Golden Rock

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Wed 13 Dec 2017 23:57
Golden Rock
 
 
 
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Six and half six views from our room.
 
 
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Washing going out, mist nearly cleared and the view from breakfast.
 
 
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Golden Rock ‘theme park’.
 
 
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Walking toward the entrance, offers of lifts and the size of the area a shock.
 
 
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The first rock a bit of a teaser, Golden Rock seen in the distance.
 
 
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The ‘warm-up’ rock.
 
 
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The Golden Rock, the aura somewhat spoiled by the presence of an ATM followed by.............
 
 
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..........the gold leaf shop.
 
 
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Clock, ATM and a pig on a man’s shoulder.
 
 
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Crossing the huge plaza.
 
 
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Many people come up on the trucks and rent a mat to sleep on in one of the many shelters.
 
 
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Approaching the Golden Rock, yet again ladies prohibited, they have a viewing room.
 
 
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Once more Bear is sent off with the camera, I asked him what his first impressions were - all very glitzy and lacking in religious feeling. Sadly, this was before either of us had seen the piles of rubbish.......

Mount Kyaiktiyo (Kyite Htee Yoe), famous for the huge golden rock perched at its summit, is one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar, along with the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Temple. Pilgrims come here from far and wide to worship and add gold leaf to the rock, which seems to defy gravity by delicately balancing on the edge of the 1100-metre high mountain, supported by one of Buddha’s hairs.

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The faithful (men) add gold leaf and toss the backing paper on the floor. General rubbish was just hurled over the walls.
 
 
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Washing drying and the village beyond.
 
 
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No bags to carry but there’s plenty of wood that needs shifting........
 
 
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A market stall holder paints his sons fingernails.........
 
 
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Golden Rock – one huge disappointment.
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL A BIT OF A ZOO
                    INCREDIBLY COMMERCIALISED