MYANMAR (Burma) ~ Horse drawn carts ~

... Nice view of horse-drawn carts....the option of hiring a horse car is a classic way to tour the temples used by tourists... but it is not the most comfortable way, as the trails that you follow are not in very good shape and it's on dusty roads.... the horses are well looked after and loved by their owners... most of them take really good care of there horse friend, with kindness and respect... Thanks Jobbo!!【ツ】(it was a challenge but all stamps are found😅😉)

Myanmar is a country that is situated in South-East Asia bordered by a total of five countries,  Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand and China. On the south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many colonial-era names; among these changes was the alteration of the name of the country from "Burma" to "Myanmar". However, the symbolic meaning of the name change (and those who enacted it) continues to cause controversy worldwide.

Stamps:

2X The 110th Anniversary of Yangon General Post Office Building
(Issued 20-10-2018)

71st anniversary of Independence
(Issued 04-01-2019)

 The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-10-2013)

MYANMAR ~ Shwedagon Pagoda - Yangon ~

... Amazing pagoda nightview... the Shwedagon is referred to in Myanmar as "The crown of Burma"...a magnificent symbol of Buddhism to the lives of the Myanmar people....it is one of the most famous pagodas in the world and it is certainly the main attraction of Yangon... architecturally, a World Gem... steeped in history and tradition, this is a must-see... best time to visit is at night when it is all lit up- the gold shines against the night sky... dear Jobbo, thanks to all your wonderful postcards I'm already convinced about it's beauty💜... I probably will never have the chance to see it all...  but you never know maybe thanks to all your amazing postcards shown on my blog someone else will... so if  you are an adventure tourist and like travelling off the beaten path, then this incredible destination can’t be missed!!👍 Thanks a lot once more!! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

©Yu Zami Aye
The pointy, bell-shaped stupa at the center of the Shwedagon Pagoda temple complex sits atop of a hill and rises 99 meters in the air. The Shwedagon Pagoda consists of hundreds colorful temples, stupas, and statues. Legend has it that the Shwedagon Pagoda is 2,500 years old, but archaeologists estimate it was first built by the Mon sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries.

This pagoda is considered the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar as it contains relics of the Buddha that includes 8 strands of hair from the Buddha.

The builders used 8,688 sheets of gold to build the Pagoda and has 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, sapphires, and other gems both inside and outside.  The Shwedagon pagoda has 1,485 bells.

Stamp:

National Flower of Myanmar - The 50th Anniversary of ASEAN
(Issued 17-11-2017)

MYANMAR ~ Sule Pagoda and Yangon City Hall ~

... Great panoramic postcard nr2 of Yangon formerly known as Rangoon, Myanmar's largest city...  one of the most beautiful preserved colonial cities in Asia... the range of architecturally stunning buildings here is amazing... with view of the Sule Pagoda, a historic place of worship... and the  remarkable and modern looking Yangon City Hall located just across the famous pagoda... this building is one of the rare colonial buildings which has its own typical Myanmar style...Thanks a lot dear Jobbo for showing me one of your most favorite cities in the world!【ツ】

Sule Pagoda is a small pagoda located in the center of Yangon. The pagoda is surrounded by busy streets, a market and colonial era buildings like the Supreme court building and Yangon city hall. It is an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwedagon Pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,600 years old.

Yangon city hall is a Burmese style building with tiered roofs called Pyatthat, topped with hti, a ceremonial umbrella. The building was completed in 1936 after 10 years of construction. Yangon city hall is located on Maha Bandula road, next to the Sule pagoda.

Stamp:

 Local musical instruments
 (Issued 27-07-2017)

MYANMAR ~ Sunrise over U Bein Teak Bridge - Amarapura

... Yeahhh!! Jobbo is traveling againツ... he surprised me with two fantastic postcards... this one shows a beautiful view of colorful painted rowing boats on the shore of Taungthaman Lake... near the famous U Bein Bridge... views of the bridge are most impressive at sunrise...  one of Myanmar´s most photographed sites...and the best photo opportunities are afforded by hiring a boat to get a close up view of the bridge from the water... Thanks a lot Jobbo, nice to hear from you!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Ⓒ Yu Zarni Aye
The U Bein Teak Bridge is a 1.2 km (75 miles) bridge created from more than 1000 pillars and crosses Taungthaman Lake in Amarapura.  It was originally made of teak wood completely but now some of its parts are replaced by cement.

It was built by mayor U Bein around 1860 by salvaging Teak planks and columns from the former royal palace, which was destroyed when the capital moved to Mandalay. It is believed to be the oldest and longest teak wood bridge in the world.

Stamps:

The 48th Anniversary of ASEAN - Joint Community Issue
(Issued 08-08-2015)

The 70th Anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 (Issued 17-03-2017)

MYANMAR ~ Mandalay Fortress ~

... Nice fortress view at sunset... the fortified walls are one of the few original features... the Palace has been reconstructed  (in the early 1990's) after being bombed during the second world war... nevertheless it's still an important place to see and understand how the Burmese Royals lived... Thanks a lot Jobbo!!ツ

Mandalay is situated right in central Myanmar and the last capital of Myanmar Kingdom. The plan of Mandalay Palace largely follows the traditional Burmese palace design, inside a walled fort surrounded by a moat.

Each side of the moat and fortress measures 2km in length, 8m in high and more than 2m in average thickness.

Stamp:

Local musical instruments
(Issued 27-07-2017)

MYANMAR ~ Inle Lake - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful Myanmar postcard nr2... one of the most mysterious and undiscovered destinations in the world... Inle Lake is a very quiet and relaxing place rich in culture and traditions... the one leg boat boatman is the highlight of this famous lake... a kind of waterworld... it's a must see place in Myanmar... Thanks once more Wai Zin Paing!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

"View of Burmese people with traditional costumes behind fisherman on Inle Lake."
Inle Lake is located in Taunggyi district within the hills of the Shan State . It is the second largest freshwater lake in Myanmar which measures 22 km long by 10 km wide. Apart from its ecological importance, Inle Lake is also has unique for the way the local inhabitants have adapted their life style to their environment.

In their own language the word Intha means "Sons of the Lake",  they live on their fishing and the produce of their floating gardens. In narrow boats they set out across the water before sunrise, standing with one leg on the stern and using the other leg to row, so that they always have a hand free to scoop fish from the bottom of the lake into their large bamboo nets. This unique way of rowing has make them famous.

In June 2015, the lake was officially designated as Myanmar’s first biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Bioshpere (MAB) programme.

Stamps:
The 23rd ASEAN Postal Meeting  (Issued 211-2016)

The 65th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Russia
(Issued 10-04-2013)

MYANMAR ~ Mount Popa - Popa Mountain National Park ~

... Spectacular view of a magnificent landmark on top of a huge volcanic outcrop... famous for its panoramic view of the tropical region... the monastery is a popular pilgrimage site for the Myanmar people... visitors ascend up a winding covered staircase of 777 steps encircling the mountain, observed by the curious monkeys with constant threat of attack (they make food in your bags or pockets their target)....  Thanks Wai Zin Paing!!【ツ】

Southwest of Mount Popa is Taung Kalat (pedestal hill), a sheer-sided volcanic plug, which rises ± 700m above sea level. A Buddhist monastery is located at the summit of Taung Kalat.

Mount Popa is considered to be the home of Myanmars most important nats (spirits). Nats have been worshipped on the mountain for at least a thousand years. The Nats are spirits who have been worshipped for many centuries. They were probably worshipped before the arrival of Buddhism. Since then Buddhism and Nat worshipping have gradually merged over the centuries. A shrine in the Popa Taungkalat monastery contains statues of the 37 most important Nats, all wearing very colorful clothing. Most of them were humans who suffered a violent death.

Popa Mountain National Park is a national park located in Kyaukpadaung Township in Mandalay Division. It occupies an area of 129 square kilometres (49.63 sq mi) established in 1989 and surrounds Mount Popa. Although the region is very dry, the mountain and surrounding area are green and look like an oasis in the desert. As the volcanic soil is fertile and there are many streams in the area the mountain and National Park contain many beautiful flowers and other vegetation.

Stamps:

The 2nd TELSOM-ATRC Leaders Retreat (Issued 01-10-2012)2012

The 64th Anniversary of Independence
(04-01-2012)

MYANMAR ~ Bagan - Mandalay Region - UNESCO ~

...My last postcard for 2016 is coming from South East Asia most exotic place according to my dear postcard friend Jobbo.. .breathtaking view of Bagan...  the kingdom of 13.000 temples... the temples and pagodas stretches out as far as the eye can see... Marco Polo once described it as the “gilded city”... it is the most popular tourist attraction...Thanks a million Jobbo!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Mandalay Region  (formerly Mandalay Division) is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is located in the center of the country.The regional capital is Mandalay.

Bagan is located in the central plain of Myanmar. Ancient city of kings between XI and XIII centuries competed to see who built more temples, taller, and more gold, reaching the incredible figure of 13,000 temples. Today about 2,500 Buddhist monuments (temples, stupas, monasteries, etc) are preserved.

Bagan became a UNESCO WHS site in 2019.

Stamps:

World Buddhist Summit
(Issued 09-12-2004)

The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-09-2013)

MYANMAR ~ Budha Image - Bagan ~

...A wonderful early Christmas surprise from a dear postcard friend... two young monks meditate inside one of the many thousands of ancient Buddhist temples... unfortunately on 24 August a  6.8-magnitude earthquake damaged dozens of these ancient structures...I don't think I have to ask if you had a great time over there... (◕‿-)... Thanks a million Jobbo!!【ツ】

Bagan, also called Pagan, is one of the previous capitals of Burma. It was the capital of the Pagan-kingdom. This kingdom is also been called the First Burmese Kingdom.

This ancient city located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. The shape and construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual meaning.

Many Buddha images from the Bagan period have been made of bronze, iron, sandstone or wood but the most images are located in pagodas and have been made of bricks and plaster.

Stamps:

The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-09-2013)

The 52th Anniversary of Independence
(Issued 04-01-2000)

MYANMAR~Golden Rock - Mon State ~

...Wow!! a spectacular and amazing view...an image that has become iconic for Myanmar...it looks as if the rock is just about to fall off the edge of the mountain and I love the legend that goes along with it too... unfortunately women are not allowed to touch the rock so cannot cross the bridge...but to see it from a distance must also be overwhelming...and the postcard is coming with a super long great stamp...
Big Thanks Jobbo!!【ツ】

The Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, also called the Golden Rock is one of Burma’s most sacred Buddhist sites. A massive boulder on the edge of a cliff.  This 7,3m high  pagoda is built on top of it, only held  by a single strand of Buddha’s hair.

The rock that appears to be gold is actually a granite boulder that is covered with gold leaf applied to the rock by Buddhist devotees. They also leave paper money on sticks between the rock and its platform, which is used to maintain the site. Although the money is left like this to stop it blowing away, it does look like an attempt to help the rock keep on its perch, too.

The main legend associated with the rock and the pagoda is that the Buddha, on one of his visits, gave a single strand of his hair to the local hermit, Taik Tha. The hermit, when age was about to overcome him, gave the strand to the King who wished the hair to be enshrined. Yet a hair can blow away with the wind, so the King located a boulder at the bottom of the sea and transported it to Kyaiktiyo (this name literally means pagoda on a hermit’s head).


Stamp:

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
 (Issued 16-06-2011)

MYANMAR ~Secretary Office - Yangon ~

...And guess who was travelling once more...right, Jobbo (◕‿-) he sent me two beautiful cards from a country not visited by so many people...still a "Hard-to-get one"...Many thanks for these two little gems!!
(card nr 2 tomorrow)

Myanmar is a republic in South-East Asia, bounded on the north by Tibet Autonomous Region of China; on the east by China, Laos, and Thailand; on the south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal; and on the west by the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, and India. It is officially known as the Union of Myanmar.

Yangon  also known as Rangoon, literally: "End of Strife") is a former capital of Myanmar and the capital of Yangon Region. Yangon is the country's largest city and is the most important commercial centre, although the military government officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw in March 2006. The city has the largest number of colonial buildings in the region today.

The Ministers' Building  formerly The Secretariat or Secretariat Building), was the home and administrative seat of British Burma, in downtown Yangon. Built in the late 1800s, the structure is more than 120 years old. Until 1972, the complex was called the Government Secretariat.

Stamps:

1+2 The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-09-2013)

MYANMAR ~ Mandalay - Kuthodaw Pagoda - UNESCO~

..This fantastic panoramic card came as an unexpected surprise from Rod's cruise on the Irrawaddy river with Pandaws river Expeditions...Another impressive religious Buddhist site from a place of which I never thought to get another (received also one in 2008) written and stamped card from...almost a sea of white pagodas... Thanks a million Rod!!


With cute stamp:
27th Sea Games Myanmar 2013
(Issued 2.09.2013)

©Photo Moe Min Some of the 729 stupas at Kuthodaw Pagoda famous for the world’s largest book. That means that there are 729 marble slabs regarding  the entire Pali Canon of Buddhism. It will take time 5 months and 3 days to complete the entire book when 2400 monks read 24 hour and it will take  one year and 3 months when a man read 8 hours a day.

The stupa itself, which is gilded above its terraces, is 188 feet (57 m) high.

It lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon.
Mandalay is the second largest city in Burma (after Yangon), and a former capital of Myanmar. The city is the economic and religious hub of upper Myanmar and is centred around the Royal Palace.

Kuthodaw Inscription is on UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Documentary heritage submitted by Myanmar and recommended for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register in 2013.

MYANMAR ~Chauk Htat Buddha~

MYANMAR ~Chauk Htat Buddha~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Sent by Jerry Sim. A Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image. The 72 metres long reclining Buddha statue in the North of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Myanmar is also known as Burma!