Myanmar
February 25, 2008
One final note on Myanmar: before actually setting foot inside that country there was a lot of apprehension and fear about the turmoil going on inside its borders. There is no question that the military dictatorship governing this country is an atrocity and one can only hope that they get their due sooner than later. But that is not Myanmar. Myanmar is a country that has an already pre-established history and culture that supersedes all of their current problems. One aspect I really liked about Burma was that you saw very little ‘western’ influence; the clothing, customs and mannerisms are all still very traditional and Burmese - it was nice. Another aspect was the people. The people were just so kind and friendly to us that you forgot all about the other problems you were initially concerned about. Yes, there is a military presence and you can see how it affects the people, but the people are doing the best they can to make a bad situation as good as possible; I think they are extremely brave. The Burmese people want you to come and see there country and are all very proud of their existing culture, and in the end those are the memories I take away. While Myanmar is a very difficult country to travel in due to their poor infrastructure, in the end that is what makes it more rewarding. It is a journey. All in all, our family had a wonderful time there and hope to one day return to Myanmar for another quick visit before we leave China for good.
