2. Myanmar (Burma)

Mandalay

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Worshippers applying gold leaf to the Mahamuni Buddha, Mahamuni Temple, Mandalay, Myanmar
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Worshippers applying gold leaf to the Mahamuni Buddha, Mahamuni Temple, Mandalay, Myanmar

MandalayMahamuni BuddhaMahamuni TempleMyanmarBurma

  • Two women with goods to sell by the Pyin Oo Lwin train, Myanmar
  • Beautiful zebu (Brahman cow) by the railway line, Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin line, Myanmar
  • Teak tree with survey and census tags, Mandalay region, Myanmar<br /> <br /> Every teak tree in Burma is counted and labelled to help in the control of poaching.
  • Tons of gold! (best larger)<br /> <br /> According to legend, the Mahamuni Buddha is one of only 5 images of Buddha cast during his life-time. It is one of Myanmar's most venerated images and a major pilgrimage site. So much gold leaf has been applied to the Buddha that its original shape has been become somewhat amorphous except for the head, where tradition says that no gold leaf should be applied. To date the thickness of gold applied to the image is around 15 cm, increasing the weight of the Buddha from its original 6 tons to 12 tons. Only men are allow to approach the image and apply gold leaf to it. I would have like to get better photos, but women are not allowed to approach closer than around 30 feet.<br /> <br /> In Burma gold leaf is widely applied to sacred images, but also to many other types of objects. Some photos of this can be seen here, plus more images of the Mahamuni Buddha: <a href="http://goo.gl/t3Gha9">http://goo.gl/t3Gha9</a><br /> <br /> 3/2/14 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Woman applylig gold leaf to a lacquered object, Mahamuni Buddha temple, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Mahamuni Buddha, Mahamuni Temple, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Worshippers applying gold leaf to the Mahamuni Buddha, Mahamuni Temple, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Woman with a child applying gold leaf to an ornament, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Devotees applying gold to the Mahamuni buddha, Mahamuni Temple, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Holding hands with a large puppet<br /> <br /> Burmese shop girl with a large marionette, Mandalay, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The use of Burmese marionettes for entertainment dates back to the 18th century with the same set of 27 characters still in use today. The marionette puppetry troupes are called Yoke the. Men puppets are controlled by 18 wires and female puppets by 19 wires, each controlled by a single person (You can count the 19 wires on this female puppet). Marionettes, besides being used for entertainment, could be used to impart information or political discontent since the puppets could say things that a human would be punished for by death.<br /> <br /> Some other photos of these fascinating puppets, a Burmese xylophone, and a kinaree (mythical female figure) can be seen here: <a href="http://goo.gl/aXGPMn">http://goo.gl/aXGPMn</a><br /> <br /> The rich colour and detail of these photos is best appreciated at larger sizes<br /> <br /> 5/2/14 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Rows of Burmese marionettes, Mandalay, Burma (best larger)
  • Young shop girl with Burmese puppets #2, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Man with puppets and a Burmese xylophone, called a pattala. It has of bamboo slats suspended over a boat-shaped resonating chamber and is played with two padded mallets (tuned to a diatonic scale).
  • Burmese shop girl with a statue of a kinaree (mythical female figure that is part bird), Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Ornate Burmese puppets, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Young Burmese shop girl posing in front of a gold tapestry, Mandalay, Myanmar<br /> <br /> I had her pose so the oval pattern on the tapestry provided a frame for her head and neck. <br /> <br /> She has thanaka paste on her face, which is made from the ground bark of the Thanaka tree (Murraya spp. ). The paste has been used by Burmese women and children for over 2000 years. It has cosmetic, antifungal and anti-sunburn properties, and a scent somewhat similar to sandalwood. It is made by grinding the bark on a circular stone slab with some water. In response to Donna's question (Nelli), since it leaves a residue on the skin, I imagine it is washed off at night and reapplied in the morning.<br /> <br /> Other photos from the shop, plus a couple of photos from the marble works can be seen here: <a href="http://goo.gl/TXv9Mj">http://goo.gl/TXv9Mj</a><br /> <br /> 7/2/14 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Burmese puppets handing in rows, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Burmese shot girl with a Buddha statues and a kinnayi behind the Buddha.<br /> <br /> A kinnayi (kinnari) has the head, torso, and arms of a woman and the wings, tail and feet of a swan, and is a traditional symbol of feminine beauty, grace and accomplishment.
  • Shop girl with rows of Burmese puppets, Mandalay, Myanmar
  • Workers polishing a marble statue of Buddha, Mandalay,Myanmar
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