Peaceful Golden Heritage -1st International Watercolour festival in Myanmar was took place on 29th January 2019 at The Strand Hotel Yangon (Ballroom). I was one of the invited artists for this amazing event. I feel honoured to be among prominent watercolours artists from all over the world, who were invited by Min Wae Aung. This festival was top class art event that presented international art but also the event that broadened my horizons. I have met amazing people and learnt burmese culture and I have seen spectacular heitage of the Republic of Myanmar on cultural trip. The event featured watercolour paintings by 260 local and international artists on display. There were also practical painting demonstrations by 10 Master artists form Singapore, Canada, India, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The 1st International Watercolor Festival was organized by International Watercolor Society and International Watercolor Society Myanmar with the support of partner groups – KYN Group (Tour, Media, Trade) and NEW TREASURE ART GALLERY. There were also master demonstrations of Ong Kim Seng (Singapore), Atanur Dagon (Turkey-Canada), Amit Kapoor(India), Khoo Cheang Jin(Malaysia), Jasen Chow(Malaysia), La Fe(Thailand), Lok Kerk Hwang(Malaysia), Shan Hong(China), Tawee Huahim(Thailand), Ze Ze Lai(Hong Kong). The artists who participated in the festival were from 37 countries namely Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam and Myanmar. On the grand opening ceremony there was cultural show that included dance and music. It was spectacular. Later on, there was outdoor collective long painting.

The next day there was art tour around Myanmar. Fist we went to Bagan for plein air and sightseeing. Baganis an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, 4,446 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of 3,822 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day. We were lucky to watch the sunset that was breathtaking. In the evening we had dinner with local cultural show. The next day we went to Popa ara for plein air and long painting. There was a farewell dinner in Sepauk Village with cultural show. After our arival to Yangoon there was another activity for the participants. We had plein air downtown in Yangoon and Swedagone Pagoda. The Shwedagon Pagoda is officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw ( 'Golden Dagon Pagoda') and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of Gautama. Built on the 51-metre (167 ft) high Singuttara Hill, the 112 m (367 ft) tall pagoda stands 170 m (560 ft) above sea level and dominates the Yangon skyline. Yangon's zoning regulations, which cap the maximum height of buildings to 127 metres (417 feet) above sea level (75% of the pagoda's sea level height), ensure the Shwedagon's prominence in the city's skyline.