Umin Thonse Pagoda
Burma 2011
The white and gold pagoda gleamed from the top of a jungle-covered hill overlooking the Irrawaddy River. The name Umin Thonse means “thirty cave pagoda” but we didn’t see any caves. We saw what seemed to be a temple with many rooms, each dedicated to an electronic version of Buddha…halos of colored, blinking, dancing lights said “holy, holy, holy” in Buddhist style. A crescent shaped-building housed these 45 Buddhas with garments made of gold leaf. Each face was different. and if you shot your photo just right they seemed to go on to infinity.