Swedagon at dusk, from Kandawgyi Lake.
(Photo by Kaliher.)

Another view of Swedagon from Kandawgyi Lake.
(Photo by Schafrick.)

This lady was wrapped in a heavy blanket and staring up into a broiling sun.

This is another cliche shot. I've seen several photos taken from the same general spot of the same walk. The buildings lining the walk are shrines erected by individual believers. Note the smooth marble walking area, which surrounds the entire Pagoda. (Photo by Holstein.)

(Photo by Barry.)

The half-kilometer stairway up to the Pagoda. Each of the four entrances (north, south, east and west) have a similarly grand entrance, but each is different. The one that Holstein took, for example, provided an escalator. Another entrance provides an elevator. The foolish photographer walked up this stairway, considered the main entrance. (Photo by Barry.)

This and the photos that you can see by clicking here are Shearer Weigert's "Swedagon Kitsch" collection. These are photos of a few individually erected shrines at the Pagoda. (Photos by Weigert.)

Bathing the Buddha. One bathes the Buddha for the number of years that you have lived, thereby purifying yourself. (Photo by Barry.)

At Ngahtatgyi Paya, Yangon.
(Photo by Schafrick.)

The Reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Paya, Yangon.
(Photo by Schafrick.)