Since our visit to Myanmar (Burma) in 2008, a lot has changed. Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from house arrest. The junta government seems to be loosening controls and opening up. Heck, it seems like every week there's a group of foreign dignitaries visiting Myanmar, something impossible during the time of our visit.But even with all the dignitary visits and … [Read more...]
Burma (Myanmar) Travel Articles, Photos and Panoramas
Visiting Burma: How To Do It Responsibly
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’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...]
No More Bats and Bicycle Chickens: The Better Side of Burmese Cuisine
I remember my first taste of what was supposed to be Burmese food at a restaurant in San Francisco. There was none of the coconut milk and fragrance of Thai curries and the spice palette didn't inspire like it did in Indian cuisine.Underwhelming, I thought.However, during our visit to Burma (Myanmar), we quickly appreciated Burmese cuisine for the beauty of … [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...]
Rangoon Dusk
After reflecting on the challenges faced by Myanmar (Burma) yesterday, we wanted to leave you with a more pleasant image of the country for the weekend. … [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...]