Travelogue: Escaping to Burma, Discovering New Perspectives in a Neighboring Country (Yangon-Bago) | 1

For many, travel may be about experiencing the joy of exploring a city, savoring delicious food, or simply changing their sleeping environment. However, for us, each trip gains additional value when we encounter new people, discover new places, or gain new perspectives during our journeys.

After graduating high school, we had the idea to travel the world together. Fortunately, having a skilled companion on each trip made it less lonely and allowed us to overcome obstacles as a team.

The introduction has provided sufficient context. Let's delve into the heart of our journey. Myanmar, a neighboring country, shares cultural elements with Thailand, with influences flowing in both directions. In some aspects, it feels remarkably similar to home. Before our visit, we envisioned Myanmar as a nation shrouded in dust, with limited transportation options, resembling Thailand 40-50 years ago. However, our experience shattered these preconceptions. Myanmar is rapidly catching up to Thailand, though its public relations efforts remain underdeveloped. It's a country that simultaneously impressed and surprised us.

This is a personal account of a trip to Myanmar that the author took at the end of last year. They believe their experiences may be helpful to others and have chosen to share them here. Some of the information is based on their personal Facebook posts. They hope that this will provide readers with a deeper understanding of Myanmar from their perspective.

Chapter 1: Stepping onto the Land of Myanmar (Diary Entry, December 26, 2017)

In our memory, Myanmar (personally) was before we watched the "Movie Take You Go" program, a documentary travel program on TPBS channel. There was an episode where the two brothers ended their trip to Myanmar in Yangon. In our memory, it was exactly as Ball and Yod presented it, but it was a long time ago. The program was filmed in 2012. Our memory is that the roads were full of potholes, and the sidewalks were uneven, like in Thailand. The transportation system was not very convenient. The buses were fan-driven and drifted. The international airport was old and dilapidated, like Chiang Mai airport. People spat betel nut on the ground everywhere... There were not many tourist attractions. All you could go to were temples! This is our memory from our own guesses and the images that have been cultivated and instilled in our personal attitudes. But!!! We almost want to say that it was all wrong, completely wrong from what we thought!

Moving forward, let's discuss Myanmar based on our firsthand observations and personal perspectives.

Yangon International Airport

As we mentioned earlier, we had preconceived notions that this airport would be similar to Chiang Mai Airport. However, upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised, perhaps due to our low expectations. This airport is still a small one, as befits a country that has only recently opened up. In our opinion, it could be called a "mini-Suvarnabhumi." Everything looks relatively new and high-class, as an international airport should be. Upon disembarking, we were greeted by Christmas decorations, which brought a smile to our faces. The festive season had also arrived in Myanmar, even though it is a predominantly Buddhist country.

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A new shopping mall has opened near my accommodation (Junction City). It's a modern mall with various international brands, offering a comfortable shopping experience with air conditioning and a luxurious atmosphere. It feels similar to The Mall Ngamwongwan in Thailand. While such a mall might not be particularly exciting in my home country, it's quite impressive here in Myanmar, as the country is still developing and has room for further growth.

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The heart of Yangon, this park is home to the Myanmar Independence Monument and a true haven for relaxation. Locals come here to stroll, sit, play with their children, or simply enjoy the fresh air. It's a great place to people-watch and soak in the atmosphere. Be aware of children selling postcards, but politely decline to avoid being pestered.

This is a story about a trip with a friend from Myanmar. We met at an international exchange conference in Japan during high school. Now, we are both in university. My friend is studying medicine in Myanmar. She has shared many new perspectives with me about her country's attitudes and culture. The main thing I want to share is about life in university. Please read on to learn more.

Our trip to Yangon wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our main sponsor, Peter. When we told him we were coming to Yangon, he immediately offered to show us around. He went above and beyond, providing us with a driver, taking us on tours throughout the day, and even treating us to meals. He served as our guide, interpreter, and everything in between. We are incredibly grateful for his kindness, which made our first day in Myanmar so enjoyable. Peter is a polite and friendly man who went out of his way to make us feel welcome, even though we had just met. We were truly impressed by his thoughtfulness.

Throughout the day, we exchanged cultural insights, starting from the airport until he dropped me off at the hotel and waved goodbye. This enriching experience provided me with a wealth of knowledge.

Q. Do Burmese universities have freshman orientation activities like Thailand?
A. Yes, they do. Freshman orientation activities in Burma are similar to parties, where everyone comes together to dance, eat, drink, and participate in activities. There is also a beauty pageant during the event (similar to FRESSHY BOY & GIRL). However, there are three levels of winners: 1st place is King & Queen, 2nd place is Prince & Princess, and the winner with the most Facebook likes is Mr. Famous & Ms. Famous. The pageant is held within each faculty, not at the university level.

Q. Did you have different academic tracks in high school?
A. No, we didn't. We studied what we wanted to study. It wasn't like our system, where you have to choose a science track and then also study history, for example.

Q. University entrance exams
A. One-time exam for everything. If the score is low, focus on individual subjects. If a subject is bad, retake the exam next year. No quotas. Use only the exam questions.

Q. Do you drink any coffee before taking an exam?
A. Red Bull (pointing while walking through the supermarket)

Q. Which high-paying jobs are popular among people here? Which are popular to study (excluding business)?
A. Engineer. There are universities here that specialize in technology.

Q. University Clubs

A. There are many clubs at the university, and they have a lot of members. For example, Peter is in the mountaineering club, which has over 150 members. Today, the club is going on a hike and they are meeting at 3 am. Peter brought a small bamboo cup with him so he can drink water along the way, even from waterfalls (just kidding!).

Q. Betel nut chewing
A. Some older people, around 35 years old and above, still chew betel nut and spit on the ground. However, people younger than that do not chew betel nut anymore. Betel nut is readily available (there is a betel nut shop at the entrance of our hotel).

Q. What are the festivals like here?
A. There are festivals similar to those in Thailand, such as the Water Festival (similar to Songkran), and there are also festivals where people go to temples to make merit and listen to monks chanting.

Q. What is the lifestyle of teenagers here?
A. It is quite similar to Thailand. They watch movies, go shopping, sing karaoke, and chat with friends over tea.

[Affordable upscale restaurant in downtown Yangon (delicious food)]

Our first day in Myanmar was perfect thanks to the kindness of strangers. However, the following days, when we had to fend for ourselves, were full of even more surprises. There is so much to see and do in Myanmar that I will have to save the stories from the following days for another article.