Myanmar Images

I'm at the KBTS Computer Center which has a much faster and broader internet connection than is available the guest house.  So, I'm going to try to upload a couple of images from our travels last week.

We visited Myanmar's new capital city, Naypyitaw while visiting in Taungoo last week.  I expected to be taken to see the new parliament and government buildings.  The government moved from Rangoon to Naypyitaw (which means "royal city" in Burmese) about a decade ago.  Rather than take us to the government center, we were given a tour of the outskirts of the city on broad, twelve lane boulevards that were largely empty of traffic.  Our guides took us to a zoo and as night fell to a picturesque fountain and water park.  The photo below is of a young boy standing under an artificial waterfall preparing to dive into the water below him.

While visiting in the city of Taungoo, where there are many Karen and many Baptists, we received permission to visit Prayer Mountain in the Karen (Kayin) State. Prayer Mountain is a high mountain surrounded by many similar peaks with Buddhist pagodas at their summits.  Prayer Mountain has a large illuminated cross at its top which can be seen for miles around.  It also has several small chapels for those seeking a place for personal retreat, reflection, and renewal. It is a place that is revered as holy ground by many Karen believers.

Praying hands rock at Prayer Mountain summit.