Our winner this month is Winai Tienpajeekul (Tel: 095 541 8831 email: winai.tien@gmail.com) who shared with us his recent experience in Myanmar. Congratulations Winai, from us and our sponsor for this issue from whom you will receive a special prize!
With the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) now in effect, I think it’s a good idea share with your readers some beautiful places in our neighboring country, Myanmar. I had a wonderful opportunity recently to visit my company’s branch in Yangon, Myanmar and I stayed for a couple of days. My office is just opposite Bogyoke Park, which is at the center of the city, thus after finishing my work I would walk to the park to enjoy the sights, including the Karaweik Palace, which is especially fascinating at twilight.
But a must for every tourist to visit is the biggest pagoda in Myanmar, the Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda (“Shwe” means “gold” and “Dagon” means “city” in the Burmese language). The pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, is located west of Kandawgyi Lake and dominates the Yangon skyline. I would recommend a visit here in the evening.
Also, every Thai tourist must know about Bo Bo Gyi Nat (or “Instantly wishes god”). Some Thais believe their wishes will become true if they make a visit here.
There are steps to follow if you do visit: firstly, you use two banknotes and fold them in the shape of a cone. Then put them in the god’s hand. After that, put your forehead at the god’s finger and make a wish. Lastly, donate the cone-shape banknote to the shrine and take the other one home as your luck money! (By the way, don’t let others know your wishes.)
I visited the Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda, also known as “the five-storeys Buddha,” a 14m-high Buddha image with full accessorized with gold and jewelry. I walked up to the temple around five minutes from the main road and found this big beautiful Buddha. The Burmese faith in Buddhism really impressed me. One thing to remember: as in Thailand you must take your shoes and socks off when visiting a temple or pagoda in Myanmar.
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