Golden Rock

We left Yangon on a Saturday morning and arrived at the foot of Golden rock in about 4.5 hours.  It was too hot to head for the top in an open truck so we decided to get up the next morning early when it would be cooler.  The rock, a 7.5 meter high piece of granite is perched high on a cliff,  held in place by the hair of the Buddha which he gave to a hermit during his lifetime.  Over the years the rock has been completely covered with gold leaf by the pilgrims who come in large numbers to visit this very sacred site.  Only men are allowed to touch the rock.  you must take a truck up the winding road to the top mountain..  Then you walk the last distance yourself.  If you are not able or don't want  to walk there are palaquins borne by 4 men to carry you up in style.  And since many stay overnight at the top, there are porters to carry your luggage.  In a way the people watching is more interesting than the rock itself.

Entrance arch.  Monks, porters and the general public.  Its about 6.30 am

Us with Golden Rock behind us

Hustle and bustle.  Note the porters baskets carrying bedding down for those who slept overnight at the top

Warmly dressed pilgrims heading home and a monk collecting alms

A nat house in the tree.  Only men could enter

The rock with the men touching it, middle left

Andy among the other men touching the rock

The general traffic, all barefoot

Woman on a palaquin

And below the trucks at the base of the mountain

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