Archive for January, 2010
Lotus Flower
Lotus Flower
![]() |
| 20 Seed Chinas Flower Peony Like lotus Seeds Beautiful Color SEED 19 | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
| Yellow Lotus Flower Green Leaves Decor Ornament New | |
![]() |
$4.53 Time Remaining: 41m Buy It Now for only: $4.53 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Oil painting Chinese Kwan yin lotus leaf flowerNo frame | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 51m |
| PRC Gold Foil Repetition Stamps lotus Flower T 54 | |
![]() |
$19.99 Time Remaining: 53m |
| Porcelain Lotus flower single candle vase with handle Pier 1 Imports | |
![]() |
$3.99 Time Remaining: 58m |
| Art Oil painting Kwan yin Dunhuang fairy lotus flower No Framed | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 58m |
| Peking Glass Painted BasketFish Lotus Flower Snuff Bo | |
![]() |
$52.99 Time Remaining: 1h 7m Buy It Now for only: $52.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| FASHION GOLD LOTUS FLOWER HOLLOW STRIPE DANGLE HOOK EARRINGS | |
![]() |
$1.25 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 7m |
| LOTUS FLOWER CERAMIC CENTERPIECE VINTAGE Signed ES xx IN PINK GREEN MINT | |
![]() |
$17.99 Time Remaining: 1h 9m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
| Fashion Exquisite Noble Cute Lotus Flower Sweet Ring | |
![]() |
$1.29 Time Remaining: 1h 38m Buy It Now for only: $1.29 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1PC Faceted Agate Ball Beads Lotus Flower Woven Macrame Bracelet Bangle Gift | |
![]() |
$3.62 Time Remaining: 1h 43m |
| LOTUS Flower BIRD Asian ART Spaghetti Tank TOP T1537 L | |
![]() |
$11.50 Time Remaining: 2h 4m Buy It Now for only: $11.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| LOTUS Flower Asian ART Spaghetti Tank TOP T1816 L | |
![]() |
$11.50 Time Remaining: 2h 4m Buy It Now for only: $11.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| OX BONE CARVED 2 PIESE CHINESE KWAN YIN ON LOTUS FLOWER | |
![]() |
$299.00 Time Remaining: 2h 22m Buy It Now for only: $299.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| New Style Ladies Cute Popular Lotus Flower Ring | |
![]() |
$1.10 Time Remaining: 2h 23m Buy It Now for only: $1.10 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Fashion Exquisite Noble Cute Lotus Flower Sweet Ring | |
![]() |
$1.49 Time Remaining: 2h 31m Buy It Now for only: $1.49 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 50 pcs Tibet Tibetan Silver Flower Lotus Connector Links Bead 16x15x2mm TS2389 | |
![]() |
$2.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 38m |
| 30x 110336+ New Pink Lotus Flowers Charms FIMO Polymer Clay Beads Findings 25mm | |
![]() |
$5.98 Time Remaining: 2h 39m |
| Pink Lotus Flower Hard Case Cover for Boost Mobile Samsung Transform Ultra M930 | |
![]() |
$6.75 Time Remaining: 2h 59m Buy It Now for only: $6.75 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Fashion Exquisite Noble NICE Lotus Flower Sweet Rings | |
![]() |
$2.20 Time Remaining: 3h 12m Buy It Now for only: $2.20 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus flower Nelumbo nucifera 5 seeds Purple Garden | |
![]() |
$3.21 Time Remaining: 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.21 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus flower Nelumbo nucifera 5 seeds DIY Beauty | |
![]() |
$3.21 Time Remaining: 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.21 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus flower Nelumbo nucifera 5 seeds Blue Garden | |
![]() |
$3.21 Time Remaining: 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.21 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus flower Nelumbo nucifera 5 seed diamond Blue Plant | |
![]() |
$3.21 Time Remaining: 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.21 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Yellow Lotus flower Nelumbo nucifera 5 seeds Garden | |
![]() |
$3.21 Time Remaining: 3h 31m Buy It Now for only: $3.21 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus Flower DIY Decor Mural Wall Paper Sticker 021 | |
![]() |
$14.99 Time Remaining: 3h 33m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Embroidery Lotus Flower Peach Bound Feet Shoes | |
![]() |
$248.00 Time Remaining: 3h 53m Buy It Now for only: $248.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Beautiful lotus flower censer copper nickel alloys | |
![]() |
$0.01 Time Remaining: 4h 40m |
| Beautiful tibet lotus flower censer | |
![]() |
$0.02 Time Remaining: 5h 7m |
| GREEN Natural A JADE JADEITE PENDANT FROG TOAD LOTUS 316906 | |
![]() |
$150.00 Time Remaining: 5h 19m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| NEW The Lotus Flower Piana Loro Rotunno Bruna PHT | |
![]() |
$57.83 Time Remaining: 5h 27m Buy It Now for only: $57.83 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 150x 111655 Charms Pink Lotus Flower Polymer Clay Beads 25mm FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$25.98 Time Remaining: 5h 29m Buy It Now for only: $25.98 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 150x 111646 Charms Lilac Lotus Flower Polymer Clay Beads 25mm FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$25.98 Time Remaining: 5h 39m Buy It Now for only: $25.98 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Green canvas Vase of Lotus flowers oil painting on canvas | |
![]() |
$0.01 Time Remaining: 5h 41m |
| L OCCITANE LOTUS FLOWER EAU deTOILETTE 34oz HTF BOXED | |
![]() |
$199.99 Time Remaining: 5h 48m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 150x 111645 Charms Yellow Lotus Flower Polymer Clay Beads 25mm FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$25.98 Time Remaining: 5h 49m Buy It Now for only: $25.98 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 150x 111656 Charms Orange Lotus Flower Polymer Clay Beads 25mm FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$25.98 Time Remaining: 5h 58m Buy It Now for only: $25.98 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Handicrafts Art Repro oil painting Chinese Kwan yin lotus leaf flower | |
![]() |
$62.00 Time Remaining: 6h 6m |
| Handicrafts Art Repro oil painting Chinese Kwan yin lotus leaf flower | |
![]() |
$67.00 Time Remaining: 6h 8m |
| Asian Pale Green Enameled Lily Pad Lotus Flower Swarovski Emerald Earrings Long | |
![]() |
$10.00 Time Remaining: 6h 9m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| WHOLESALE LAMPWORK GLASS LOTUS FLOWER PENDANT 6PCS | |
![]() |
$7.99 Time Remaining: 6h 20m |
| Bronze Buddhasatia Holding Lotus Flower Gandhara | |
![]() |
$2,682.00 Time Remaining: 6h 33m Buy It Now for only: $2,682.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Tridacna shell carved lotus flower prayer beads YSB153 | |
![]() |
$11.20 Time Remaining: 6h 40m Buy It Now for only: $11.20 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Wedding Party Lotus Flower Tiara Crown Comb Hair Crystals Rhinestone | |
![]() |
$7.20 Time Remaining: 6h 42m |
| Hand Made Egyptian sterling silver lotus flower charm pendant | |
![]() |
$10.00 Time Remaining: 6h 42m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Egyptian Solid Silver Ankh Lotus Flower Pendant Charm | |
![]() |
$9.99 Time Remaining: 6h 44m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 150x 111659 Charms White Lotus Flower Polymer Clay Beads 25mm FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$25.98 Time Remaining: 6h 49m Buy It Now for only: $25.98 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Beautiful Vintage Japanese Copper Enameled Bowl Dish Butterflies Lotus Flowers | |
![]() |
$69.95 Time Remaining: 6h 50m Buy It Now for only: $69.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| BRONZE LOTUS LUCKY BRAND FLOWERS EARRINGS | |
![]() |
$5.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 7h 12m |
| 8mm Red Sea Coral Carved Lotus Flower Loose Beads 17L | |
![]() |
$9.99 Time Remaining: 7h 13m |
| Fine China Rose Porcelain BowlLotus flower butterfly | |
![]() |
$128.00 Time Remaining: 7h 25m Buy It Now for only: $128.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Rare China Rose Porcelain Lotus flower Bowl | |
![]() |
$128.00 Time Remaining: 7h 28m Buy It Now for only: $128.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| LG LX610 Lotus Elite Bling Flowers on Colorful Stripes Case Cover | |
![]() |
$15.95 Time Remaining: 7h 46m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Chinese Brass 3 Floors hollowed out lotus Flower | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 8h 3m |
| Agate Faceted Ball Painting Lotus Flower Painting Beads Macrame Bracelet Bangle | |
![]() |
$5.20 Time Remaining: 8h 8m Buy It Now for only: $5.20 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| ORIENTAL ASIAN ART CHINESE PAINTING lotus flowers 25x25 | |
![]() |
$7.99 Time Remaining: 8h 12m |
| Women Lotus Flower Pendant French Hook Pierced Earrings Pair | |
![]() |
$6.97 Time Remaining: 8h 12m Buy It Now for only: $6.97 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| CHINESE Green JADE PENDANT Lotus Flower 907706 | |
![]() |
$0.01 Time Remaining: 8h 14m |
| Lotus Flower Decor Ornament for Fish Tank Aquarium Pink | |
![]() |
$5.00 Time Remaining: 8h 15m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| ORIENTAL ASIAN ART CHINESE PAINTING lotus flowers 20x38 | |
![]() |
$2.99 Time Remaining: 8h 19m |
| Elegant Women Lotus Flower Party Shirt Top WHS 30 | |
![]() |
$29.80 Time Remaining: 8h 24m Buy It Now for only: $29.80 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Foam Lotus Flower Fish Tank Aquarium Decor Yellow Green | |
![]() |
$4.99 Time Remaining: 8h 34m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| BARBARA BIXBY SS 18K COUTURE DIAMOND LOTUS FLOWER STUD EARRINGS NEW | |
![]() |
$359.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 8h 42m |
| LARGE GOLD LOTUS FLOWER BOWL VERY HEAVY GREAT PIECE | |
![]() |
$25.99 Time Remaining: 8h 58m Buy It Now for only: $25.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| LOT OF 7 TEMARI THREAD BALL JAPAN LOTUS FLOWER | |
![]() |
$15.00 Time Remaining: 9h |
| TEMARI THREAD BALL JAPAN LOTUS FLOWER | |
![]() |
$5.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 9h 3m |
| The old Chinese Carved Flower Red Cinnabar Lacquer lotus jewelry box | |
![]() |
$59.99 Time Remaining: 9h 4m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 50PCS Blue White Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Lotus Water Lily European Charm Beads | |
![]() |
$7.88 Time Remaining: 9h 8m |
| Pair of Gorgeous Blown Art Glass Flowers Stems LOTUS Open and LOTUS Closing | |
![]() |
$95.00 Time Remaining: 9h 15m Buy It Now for only: $95.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 24k Gold Lotus Flower 9 symbol Thangka Thanka Painting A | |
![]() |
$148.00 Time Remaining: 9h 19m Buy It Now for only: $148.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 10China Bronze Carved Cloisonne Lotus Flower Vase Pair | |
![]() |
$320.00 Time Remaining: 9h 21m Buy It Now for only: $320.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 17Tibet Purple Bronze 24K Gold lotus flower Kwan Yin | |
![]() |
$2,900.00 Time Remaining: 9h 25m Buy It Now for only: $2,900.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 2005 Avon Lotus Flower Necklace New in box | |
![]() |
$9.95 Time Remaining: 9h 27m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Chinese Vintage Bronze Gild Lotus Flower Kwan Yin Statue Figurine Sculpture | |
![]() |
$69.95 Time Remaining: 9h 31m |
| Aquarium Tank Beautiful Lotus Floating Purple Flower | |
![]() |
$7.13 Time Remaining: 9h 39m Buy It Now for only: $7.13 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 8Tibetan Pure Bronze 24K Gold lotus flower Kwan Yin | |
![]() |
$950.00 Time Remaining: 9h 45m Buy It Now for only: $950.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Organic A+ Blue Lotus Flower 2oz FREE SHIPPING | |
![]() |
$14.00 Time Remaining: 9h 45m Buy It Now for only: $15.50 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
| Icy 100 Natural A Jade jadeite pendant Ruyi Lotus Flower 598753 | |
![]() |
$8.00 Time Remaining: 9h 47m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Pink Lotus Flower Hard Case Cover for HTC Wildfire S Marvel T Mobile Metro PCS | |
![]() |
$6.75 Time Remaining: 9h 48m Buy It Now for only: $6.75 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Green 100 Natural A Jade jadeite pendant Lotus Star Ruyi Rose Flower Bead 59936 | |
![]() |
$15.00 Time Remaining: 9h 49m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Tibet bronze gilt lotus flower Sakyamuni buddha statue | |
![]() |
$218.00 Time Remaining: 9h 51m Buy It Now for only: $218.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Patterned Lotus Flowers Set New | |
![]() |
$8.99 Time Remaining: 9h 51m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Green 100 Natural A JADE JADEITE PENDANT Monkey Ruyi Lotus flower 886253 | |
![]() |
$10.00 Time Remaining: 9h 59m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 12mm White Coral Lotus Flower Loose Beads 15 E3221 | |
![]() |
$12.99 Time Remaining: 10h Buy It Now for only: $12.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 18Tibet Bronze Gild lotus flower Green TaRa GuanYin Kwan Yin Buddha Statue | |
![]() |
$575.00 Time Remaining: 10h 1m Buy It Now for only: $575.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 2 Raku Ceramic Necklaces Ohm on Lotus Flower Design | |
![]() |
$5.95 Time Remaining: 10h 1m Buy It Now for only: $5.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 12Chinese Red Bronze Refined lotus flower Bodhisattva Guan Yin GuanYin Statue | |
![]() |
$294.40 Time Remaining: 10h 9m Buy It Now for only: $294.40 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 23China worship Bronze gild Kwan Yin Sit lotus flower | |
![]() |
$846.40 Time Remaining: 10h 12m Buy It Now for only: $846.40 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 29Folk WuCai porcelain lotus flower Bodhisattva GuanYin | |
![]() |
$845.48 Time Remaining: 10h 13m Buy It Now for only: $845.48 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus Flower Petal Stone Vessel Sink Red Travertine | |
![]() |
$380.00 Time Remaining: 10h 17m Buy It Now for only: $380.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| PEACE LOTUS Silver Flower Brooch Pin BALI NOVICA | |
![]() |
$127.95 Time Remaining: 10h 23m Buy It Now for only: $127.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Green 100 A Jade jadeite pendant Ruyi Lotus Flower on Hand With Top Ring 594163 | |
![]() |
$12.00 Time Remaining: 10h 25m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Rare China Rose Porcelain Lotus flower fish Ink Box | |
![]() |
$48.00 Time Remaining: 10h 26m Buy It Now for only: $48.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| funny Multi Color Changing LED Lotus flower Floating waterproof candle light | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 29m |
| Silver Plated Clear Crystal Lotus Flower Bead Pendant For Necklace | |
![]() |
$0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 35m |
| NWT Kidorable Childrens Lotus Flower Rain Coat NEW | |
![]() |
$29.95 Time Remaining: 10h 40m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| A RARE PERUVIAN BLUE OPAL 925 SILVER BRACELET 7+ LOTUS FLOWER CHARM | |
![]() |
$23.68 Time Remaining: 10h 48m Buy It Now for only: $23.68 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Lotus Flower Soft Cover Case for Blackberry Bold 9000 | |
![]() |
$12.99 Time Remaining: 10h 55m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
| Green Yellow Fish Tank Aquarium Floating Lotus Flower Emulational Plant Ornament | |
![]() |
$3.84 Time Remaining: 11h 11m Buy It Now for only: $3.84 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Round Buddhist Incense Burner Painted Wood LOTUS FLOWER | |
![]() |
$6.99 Time Remaining: 11h 16m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
How do you draw a lotus flower on a pond facing up?
When I say facing up, I mean like you are seeing the flower when you are looking down. It would help a lot of you give me links of pictures that I may use as a guide. Thank You
these images are the closest i could get for facing down totally. the last one is the best
good luck
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lotusbio.com/white%2520lotus%2520flower.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lotusbio.com/&usg=__am1W3EuM8sNo1B96cIDzUuFqkoM=&h=960&w=1280&sz=77&hl=en&start=24&um=1&tbnid=LuBaDfUWbSTt3M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlotus%2Bflower%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3D6fP%26sa%3DN
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rosi-photo.com/albums/Tropical/lotus_flower.sized.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rosi-photo.com/gallery/Tropical/lotus_flower&usg=__KsVnkJBqFGULOxwoxBsn38aQTDI=&h=570&w=700&sz=40&hl=en&start=77&um=1&tbnid=Te6l_pZV_aKC5M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlotus%2Bflower%26start%3D72%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DmgP%26sa%3DN
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NIM/ARE109~Lotus-Flower-Posters.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Lotus-Flower-Posters_i1121000_.htm&usg=__L3R6prBs_Kl6X0gFVeJy0b1NmLw=&h=400&w=400&sz=41&hl=en&start=96&um=1&tbnid=7npBE8ZB9VWdfM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlotus%2Bflower%26start%3D90%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3Dt14%26sa%3DN
Myanmar Magical Impressions: Glittering Temples and Lotus Flowers Rising From Murky Waters
I persevered in my quest to conquer the slopes of Mount Kyaiktiyo in southern Myanmar. It wasn't a mountain to be approached lightly. The devotion-charged Golden Rock at its pinnacle was the reward.
Most Burmese people pay homage to this wish-drenched balancing boulder--a miraculous pilgrimage site they must visit before they die. Legend has it that a dragon serpent princess found this rock at the bottom of the sea and with her supernatural powers she transported it to heaven. Many believe that touching this gigantic sacred stone allows wishes to be granted. Men struggle up the mountain just to apply more gold leaf to enhance the rock's already magnificent gilded glow. In the shadows you can just make out the silhouettes of two men who offer scale. But all is not fair. While women are free to ascend these sacred slopes, none of them can touch this breathtaking, stupa-graced wonder once they've arrived at the top. In a gesture of solidarity I, too, chose not to touch its shiny surface. Who made such rules? I bet the dragon princess is furious. I'll find other ways to make my dreams come true.
Despite the stranglehold of the staunch military government, everyday people in Myanmar seemed to be happy . . . and I never saw soldiers on the street. It's only the Westerner who suffers from the nonexistence of ATMs. Many tourists have been known to have exited the country immediately upon arrival because they didn't have spare dollars in their pockets for exchange. Only a couple of five-star hotels accept credit cards but for that pleasure they tack on a hefty ten percent surcharge. For currency exchange one must bring crisp US dollar bills in tow. And I mean CRISP. Even a tiny pencil mark or slight abrasion renders such notes useless. There was a half-millimeter, microscopic tear on one of my starched hundred-dollar bills but no establishment across the country would accept it in exchange for local currency, which, by the way, is often found in tatters with dangling bits hanging here and there--just like the sidewalks of Yangon.
Myanmar is filled with wonder. In Bagan more than a thousand magnificent stupas were built about the same time the Renaissance was happening in Europe. Sunlight brilliantly reflects from the shimmering golden spire of the much revered Ananda Temple, built in the year 1090 AD. It is located roughly 490 yards east of the awesome pagoda, Thatbyinnyu, 550 yards north of the huge temple of Shwesandaw and about 1000 yards northwest of the magnificent Dhammayangyi. There are about 997 other stupas nearby from which distance could easily be measured. But Ananda's towering, and perfectly proportioned edifice, is the one that heralds the stylistic end of the early Bagan era. When I was there, a blast of rainbow celebrated the stupa's existence.
Why have so many people never heard about this marvelous place?
The piece de resistance, however, surely must be the glitter of golden spires and shiny Buddhas that cast an ethereal glow over Burma's most sacred pagoda, Shwedagon Phaya, which looms above the country's commercial capital, Yangon, or Rangoon as it was known in a former existence.
Shwedagon can take your breath away.
Myanmar Buddhists dream of visiting here at least once in their lifetimes. No one, even tourists, ever forgets such a visit. It's said there is more gold laced on Shwedagon's surface than exists in the vaults of the Bank of England and perhaps even more than the mega tons stored at Fort Knox. Perhaps such overstatement is justified when setting the tone. This is an amazing place.
Long ago Rudyard Kipling waxed lyrical about this gold-swathed icon, "A golden mystery upheaved itself on the horizon--a beautiful winking wonder that blazed in the sun . . . "
Allow me to put this explosion of glitter into perspective by describing just the top portion of the main spire which is clad in 13,153 plates of solid gold measuring one square foot each. The top-most vane of this tower is sliver-plated and studded with 1100 diamonds totaling 278 carats with 1383 other precious stones embedded nearby. At the very top of the vane is a golden sphere enveloped with 4351 diamonds, weighing 1800 carats. And at the very tip of this orb is a single 76-carat diamond perched more than a hundred meters above worshipers below. There's a telescope off to one side for those wishing a closeup view of the jewels.
My photo below shows only a handful of the hundreds of Shwedagon's shimmering spires that encircle the complex where Buddhist monks circumambulate to pay homage. Perhaps I should add that the gilded glaze you see was granted by an overcast sky. Imagine the spires when the sun shines brilliantly. Your eyes could launch into pain.
I allowed myself to be held spellbound.
Shwedagon has existed for two and a half millennia. Perhaps myth makers of ancient times visited here for inspiration. Clustered around the mighty golden stupa of Shwedagon is an awesome array of temples and zedis and shrines and pavilions and gilded Buddha statues in altars that defy description. One's imagination can fail in comparison to what exists here. Temple walls are adorned in an endless display of reflective glass mosaic tiles laced with azure-tinted grout that lured me into a fit of mind-boggling amazement.
Go there one day and you will understand. This place really exists. Kipling was not lost in a dream.
After Yangon I made my way up-country on "The Road to Mandalay." Mr. Kipling wrote about this, too, in his book of the same name. Today the city can be a bit scruffy around the edges but its magic can still be found. The royal palace reflects in shimmering sunset-lit waters and you can climb Mandalay Hill to see its commanding golden Buddha with outstretched arm.
The lotus is associated with Buddhism because its flower signifies the law of "Cause and Effect" or karma. The lotus has the rare quality of manifesting the blossom simultaneously with its seed. More symbolically, the magnificent lotus flower flourishes most when it rises from the muddiest of swamps. When we find ourselves trapped in such muck, Buddhism promises that our lives can still blossom.
Burmese enchantment envelopes the country despite staunch military repression of the people.
On Inle Lake in eastern Myanmar fishermen deftly balance on one foot at the tip of their small canoes while their other leg is wrapped around an oar with one end tucked under their arm. They pivot and row in a one-legged corkscrew fashion while their hands are left free to manage the net. With permission, I climbed aboard one of these tiny boats mid-lake for an insider's view through the net. In the process I almost caused capsize. But the agile boatman executed perfect counterbalance to my photograph of his precarious stance.
Toward the end of my visit to Burma I found myself at the remote Buddhist pagoda of Yan Aung Nan Aung Hsu Taung Pyi. It's a quiet place; I was the only one there. No crimson-robed monks were nearby. It was just me and the huge outdoor Buddha sitting there in a moment of ponder. I lingered for a while, then carefully folded my umbrella and put it away. The rain had finally departed, perhaps signaling it was time for me to bid farewell to this incredible land. Reluctantly I slipped back into my sandals and turned to leave. Then, off to one side I spotted a sacred pond whose waters appeared not to be clear.
I drew closer and found rain droplets dancing on lotus leaves that had defiantly risen from the muck.
Copyright © Glen Allison ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
About the Author
The fine art imagery of visual artist, Glen Allison, has been published more than 60,000 times in a majority of the world's leading travel magazines and guide books. He's a vagabond photographer and writer presently embarked on a nonstop, ten-year marathon odyssey around the globe to capture the world's most extraordinary destinations in dramatic light.
He never returns home; he has no home.
If you'd like to see more magical images from Glen's journey through Myanmar, you can view the original blog post Myanmar Magical Impressions. Navigate around his website to vicariously join the ride.
Radiohead - Lotus Flower




































































































