While reading Nicholas Kristof’s opinion piece on Burma (Myanmar) last month I was consumed by a rush of memories - conversations and images from of our month-long visit there last year. My comment on his article shares my views regarding the effectiveness of international sanctions in changing the behaviors of the military government (junta). I also address whether … [Read more...]
Burma (Myanmar) Travel Articles, Photos and Panoramas
Burma’s Golden Kite
The Golden Kite of Burma (Myanmar): the trail connecting Rangoon (Yangon), Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake. These four locations form a common itinerary for visits to the country. Their golden stupas, fields of ancient Buddhist pagodas, floating villages, and royal palaces tell a story of place caught between its modern-day struggles and an underlying narrative of a … [Read more...]
Overview of Burmese Food: Top 15 Dishes in Burma (Myanmar)
During our visit to Burma (Myanmar), we quickly appreciated Burmese food and cuisine for the beauty of what it is: an Asian cuisine fused from Southeast Asian, Chinese and Indian influences. … [Read more...]
Burma: A Photo, A Thousand Words
While the Burmese junta (military government) has well earned its appalling reputation among human rights organizations and the international press, the people of Burma have an acclaim of their own among travelers as some of the kindest around. Therefore, when we departed for Burma (Myanmar), we did so with high expectations. Its people, cities, landscapes, … [Read more...]
Rangoon Reflections
Rangoon, Burma. The name conjures the tropical blues of a steamy colonial outpost. We wondered: would the current reality still match? … [Read more...]
Myanmar, Where Hope Dies Last?
News stories take on increased significance when we’ve actually visited the place being covered. For example, we've recently been reading more about the effects of a harsh winter on the lives of ordinary people in both Tajikistan and China. As we read these stories, images of the people we’ve met become superimposed on a piece of news that we might otherwise regard … [Read more...]
Lonely Myanmar
Don't worry, we're not feeling lonely. The title refers to the current reality here in Myanmar where once bustling tourist sights and streets have been transformed into ghost towns. Strings of flashing lights still hang from restaurants advertising the best Burmese, Indian, Nepalese - and even Tibetan - food in town, but the sobering and obvious fact is that most of … [Read more...]
Myanmar: Go or No Go?
Myanmar (Burma) is a country noted for its oppressive government and lauded for the kindness of its people. This September, though, the political situation heated up again under protests and a corresponding government crackdown. We’re back in the neighborhood of Southeast Asia again and we have the opportunity to visit. Do we go this time or give it another pass? … [Read more...]