexibility) keep us Read Post
Reclining Buddhas and a Burmese Python in Bago
After getting our bearings and kyats (the local currency, pronounced “chats”) in Yangon, we decided to visit Bago, a bustling small town a two-hour drive northeast. The decision to travel here was primarily due to having three weeks in the country and a large gap of where to go. While we initially marked numerous cities Read Post
Video: Gold Leaf Makers of Mandalay, Myanmar
Buddhists rub gold leaf squares on statues of Buddha or on holy sites, like Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. In Mandalay, Myanmar they make the squares, here is the process: “Only 24 carat gold is used. First, about 200 gm is pulled into thin wires, and then pulled through a press to form a ribbon 90 cm long Read Post
Video: Tour Of Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
A walking tour around Shwedagon Pagoda, a gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma). [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RazqhSnO4kw]