Photo Essay – 10 Spiritual Places in Asia

Asia as a destination offers a kaleidoscope of religions and belief systems for the traveler to experience. There is certainly no shortage of spiritual places usually alive and buzzing with the faithful who arrive in droves to worship. Often some of our best experiences were simply wondering around these unique and inspiring places getting a glimpse into a belief system completely alien from our own sometimes joined by a knowledgeable local who would explain their faith.

The sheer amount of temples, mosques,pagoda’s and shrines throughout the continent is mind blowing but this post highlights the top 10 that we wont soon forget.

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One Pagoda, Two Pagoda, Three Pagoda, More!

When I heard the warning from fellow backpackers in Yangon about the long bus trips necessary to get from destination to destination, I feared the worst on my 14 hour overnight journey to Bagan. I think I must have lucked out because the ride was relatively comfortable and routine aside from when I was just dozing off, I was shook awake to have my passport checked at the military checkpoint. Luckily, there was only one.

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Arrival in the Golden Land!

The first thing I noticed upon leaving the Yangon airport was an intense blast of heat which seemed to stick with my entire time in the country as my body struggled to find a way to acclimatise.

Once I arrived at the very popular motherland guesthouse and gobbled down a large breakfast of toast,eggs,coffee, and cake, yes cake for breakfast, I was due for a nap. After all, it was just too damn hot to do anything. When I woke and had a refreshing cold shower, I headed over to Shwedagon Pagoda, the epicenter of relgious belief in Myanmar. Having traveled Bhutan, India and Tibet I am more than a little jaded when it comes to my opinions of great temples, but dare I say it, Shwedagon might be the grandest I have come across yet!

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