Final notes on Burma

As you may or may not be aware, Burma (or Myanmar) has had something of a troubled past. Nationwide “elections” in 2010 led to the end of an international boycott on tourism, however many countries around the world (including the US) continue to impose sanctions on the quasi-civilian state. That said, travelers are a very new thing here – there simply are very few of them around, and accordingly, neither is the requisite infrastructure. This however makes Burma quite an interesting place, and to many it is regarded as “untouched” territory, unspoiled by the West as Thailand has become. And to a large extent this is true. The first thing I noticed was that Western clothing has yet to fully infiltrate Burmese fashion. Though Western pants and shorts are a burgeoning trend in downtown Yangon, it is still much more common to see both men and women wearing longyis. In the suburban and village outskirts, Western clothing is a rarity.

ATMs have not yet arrived in Burma (with the exception of a few which at this point are only rumored to exist), and neither has credit card infrastructure. This means that we had to bring cash to cover our entire trip with us. What’s more, moneychangers in Burma only except brand new, pristine US dollars, so we are carrying quite a bit of crisp currency with us at all times. Still, the threat of theft is miniscule. The government is trying to encourage tourism so anyone messing with tourists is dealt with swiftly and without mercy. Seriously, one must think before accusing a local of ripping them off, for that person might soon find him or herself in deep, deep trouble.

In general, I’ve found locals to be extremely friendly and helpful. I attribute this to several factors. Two obvious reasons are that A) tourists = money and B) fear of the government. But this is not the whole story. The Burmese people have felt forgotten in the not so recent past, so the presence of travelers is a reassuring sight. Also, Burma is likely not a traveler’s first destination. People who visit Burma are generally somewhat experienced, meaning they’re here for more than a party (a good thing since there aren’t any), they’ve seen plenty of neighboring countries, and consequently, they’ve learned how to be respectful of local culture. In any country, these are the most desirable travelers, and they’re the first sort of visitors to Burma. Consider the contrast with the first cohort of travelers to Bangkok. No wonder relations are so warm between locals and visitors.

I found the Burmese people to be incredibly hospitable, generous, welcoming, and trusting. No where else on earth have I been treated with more warmth by the local population, and I assure you this is no exaggeration.