Shwe Dagon is the most important Buddhist site in Myanmar and, I discovered as I travelled around the country, the most recognisable symbol of the whole nation - in tourist shops, on pictures on the walls of guesthouses, and just decorating the walls of shops and cafes, it can be seen on postcards, tapestries, keyrings etc. The best time to go is at sunset, as the Shwe Dagon pagoda, which is entirely covered in gold plates, goes from sparkling gold to an incredible, unreal pink-gold colour. At this time it is possible to see a few monks in the traditional maroon robes climbing up the pagoda and walking around it, part of their studies and meditations. It really is a unique and astonishing site. The temple is not just the Shwe Dagon pagoda - there are
... read more