Shwedagon Paya and our Early Yangon Morning

After our mistaken train ride back to Mawlamyine, we got a free first class ticket to Yangon(not that amazing.) Our train arrived at about 430am in Yangon. We went to the hotel we had stayed on our previous trip and hung out for an hour until the staff woke up. They let us check in early and we put our bags in our room. We were thinking of going to sleep, but since it was before sunrise, we figured it was the perfect time to Shwedagon Paya at dawn(supposedly the best time to see it.) We arrived at Shwedagon Paya about 6am, right as the sun was coming up. It was pretty quiet compared to how crazy it was when we left. There are tons of little pagodas surrounding the main pagoda.



There are monks all over praying, playing with their phones, walking around. Shwedagon Paya is the largest pagoda in Yangon(possibly in Myanmar too,) and on top of a hill in the center of the city. Here it is in the background.

The pagoda was being renovated so the top of the stupa was covered in a sort of bamboo scaffolding. I was a little sad, but its' nice that they are renovating it and keeping it in good shape.

The main pagoda. You're supposed to walk clockwise around it.

Each day of the week has it's own Buddha. You are supposed to go to the Buddha for the day of the week you were born and then pour some water on him, washing him. Here I am washing my Saturday Buddha.

There are tons of little shrines all around the main pagoda.

This is the giant lion at the entrance gate.