Myanmar

In terms of Buddhist sites and monuments, Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of the richest nations in the world. Thousands of temples, old and new, and Buddhist statuary of all sizes keep watch over this predominantly Buddhist population. Of those I visited, I was most taken with the Shwedagon Paya in the capital, and with the ancient temples of Bagan. I was fortunate to have visited Myanmar before the ‘opening up’ of the country in 2012, when tourists were still few and far between. Until recently, they were everywhere, as were smartphones, Cola-Cola, cars and ATMs. The latest coup d’état, however, may have changed all this again...

Shwe In Bin Kyaung (Mandalay)

The big reclining Buddha in Chauk Htet Gyi (Yangon)

Yan Aung Nan Aung Hsu Taung Pyi (Nyangshwe, Inle Lake)