Myanmar 81 Welcome to The Golden Land!

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81
Myanmar
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Myanmar
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The Burmese have been and still are a very
religious people and it is almost impossible to
separate Buddhism from other aspects of their
life. Since centuries ago, specifically in 1057
its main promoter, King Anawratha adopted
Buddhism and became the official religion of the
state, started a building fever for the greater
glory of Buddhism that has reached our days. Have
spent several centuries but it can be said that
faith remains intact.
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That is why the country is full of religious
buildings, temples, stupas and pagodas, and
thousands of Buddha images. We will see them in
fully sacralized environments or inside a cave,
no matter if we are in town or in the middle of a
hill, it is certain that we can always see the
dome of some monastery or temple.
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Ceiling, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Ceiling, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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One of the most interesting of the many art forms
in Myanmar is the mosaic work, which is often a
mixture of small mirrors and stained glass or
coloured stones that adorn the temples and
pagodas throughout the country. The artform is
mainly decorative and abstract, and only rarely
is there any attempt at figurative work.
Ceiling, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Ceiling, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Pedestal, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Pedestal, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Wall, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Thazin
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Thazin (Bulbophyllum auricomum), the Royal
Flower of Myanmar, is a species of orchid
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In Burma, the the most beloved orchid of Myanmar
is Thazin, (Bulbophyllum auricomum) which blooms
with tiny white flowers in graceful sprays that
grow out of a small, bright-green, pear shaped
bulb. It symbolizes royalties and purities. This
rare, dainty and almost extinct species of orchid
is beloved for its simple yet delicate beauty and
its remote habitat high up in mountain trees. The
likability of the orchid can be seen in the
Burmese cultures via songs and the
literatures.   
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At some point of time, they were so rare that no
commoner however wealthy was allowed to wear it
in the hair. It was only meant for queens and
princesses and special envoys had to go deep into
the jungles in Rakhine Yoma mountain ranges to
collect some of these orchids for ceremonial
purposes. Nowadays, people grow it easily with
bulbs collected from the jungles but even then,
it is still an expensive flower that brides drape
around their high chignons. 
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Floral, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon
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Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (also known as Golden Rock) is a
well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State,
Myanmar
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It is a small pagoda (7.3 metres (24 ft)) built
on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold
leaves pasted on by devotees.
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According to legend, the Golden Rock itself is
precariously perched on a strand of the Buddha's
hair.
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The balancing rock seems to defy gravity, as it
perpetually appears to be on the verge of rolling
down the hill.
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The rock and the pagoda are at the top of Mt.
Kyaiktiyo. It is the third most important
Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the
Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda.
adding gold leaf
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A glimpse of the "gravity defying" Golden Rock is
believed to be enough of an inspiration for any
person to turn to Buddhism.
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Burma announced an overnight transfer of
government offices 200 miles north from the
historic capital Rangoon to Naypyidaw in 2005 to
commence on the hour chosen by the then dictator
Senior General Than Shwes personal astrologer.
The development seemed to herald yet another step
back for a country virtually destroyed since the
military took power in a 1962 coup.
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Naypyidaw, the new capital of Burma
Uppatasanti Pagoda
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Naypyidaw, the new capital of Burma Uppatasanti
Pagoda
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And, like ancient Xanadu and dozens of other
citadels built to glorify one man, its flaws are
his flaws. Today, all the main landmarks most
notably the presidential palace and parliament
are surrounded by a moat that can only be crossed
by a series of bridges.
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A Western diplomat travelling here said Naypyidaw
was so vast it could only be comprehended from
space. The only real way to get a sense of this
place is from Google Earth, he said. Then you
see the distance between the building, set far
apart to survive air raids.
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Padauk, national flower The Myanmar lunar month
of Tagu, which usually falls in the month of
April, is the month of the Myanmar New Year. It
this time of the year the leaves of most trees,
large and small, have dried up, curled crisp and
fallen. But one large tree stands tall and green
with its canopy of emerald leaves. That is the
Padauk the gum-kino tree (Pterocarpus
macrocarpus). The Padauk is waiting for the
first rain showers to burst forth into bloom
with its tiny fragrant yellow gold flowers. The
first light showers of April usually herald the
Thingyan Festival and bring the Padauk to bloom
in all its glory. For the Myanmar people the
Padauk tree is also a symbol of strength and
durability.
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Dragon fruit, or pitaya, is native to Mexico,
Central America, and South America
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Dragon fruit, or pitaya, are also cultivated in
Asia.
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Burmese pink cassia
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Ixora rosea
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Golden trumpet-tree (Tabebuia)
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Rambutan
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rambutan
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French marigold (Tagetes patula)
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Zebus (Bos primigenius indicus or Bos indicus or
Bos taurus indicus), sometimes known as humped
cattle or Brahman, are a type of domestic cattle
originating in South Asia.
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Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Yatanarbon - An auspicious wish