The Shwedagon Pagoda is a massive golden stupa, in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma). (Darn this endless double-naming!) According to Wikipedia, “The crown or umbrella is tipped with 5, 448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies. The very top, the diamond bud, is tipped with a 76 carat (15g) diamond.” In the background of this picture you can see the base of the stupa, and surrounding it is an enormous complex that buzzed with the activity of monks, worshippes and tourists and reminded me of (no disrepect to this sacred site intended) the North Carolina State Fair.