Myanmar

A wonderful country with amazing views and the actual must go travel destination with some limitations — it’s tough to travel through ‘cause there are problems in all the border regions. But this country left a big impression on me. Unlike Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries the people are not submissive and look straight into your eyes. Not to offend, it seems they respect you as equal. Sure the tourism has already changed the people, in the main spots like Bagan or Inle Lake some treat you shitty and are trying to get the money out of your pockets. Off the tourist track I really saw friendliness and honest helpfulness I haven’t encountered anywhere else.

«In all these years of repression the people had only themselves and to help each other»

This was the explanation from a Burmese when I asked him for possible reasons. Tourism rocket high and keeps going since the country opened up. The situation for the people on the countryside or border regions stays difficult. All the people hope for the better though the fights ain’t over. Burma is multi-ethnic with Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus, Islamists, Baptists, Indians, Thais, Chinese and a lot more, this together with a lot of precious resources wont make it easier. It will be interesting what the future will bring. But I’m glad that I had the possibility to see it the way before big changes occur.