i’ve been to a lot of countries for the first time, but there aren’t many i’ve enjoyed as much as myanmar! it is so unique, and truly at an inflection point in its history, transitioning from a completely closed-off junta-ruled autocracy to a member of the globalized world, at breakneck speed. all this in a rich cultural milieu that combines its own storied history and indian, chinese, southeast asian and british influences into something all its own.
i spent 3 days in the largest city, yangon. the centerpiece of the city is shwedagon, a massive buddhist pagoda surrounded by other buddhist shrines, which is buzzing with the activity of monks, tourists and regular people at all times. one must remove their shoes and wear a skirt to walk around the premises. be sure to see it both at day and at night as the atmosphere changes considerably, with incense and thousands of candles appearing as the sun begins to set. one of those places where you spend an entire day just in awe of everything happening around you.
i took the ferry across the irrawaddy river to a town called dala.
downtown i found a new shopping mall called junction city, evidence of fast globalization. otherwise, downtown yangon feels like it could still be in the colonial era.
among other things, ate a lot of amazing fermented tea leaf salad, called lahpet. most people wear a natural bark-based sunscreen on their face called thanaka.
