Myanmar, or Burma, if you prefer, is beautiful in its subtle ways with a recent history that casts a blemish on an otherwise fascinating history. The Burmese are pleased to see us visiting their country with an interest in learning about their cultural history. Our journey is a tailor-made 28 day trip that, as far as we know, is not offered by any other organization. To help you prepare, I will send you a reading list that offers a wide range of subjects, including some works by Kipling and Orwell (Burmese Days). Our group will be staying in some of the comfortable accommodations available to travelers, as well as the basic at Yaksakyi Monastery. We will explore some seldom visited regions as well as the major cultural and religious sites. When you depart Burma, you can truly exclaim, "I have been to Burma."
"Myanma" was historically known only for the the small central area where the dominant Bamar population lived. It's a name that excludes the huge outlying areas where the Shan, Kachin, Karen, Chin and other people are the majority. In 1989, the government - then a repressive military regime - decreed that the country's official name would change from Burma to Myanmar, since "Burma" was seen as a relic of colonial times. Now that the political climate has relaxed, you hear people using both terms, but for more than two decades, people were punished for saying "Burma" instead of "Myanmar."
The following presentation offers some of the sights from our Hiking Burma: A Cultural Journey in Myanmar 2013. I hope that you enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoyed traveling and hiking the country.
Hiking Burma
A Cultural Journey in Myanmar
Folkways' Image Library
YouTube
