Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Yangon

Thousands of devotees visit the pagoda each day to perform religious rites to make merit.

The eastern gate has vendors selling books, good luck charms, Buddha images, candles, gold leaf, incense sticks, prayer flags, streamers, miniature umbrellas and flowers to be given as offerings.

There are four entrances to the Shwedagon that lead up flights of steps to the platform on Singuttara Hill.

At the eastern side is also serving a lift to bring the visitors to the pagoda area. An old lift at the southern side was demolished. During my former visits I'd much fun to use that old shaky lift going up to the pagoda, I like going up and down several times.

When we reached the eastern gate to the ascent of the pagoda premises we were nearly the only foreigners coming that way. In spite of all predicted by other tourist information we saw only a few other western visitors.

Burmese women colour their (and their childrens) faces with thanaka bark. It is ground into a powder, mixed with water and applied onto the face. It is said to protects the skin against the sun - and it lightens the colour of the face. The girl offering plastic bags to store and carry our shoes and socks which must taken off on all the pagoda premise.

Two porters carry sugar cane to press the delicious juice out of the stems.

The walk is an markable experience passing small stores and flying vendor stalls. At least we reached the eastern side for the gate to the Shwedagon premise.

A busy round about on the way to the Shwedagon Pagoda east side. Distances in the tourist areas are not large and, provided to take it easy, we could walk almost anywhere.

The man falls in deep meditation in front of Buddha while just a few meters beside him people relax on a mat and eating their lunch.