The Golden Land

"The Golden Land" was what Myanmar historically perceived; in modern time, it is complicated. 

Its land mass and population is somewhat close to its neighboring country - Thailand, little less, not by a lot. Even politically!  But of course it is not the subject of this blog intends to cover.

In his historical 1941 State of the Union address, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear was echoed by the figure almost all would associate with modern Myanmar, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, in her 1990 "Freedom From Fear" speech.
During my most recent visit to Myanmar, between February 15 through 26, the world has gone on a fast spin, in particular the northern Africa and some Arabic region; one might wonder what's next? And very much like Aung San Suu Kyi quoted: "Sometimes, 24 hours can bring a total revolutionary change."

Change is inevitable, although may be not always welcome. In the 12 days travel in Yangon, Mandalay and Inle Lake, I witnessed and experienced some of the most beautiful things and people from this country largely misunderstood by most, perhaps I remained among them.  I shall return.

However, of those I have witnessed and experienced, some might have been forgotten, some were already etched in my memory, some recorded with my camera to share with everyone here.
This image is the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, stitched from 4 captures tusing Canon 1Ds III camera.