Feb 3, 2005 - Day 212 in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Charles writes: Yangon, Myanmar’s capital has the most revered site, Shwedagon Paya … you can feel the holiness seeping out of it. Monks from Myanmar hope to make a pilgrimage here once in their lifetime. There are so many golden statues and temples, it makes you feel like you’re in a Buddhist Disney World. The main stupa, which is over 1,000 years old, was being repaired. You can see it in the photos with the wood scaffolding on it. The top of the spire has 5000 diamonds and 2000 other stones. When I turned the corner and saw it for the first time… it took my breath away.