I’ve just returned from another trip to Myanmar. Travel within the country is pretty demanding as the infrastructure has suffered from many years of neglect, but the rewards for travelling here are great. If I could only travel to one country over the next decade it would be Myanmar. At every turn there is another fabulous photo opportunity.

Over the next few days I’ll be posting images from several destinations, starting with the magnificent Golden Rock.  Also known as Kyaik-htiyo, the Golden Rock is one of Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist sites.

Located around three hours drive east of Yangon, it is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over Asia who come to pray and rub gold leaf on the precariously perched rock.

 As with many sites of pilgrimage, getting there requires effort. A nail-biting truck ride takes you halfway up the mountain, and the rest of the steep climb is done on foot. If you want to experience both sunset and sunrise, make sure you stay at the hotels at the top – just a 10 minute walk from the actual site.