It's drizzling and the mist is hanging in the air as I approach the iconic pagoda. I have seen photos of this place, usually at sunrise and sunset and to be here in the rainy season is special.

Some are carried on stretcher like means of transport, protected from the rain in their temporary rain capes. Some have travelled for hundreds of miles from within Myanmar and beyond in other Buddhist countries. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage location.

For or just a few brief minutes, the sun breaks through the rain clouds and I take some photos against the shiny golden rock. As I look down into the valley below and across to the other hills, I get a better sense of the remoteness of Mount Kyaikhtiyo.

I look into the sky and feel something spiritual deep within me and a sense of the eternal cycle of life on this planet of ours.

Most people do not stay overnight but I book into the Yoe Yoe Lay hotel near the pagoda. As light fades, I head out again to see the rock as it is lit up. With the mist swirling around and hearing the chanting of women pilgrims, this is a truly beautiful atmosphere.

I set my alarm for a 5am wake up to see the sunrise but the mist and drizzle have not gone away. I settle for one final viewing and then head back down the mountain on the truck. I have really been revitalized by the solitude of this place and will return again before I complete my time in Myanmar