Fashion & travel: January 2020

Sunday 19 January 2020

TRAVEL: YANGON

Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon) is the largest city in Myanmar (formerly Burma). A mix of British colonial architecture, modern high-rises and gilded Buddhist pagodas define its skyline. Its famed Shwedagon Paya, a huge, shimmering pagoda complex, draws thousands of pilgrims annually. The city's other notable religious sites include the Botataung and Sule pagodas, both housing Buddhist relics.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma/yangon-rangoon

YANGON CIRCULAR TRAIN

SULE PAGODA

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/travel/36-hours-in-yangon-myanmar.html

Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of Gautama. The 112-metre tall pagoda, built on the 51-metre high Singuttara Hill, stands at least 163 metres above sea level, dominates the Yangon skyline. The city's zoning regulations cap the maximum height of buildings to 127 metres above sea level to prevent other structures from overtaking the pagoda.

Kheng Hock Keong

The Kheng Hock Keong, also known as the Kheng Hock Keong or Qingfu Temple, is the largest and oldest temple to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu in Yangon, Burma. It is located on the corner of Sintodan Street and Strand Road in Latha Township. Kheng Hock Keong is maintained by a Hokkien Chinese clan association. The temple attracts mostly Hokkien and Hakka worshipers, while the other temple in Latha Township, called the Guanyin Gumiao Temple, attracts Cantonese worshipers.

Kandawgyi park

Wednesday 15 January 2020

TRAVEL: QUFU 曲阜

QUFU 曲阜

Qufu is a city in China’s Shandong province, once the capital of Lu State (1042–249 B.C.). It’s known for being the hometown of Confucius, born nearby in 551 B.C., and for sites associated with the Chinese philosopher. The Kong Miao (Confucius Temple) was established in 478 B.C., with the current sprawling complex mostly dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Qufu has more than 2,500 years of history. Best known as the hometown of China's "first sage" Confucius, it was the home of of his descendants - who often ruled the place as feudal rulers - for many centuries.

Center of the national cult of Confucius, and the birthplace of the mythical Yellow Emperor (the legendary founder of the Chinese nation), Qufu saw many emperors decorate its temples with steles, praising Confucius and other heroic figures of the past. Usually written in Chinese, but during some dynasties also in Mongol or Manchu, these steles are among the most characteristic objects to be found at the city's historical sites. The most important of them are supported by mighty stone tortoises (which since the Ming era have become known as bixi).

Few of Qufu's residents are Christian or Jewish, but the city boasts a strong Muslim ("Hui") community.

Temple of Confucius (孔庙, Kong Miao)
Cemetery of Confucius, or Confucius Forest (Kong Lin)
Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu)
Temple of Yan Hui (Yan Miao)
Temple of Duke Zhou' (Zhou Gong Miao)
Tomb of Shaohao (Shaohao Ling) and Shou Qiu (birthplace of the legendary Yellow Emperor)