Well, as someone who has done a good bit of international traveling and spent a lot of time in Asia in the last few years; I honestly had no idea what to expect when I went to Myanmar. To me, Myanmar was always the other North Korea: an informational black hole with a government that oppressed its citizens and cut them off from contact with the outside world and outside culture. the only real difference between Myanmar and North Korea in my mind was that while North Korea crammed propaganda down its citizens throats, the junta in Myanmar didn’t communicate with its citizens at all.
I would see documentaries like Burma VJ (an excellent film by the way, I recommend checking it out if you like docs), hear about Aung San Suu Kyi and her plight and more recently see how the Rohingya people were being marginalized by the rest of society because they were a different religion. Most of what I heard about the place was negative. Or just weird. Like the fact that one day the General in charge of the country woke up and felt his people were leaning too far to the left politically, so he decided that now instead of driving on the left side of the street, they would switch to the right, which means you drive on the right side with the wheel on the right side of the car. Imagine trying to change lanes in Springfield while driving from the passenger seat. Or having to exit a bus into lanes of oncoming traffic because the door is on the opposite side of the street. Huh? Now I’m at least a marginally intelligent person, so I know that just because all I hear is negative doesn’t mean a place deserves to be demonized, but it still makes you wonder …
But I’m nothing if not open minded, so I came. What a beautiful country, what wonderful people, what a fabulous culture. Yangon, the historic capital (and technically still the current one until they finish the new planned capital at Naypyidaw because Yangon is sinking due to coastline erosion, but that’s a whole different story) was a fascinating combination of history and modernity. The climate is humid, like most southeast Asian cities. We got to see Buddhist temples that were over a millennium old, and learn how foreign companies were working with newly started small, local businesses to help improve infrastructure. It’s very interesting that the foreign companies and local businesses are both learning how to do business in Myanmar, because until late 2011, the military government controlled most aspects of society. We got to meet with Zaw Niang from Royal Haskoning DHV for a very interesting discussion on this very topic. On the cultural front, I learned that in the Buddhist philosophy I am a tiger because I was born on a Monday. I am strong willed and I change my mind a lot. I’ll take that to mean I am open minded.
We next traveled to Bagan, which I was really concerned about because that meant I had to get on an old prop plane operated by a Myanmar airline. And those of you who know me know: I DO NOT LIKE TO FLY!!! But I want to give a big thumbs up to Air KBZ. A great airline that took great care of us and made me feel pretty safe (of course I’m sure the handfuls of Xanax I took before each flight may have paid a role as well). Bagan was more of a dry climate. Not really a desert, just very arid. This is mostly due to a lack of good irrigation. this is one of the project Royal Haskoning is involved in to help “Greenify” the area, along with a Japanese and South Korean firm. Bagan has over 3000 temples. It’s kind of like Angkor Wat gone crazy. This was my first chance to eat true Myanmar food, as what we got in Yangon was more Chinese influenced. Still good mind you, but not local. Myanmar cuisine is not a huge departure from what you might eat in other Asian countries, but it does have its own spin and is very tasty and spicy. Right up my alley.
Some of us got the chance to rent motorbikes and explore the temples, which was cool. And we got to climb to the top of Mount Popa, where for a mere 50,000 kyat (about $50), there is now a sign letting everyone know that in 2015 the Missouri State MKT Study Away program reached the top. The sign is maroon, but there wasn’t enough room to write “Go Bears!!” so apologies to Pat Sells.
Lastly we got to go to Inle Lake, which is as you might guess a lake region, but surrounded by mountains. A lot of the smaller tribes of Myanmar live around this region. We got to see how they make cigars, silver, Shan paper and used floating gardens to harvest crops. It was a beautiful and natural place not yet invaded by outside society and tourist traps. Most of Myanmar is this way, but the touristy stuff is starting to seep into other places, so if you want to go, see it now before it gets too commercialized and ends up being the location for The Hangover Part 4 or something.
In conclusion, Myanmar gets two BIG thumbs up from me. This is not North Korea. Not even the same ballpark. Not even the same sport. The people are very nice, very kind and very generous as they are willing to share what little they have with outsiders. They let us into their country and taught us about their culture and welcomed us as if we were members of their own family; well except for one guy who flipped us off, but you can’t win ’em all I guess.
There. My one yearly foray into social media is complete. Now I can hide from you Facebook/Twitter loving folk for another 364 days.