TRAVEL IN BURMA

Travelling to south East Asia has long delivered wonderful experiences for travelers looking to immerse themselves in local cultures, iconic ancient architecture, friendly welcoming peoples and stunning natural beauty. From the jungles of Borneo to the temples of Angkor, via the hill tribes of Laos it is a continent blessed with endless potential for adventure and exploration.

Mass Tourism Affects the Travel Experience

With  ever more development, globalization and mass tourism, comes an increase in level of crime and scams against tourists. There has also been an upsurge in civil unrest, as the divide between the rich and poor becomes more defined.

'Modernization' often benefits local populations, delivering employment to growing populations, improvement in national infrastructure, better health care and more access to education; developments which should be welcomed by all.

However many travelers bemoan those aspects of globalization which see big brands carbon copy successful businesses across the world, reducing authenticity of their experiences and reducing the cultural variety they so prize; it is somehow demystifying to find a Tesco supermarket on small island in the Gulf of Thailand.

Burma- The New Tourism Frontier

Burma has opened a new frontier in travel to the region, an opportunity to experience what the rest of south east Asia was like 25 years ago, exciting, undiscovered, magical and large untainted bu western culture.

Burma is therefore a very attractive destination for many but we should not forget the reason why Burma lags so far behind its 'tiger economy' neighbors. The Burmese people have been repressed for over 50 years by one of the modern world's most brutal military dictatorships.

Brutal Infrastructure, Brutal 

Over 50 years of military dictatorship turned Burma fro the 'Bread Basket of South East Asia' into a financial basket case. As a result Burma has creaking infrastructure, with emergency services and health care facilities severely lacking.

If you require medical care whilst in Burma, you should seriously consider travelling to a neighboring country such as Thailand or Singapore.

Parts of Burma can also be susceptible to natural disasters. In 2008 Cyclone Nargis killed in excess of 135000 people; many survivors were cut off for months without shelter or a reliable food source in a devastated landscape. In Burma it does not take a disaster of this magnitude for local services to become overwhelmed and unable.

Rainy/monsoon season in Burma runs from May to the end of October. Travel during this time is easier inland than in some coastal areas, which can receive in excess of 5,000 mm rain annually. This can affect access and the heat humidity can be debilitating.