Myanmar: Land of the Golden Pagoda (8/17)

Traveling through Myanmar is a journey full of contradictions. Recent political reforms mean that the country is modernizing quickly, but the old traditions still hold sway over the people. After five decades of isolation from the outside world, the people of Myanmar are eager for knowledge and have a warm welcome for visitors.

Traveling through Myanmar is a journey full of contradictions. Since the new civilian government implemented its political reforms, the country and particularly the cities are modernizing at a scorching pace. Nonetheless, ancient traditions still shape the lives of the people here, who were cut off from the outside world during five decades of military dictatorship. Now both locals and visitors can interact - a win for both sides. As a traveler, you are overcome by the hospitality of the Myanmar people, their thirst for knowledge and their deeply religious nature. One outward sign of their religion is the thousands of pagodas, which quite understandably are an integral part of their everyday life, and are often finished in gold causing them to glitter brightly in the sunshine. The journey through Myanmar takes us to the capital city Yangon, to Inle Lake, the former royal cities of Mandalay and Bagan and to Ngapali Beach on the Bay of Bengal.