Myanmar Spirit and Soul Waiting for Tourists to See

When we visit Myanmar, we will see tranquility and excitements and. It starts with the iconic temples of Bagan to the tranquil bridges along Lake Kandawgyi, the spiritual atmosphere and hospitality of the people of Myanmar that captivate tourists from all over the world.

Kandawgyi Lake (Burmese: ကန်တော်ကြီး pronounced [kàɰ̃dɔ̀dʑí]; lit. ’great royal lake’) is one of two majors lakes in Yangon, Myanmar. Located east of the Shwedagon Pagoda, the lake is artificial and was created to provide a clean water supply to the city during the British colonial administration in the period of First War (1824–1826), Second War (1852) and Third War (1885) when The British occupied Upper Burma, deposed the King, and formally ended the Konbaung Dynasty on 29 November 1885.

When in Lake Kandawgyi and in Myanmar, we can see the characteristics of the Myanmar people, including the cultural identity of Myanmar can be seen from various traditions that are still maintained today, namely wearing longyi, a traditional garment similar to a sarong worn by both men and women.

In addition, Myanmar children, as well as women and men often apply a traditional yellowish-white paste called Thanaka to their faces. Made by grinding the bark of the Thanaka tree, this paste serves as a natural sunscreen, skin moisturizer, and cultural beauty symbol that has been used for generations.

Myanmar is also known for its spiritual atmosphere, filled with thousands of pagodas and monasteries, including the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. The Thingyan Festival, the Burmese New Year celebration, is also a festive moment that brings music, tradition, and togetherness to the streets.

Amid economic challenges and a difficult political situation, the people of Myanmar continue to show their spirit and resilience. Through its close-knit works of art, traditions, and communities, Myanmar continues to maintain its rich charm and cultural heritage.

Myanmar also uses Myanmar letters to write the official language of Myanmar. The Myanmar script has a unique writing system with a round shape and a long history, originating from the 11th century AD.

Behind its cultural charm, Myanmar has also been in the spotlight of the international world. Myanmar hosted the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia in Naypyidaw (Myanmar’s capital) in June 2013 — Myanmar’s first WEF event after decades of military rule and international isolation.

Naypyidaw has been the official capital of Myanmar’s state since November 6, 2005, after the military junta government moved the centre of government based on several considerations, namely its location in the middle of the country to facilitate access to various border areas, Naypidaw’s location far inland to reduce the risk of sea attacks and on the advice of forecasters to the leaders of the regime at that time.

Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its history has witnessed military junta overthrows and coups since independence from Britain in 1948. The military, known as the Tatmadaw, has ruled the government for decades through various phases of leadership, namely the First Military Junta (1962–1988) led by General Ne Win who turned Myanmar into a socialist one-party state, the Second Military Junta II (1988–2011) where the “8888 Rebellion” saw the military take power again and was completed after the 2010 elections. The junta was led by Than Shwe before it was formally dissolved after the 2010 elections. Meanwhile, the Military Junta III / Coup 2021 (February 1, 2021 until now) occurred when the military staged a coup against the elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The current government is under the Tatmadaw led by Min Aung Hlaing, who extended the state of emergency several times.

To travel to Myanmar, you need visa and check the situation in relations to politics. Weather is in general warm, as it is geographically in Southeast Asia.

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