Memoirs of Myanmar

I had heard of a relatively untouched place in Southeast Asia. A place much less saturated by us Western tourists and influences. A place that still possessed true authenticity almost everywhere you went. Where you can see, smell, feel, and taste a preserved culture that’s existed and persisted for so long and in so many ways. This place is Myanmar, or Burma, as us Americans might still call it (Burma is the old, now unofficial name). Nearly everyone I’ve spoken to who’s traveled around Southeast Asia had unanimously declared Myanmar as their favorite country to visit in this region precisely for the reasons given above. And when it comes to long-term travel and adventures around the world, this is the kind of place that immediately catches my attention. After my arrival in Bangkok and seeing how cheap flights were to get to Myanmar from there, I knew I had to take the opportunity and go now before it’s too late (before tourism catches on and the saturation begins). Now is the time to go to Myanmar, and this is why I decided to go.

The famous fisherman of Inle lake

The only uncertainty was how much time I would spend in this mysterious part of the world. ‘What was there to see and how much time was needed to see it?’ - This seems like a pretty obvious question to ask when coming to a new, unfamiliar place. But for me, at this point in my journey, it’s not necessarily about what there is to ‘see’ more than it’s about how many people there will be to meet, to communicate with, to share experiences with, and to create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. So how much time is needed to do this? I don’t know, but the visa gives me 28 days to explore this new place and it wasn’t long after I arrived that I knew I would need all 28 days.

Market day in Pindaya

Myanmar in particular is known for its people and hospitality. This is the highlight for most people that visit the country. The human connection. For me, after the first two weeks of being here there would be no exception. This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited precisely because of the incredible people that inhabit this place. The smiles, waves, greetings, and hospitality is nearly unmatched. My times in India and the people and experiences I had there would suddenly face some stiff competition, as the Myanmar people continue to surprise me with their kindness and generosity each and every day. There’s too many stories to tell, but highlights include:

• Staying at a monastery in Meiktila (in the center of Myanmar) for a week and helping university students practice their English while they showed me around the town, taught me so much about their local culture, and showered me in gifts for their appreciation of my visit.

• How easy it is to hitchhike nearly everywhere in the country (13 times in one week!) and all of the extremely kind and generous people that have given me rides (including a free ride from a tour bus).

• The little school girl that must’ve been 6 years old who greeted me in Kalaw (a small mountain town) and gave me a flower.

• The shop owner in Pindaya (another small town) who let me borrow his umbrella while it was raining during my walk to the incredible Shwe Oo Min cave pagoda, who then also took me to the market and treated me to an amazing home-cooked lunch the following day.

• The incredible family that didn’t speak any English, but hosted me in Yangon and took me around the city, feeding me and always making sure I was comfortable in a lower class home that would be difficult to feel comfortable in for us Westerners.

My Yangon family: Ma Soe Ei San, Ko Soe Min Oo, and little Zu Zu

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of great sites to see in Myanmar. Bagan is one of the most popular places, with its hundreds of temples and pagodas scattered throughout the plains, and beautiful Inle Lake and its incredible floating gardens and villages that I fell in love with. But I don’t feel like it’s necessary to talk about these places as much as the people that live here. So that’s what I decided to dedicate my post about Myanmar to. I can say it over and over, but when it comes to traveling, it all comes down to the people you encounter. It’s easily become my favorite part of not just traveling, but life in general. Myanmar is one of the best places in the world to meet these people and experience the ultimate human connection.