Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to
Myanmar (Burma)
Now is the moment to visit this extraordinary land, scattered
with gilded pagodas, where the traditional ways of Asia
endure and areas that were previously off-limits are opening
up.
A World Apart
'This is Burma,' wrote Rudyard Kipling. 'It is quite unlike any place you know about.'
Amazingly, more than a century later, Myanmar retains the power to surprise and delight
even the most jaded of travellers. Be dazzled by the 'winking wonder' of Shwedagon
Paya. Contemplate the 4000 sacred stupas scattered across the plains of Bagan. Stare in
disbelief at the Golden Rock at Mt Kyaiktiyo, teetering impossibly on the edge of a
chasm. These are all important Buddhist sights in a country where pious monks are more
revered than rock stars.
Traditional Life
In a nation with more than 100 ethnic groups, exploring Myanmar can often feel like
you've stumbled into a living edition of
National Geographic
, circa 1910! The country,
for instance, has yet to be completely overwhelmed by Western fashion - everywhere
you'll encounter men wearing skirt-like
longyi
, women smothered in
thanakha
(traditional
make-up) and betel-chewing grannies with mouths full of blood-red juice. People still get
around in trishaws and, in rural areas, horse and cart. Drinking tea, a British colonial af-
fectation, is enthusiastically embraced in thousands of traditional teahouses.
International Interest
In 2013 Myanmar remained a Starbucks-free nation - but that could soon change. As the
country makes tentative steps towards democracy, sanctions have been dropped and the
world is rushing to do business here. In recent years conveniences such as mobile phone
coverage, internet access and internationally linked ATMs have all improved or made their
debut. Relaxing of censorship has led to an explosion of new media and an astonishing
