Myanmar, the Land of Sacred Buddhism.

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The Golden Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon is handed down to\r\nposterity that it is preserving 8 hairs of Buddha,  who is also the\r\n first class symbol of spirit of Myanmar people. The Golden Shwedagon\r\ncomplex was build more than 2500 year from the past when Buddha was alive. It\r\nincludes hundred of large and small pagodas and towers in which the highest\r\ntower reaches the height of 98m; it is decorated with pure gold and thousands\r\nof diamonds, rubies, emeralds - specially it has one 76-carat diamond at the\r\ntop of the tower.

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The walls, the pillars the ceilings of the pagodas and its\r\ntower are inlaid with pure gold twinkling in the sky making it a magnificent\r\nand solemn scene.

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A Buddist Priest at Golden Shwedagon pagoda.

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Myanmar Buddhists are prostrating themselves to Buddha in\r\nserenity in Golden Shwedagon.

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The Golden Rock pagoda is located on the summit of the\r\nmountain in Kyaikto town, Thaton district, around 200km from Yangon. At the\r\nheight of 1.100m, the Golden Rock pagoda is a sacred and occult place of\r\nMyanmar people. The legend has it that this pagoda is preserving a hair of\r\nBuddha. Golden Rock pagoda is tottery at the summit of the mountain and based\r\non a small rock call “Sacred Rock”; it welcomes thousands of  Buddhists a\r\nday. Many people believe that the hair of Buddha kept in the tower with the\r\nheight of 7.3m make the “Sacred Rock” stable through years.

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The low sound of chanting and Buddha’s name recitation\r\nmingled with wind blowing sound in the night make the scene sacred and\r\nmysterious.

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The sacred rock is surrounded by an iron fence which only\r\n men can pass and reach the rock to stick the thin golden piece to the\r\nrock for praying peace for their family and their relatives. Woman Women cannot\r\ndirectly touch this rock and can only worship it at the outside of the fence.

A brilliant pagoda of the Golden Rock pagoda complex in the\r\nsunset on the summit of Kyaikto town

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The outdoor statue of reclining Buddha 55m in length at\r\nShwethalyaung, Bago pagoda

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Visitors can reach the Golden Rock by palanquin carried by 4\r\npeople from the middle of the mountain.

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Pilgrims rush to the famous pagodas in Myanmar daily.

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Thanakha is the cosmetic of Myanmar people. It serves as a\r\nhealthy skin and anti-sunlight therapy. People whet Thanaka trees  on the\r\nrocks, mix with water and apply it daily.

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Children usually apply this kind of cosmetic, too

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Myanmar women also use Thanakha for a healthy skin and for\r\nanti-sunlight.

Bài và ảnh: Tuấn An\r\n\r\n

Translated into English by Nguyen Phuong Trinh.