I just returned from a two-week trip exploring Myanmar, with the first location being Yangon, the former capital of what was once Burma. This collection of images shows Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset, a place and time considered mandatory for visitors and residents alike. The pagoda's main stupa is currently in the process of having another layer of gold leaf applied to its exterior, so it was entirely wrapped in a suit of bamboo armor, thus hiding its famous golden reflection. It remains, however, an extraordinary place, serving as a place of prayer and community gathering.

Caitlin Cunningham is a Boston-based freelance photographer. To see more of her work, visit her professional site.