Land of pagodas: Yangon gallery

“When I was young and had no sense

In far-off Mandalay 
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.
Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
her teeth were ivory;

I said, "For twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me."
She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.” 

- George Orwell

Swangun Pagoda in Yangon is 99 meters high, covered by layers of gold leaf. The tip has precious jewels, including a 65-carat diamond. Sixty-eight smaller pagodas surround it.

Barefoot visitors and locals fill the acre-sized square to pray or awe over the richness and holiness of the Swaghun Pagodas.

A little girl looks around while her mother prays to Buddha.

Columns holding up prayer areas are decorated with cut class.

Visitors put gold leaf on certain parts of this statue depending on the prayer. If they want love, they adhere gold leaf on Buddha's heart. Praying for good health requires gold leaf on his belly. This Buddha's hands are misshapen by people seeking wealth.

I stand before a Buddha just to show you how big they are 

in the pagodas of Myanmar. The right hand touches the 

ground to indicate worldliness. Religion is very important; the people

 will go hungry and still bring 

food and flowers to the monks.