Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Yangon

U Po Tha one of the country's leading paddy merchants, was a very pious and generous man and donated many religious buildings like the Shwedagon Pagoda northern main pray hall this Chauk-Htat-Kyee Reclining Buddha and the Chauk-Htat-Kyee Monastery. He was knighted by the British government in 1927.

A view out from the Yangon Sailing Club where in 1996 the Optimist Asian Championship was celebrated, joining eight nations from Asia. Picture below shows one of my captures done from the regatta in 1996.

1996 IODA Asian Optimist Championships Joining the nations: Myanmar, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Singapur, Malasia, South Korea and Thailand

The Chauk Htat Gyi huge image of Reclining Buddha, built in 1966 replacing the old image built in 1907 by Sir Hpo Thar. But it was suffered damage due to climate over the years. In 1957 it was demolished and rebuilt to this structure in 1966. It measures 65 meters and is housed in an iron structure with corrugated iron sheets roof of six layers, the donor named U Hpo Thar being fired by his ambition to make it a model edifice not only in this country but in the whole world as well. By 1907, the image of the Buddha half reclining on a royal couch on his flank, one hand propping up his upper torso was completed. From afar one might have mistaken it for an image in the seated posture.

The image then has a length of 59.28 m and a height of 30.4 m from the surface of the couch to the halo round the head with the height of the couch itself about 2 m above the platform. Extensive reconstruction completed in 1973 extended the length of the image to 65.85 m with the height of the couch however, reduced to 1.22 m. Originally the axis of the head turned towards the west and the visage faced the south, but the reconstructed image has the head aligned towards the east and the visage facing north.

Situated right in the heart of Yangon city, Sule Pagoda is among the earliest landmarks for the city. According to the legends, Sule Pagoda was constructed during the time of Lord Buddha more than 2,500 years earlier. The pagoda rises to height of nearly 46 m and sports a peculiar octagonal shape.

The pagodas area has been the centre of all major religious and political events in the history of Myanmar. Originally, it was built in South Indian architectural style but as the influence of Indian culture wore off, the pagoda was modified according to local styles. It is said that the pagoda houses a hair of Lord Buddha which he himself gave to two merchants. The golden dome of the pagoda is the main highlight. The Cholia Jamai Mosque at the background.

A main road of Yangon circles in the round about of the Sule Pagoda.

Sadly, in both 1988 and 2007, the Sule Pagoda became the first place to witness the brutal reaction by the Burmese government against the protesters.

Walking along the archway the porter carries a basket full with young coconuts to sell as a refreshment to the worshippers.

Just some footsteps outside the pagoda area is an further area with this archede over a pool. The pond is the place for hundreds of turtles in and outside the water.

Buddhas place is every where, here outside the pagodas premise. Worshippers pay respect to the face of Buddha.

The monk praying to Buddhas face and remains in deep meditation.

Tradition says that the name ''Botataung" is from 'Bo' a military officer and 'ta taung' one thousand and that it was on a hillock at this site that one thousand military officers of the king were drawn up as a guard of honour to welcome the landing in Burma of the relics of the Buddha brought over from India more than two thousand years ago.

A pagoda where you can step inside. The pagoda was first built by the Mon around the same time as was Shwedagon Pagoda - according to local belief, over 2500 years ago, and was known as Kyaik-de-att in Mon language. The pagoda is hollow within, and houses what is believed to be a sacred hair of Gautama Buddha.

The interior is covered with mosaic glass, and dozens of glass showcases display donated marble, gold, teak, silver and limestone artifacts and relics. With this pagoda-shaped stone casket within the relic chamber were found various kinds of treasures: precious stones, ornaments, jewellery, terracotta plaques and images of gold, silver, brass and stone. The total number of these images recovered from within and without the relic chamber was seven hundred. The terracotta plaques, some of them in a fair state of preservation, depict Buddhist scenes.

A back view to the Hotel we spent the honeymoon in Februar 1981. History of the hotel: During the colonial period, the Strand was one of the most luxurious hotels in the British Empire with a clientele of exclusively whites. In 1941, during World War II, following Japanese occupation of Burma, the hotel was used to quarter Japanese troops. The following year, the Strand's ownership was transferred to the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. For the first time in 1945, since the Strand's establishment, the Burmese became part of the hotel's clientele. After Burma achieved independence in 1948, the hotel was neglected by post-colonial governments. In 1962, Strand Hotel was bought by the Burma Economic Development Corporation, which poorly maintained the hotel. After the 1988 coup d'état, the Strand was sold in 1989 to Bernard Pe Win, a Burmese businessman, who formed an alliance with Adrian Zecha and a group of investors who formed the Strand Hotel International. It has since been renovated extensively, and is now owned and operated by General Hotel Management. The Strand reopened in 1995 as an all-suite, top-of-the range boutique hotel. Its teak and marble floors, mahogany furniture, and canopied beds complement original pieces, like period bathroom fixtures. But unlike the other grand old hotels in the region, the Strand's restoration remained true to its architectural past, and it has no new wing, and no swimming pool or tennis courts.

Using the ferry is stickily controlled by the authorities. We foreign visitors have to be registered in a blotter before crossing the river. The ferry fee is low, many residents need to use daily for their way to the working place.