The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand.  The history and culture of the country can be traced back thousands of years to when various kingdoms and empires ruled the land.  After occupation by the British and the Japanese, Myanmar finally gained independence in 1948.  This milestone in the history of the country was followed by nearly half of century of oppressive military dictatorship and civil war.  Finally, in 2008 the military control began to weaken and crumble and in the last several years, the country has emerged as a democratic state and has opened up for tourism.  Myanmar is becoming more and more popular with travelers as Myanmar’s tourism industry grows.  The country is famous for the cities of Yangon, Bagan (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Mandalay as well as Inle Lake, the Irrawaddy River, and the rest of the country’s beautiful natural landscapes.

Geography

Myanmar is a very mountainous country with several mountain ranges running north to south from the Himalayas.  These mountain ranges divide the three major rivers that run through Myanmar: the Irrawaddy River, the Salween River, and the Sittaung River.  The valleys through which these rivers flow are made up of fertile plains; most of the population of Myanmar lives in the Irrawaddy Valley.  As one travels further south in Myanmar, the landscape becomes more coastal with several long white sand beaches that gaze over crystal-clear blue waters.

Population

The population of Myanmar is approximately 52 million.  This number is made up of 135 different government-recognized ethnic groups as well as a number of groups that are not recognized by the government.  The Bamar people make up 68% of the population, the Shan make up 10% of the population, and the Kayin make up 7%.  The unrecognized Rakhine people constitute 4% of the population and the rest of the population is made up of a mix between the Kachin, Chin, Rohingya, Anglo-Indians, Gurkha, and foreigners (mostly from China, India, and Nepal).

Religion

Myanmar is a predominantly Theravada Buddhist country with the rest of the population practicing Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and various ethnic religions often influenced by the Chinese.  It should be noted that Christian and Muslim minorities are subject to discrimination, despite the promise of religious freedom in the country.  There is also a great deal of tension between the Buddhist community and the Muslim community within the country.

Politics

Myanmar has a long and complicated political history.  Since the country gained independence in 1948, the people have suffered nearly 50 years of oppressive military dictatorship, which only recently crumbled and and began to fall in 2008. This led to a referendum that set the stage for a multi-party democracy.  This new constitution had overwhelming support from the Burmese population and led to an election in which the National League for Democracy won nearly every contested seat in the government.  The new president, Thein Sein, made great leaps in unifying the country: making peace with Suu Kyi, arranging ceasefires with the ethnic fighting cadres in the north, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, as well as loosening restraints on the media.  Though politics in Myanmar are still heavily influenced by the military, the new democratic system in the country has allowed for the country to become more progressive and open up its borders to foreign business and travel.

Economy

Due to its long and troubled history, Myanmar remains one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia.  Despite the lack of education in the workforce, the new government has made great steps towards improving Myanmar’s economy and crumbling infrastructure.  The currency is the Kyat and the exchange rate, as of October 2016, is approximately 1200 Kyat to one US Dollar.  During the military dictatorship, the United State, Canada, and the European Union imposed strict sanctions on Myanmar making it very difficult for the country to be involved in any kind of foreign trade.  However, in 2012, these sanction began to lift, opening the door for Myanmar to become more powerful on world-scale.  Foreign investment in the country come primarily from Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, India, and Thailand.

Customs & Traditions

It is a good idea to practice modesty when dressing in Myanmar.  Covering shoulders and knees is recommended and you will gain more respect among the locals the more you cover up.  It can get quite hot in Myanmar, so, for women, long dresses and skirts are advisable.  Most Burmese people wear traditional garb, though more “western-style” clothing is becoming popular in the cities and especially amongst the country’s youth.  Age is very important in the culture of Myanmar and their speech is based around honoring people based on their age.  The use of honorifics before a personal name is considered to be the norm and it is good to associate yourself with these honorifics as a way of acknowledging and appreciating the the people and the culture of the country in which you are traveling.  Honor, respect, and power are also important cornerstones in Burmese culture.  As in many other Buddhist countries, it offensive to touch another’s head (the highest point in the body) or feet (the lowest point of the body).  Avoid making any gestures with the feet or sitting with your feet facing another person.  Public displays of affection are very common among friends and families but less so among lovers.

Climate

Most of Myanmar lies in the monsoon region of Asia meaning that there is a rainy season that typically lasts from June to October.  November to February prove to have the coolest temperatures throughout the country, making it a good time to plan a trip.  The hot season is from March to April. The Northern region of Myanmar (in the mountains) is the coolest with an average temperature of 21C/70F degrees.  The coastal and delta regions of the country have an average temperature of 32C/90F degrees.

Food & Drink

Through a variety of dishes, Burmese food finds a balance between sour, spicy, bitter, and salty flavors.  Breakfast is typically a noodle soup and noodles are also strongly featured at lunchtime.  Another popular lunch is traditional Burmese curry which is also popular to eat at dinnertime.  Curry is usually accompanied by rice, soup, fried vegetables, green tea, and dessert.  Dishes and flavors vary from region to region, but the most popular flavors are peanut, ginger, lemongrass, garlic, chilli, and lime.  Avoid drinking tap water in Myanmar, bottled water is readily available everywhere you go.