Myanmar: everything you need to know about the trendy destination

Everything you need to know about trendy destination Myanmar - Myanmar is a former British colony located in southern Asia. Filled with beautiful temples and a peculiar culture, the country is a very special destination. If you're looking for a Buddhist destination that also has amazing gastronomy, then Myanmar is the destination for you! Click here to learn all the facts about this amazing country.

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Burma - Myanmar used to be called Burma, but changed its name to Republic of the Union of Myanmar in 1989. The name Burma comes from the Burmese Bamar, the main ethnicity in the country.

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Clothing - Everyone wears long skirts called 'longyi.' Men usually wear dark or plaid skirts, while women wear colorful and patterned ones. Students wear green longyi.

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Thanaka - It's common to see adults and children with their faces painted with the dust from the thanaka tree, in order to protect their skin from the strong sun.

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Red teeth - It's also common to see people with red teeth, because of their habit of chewing betel nut and leaves.

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British colony - After the three Anglo-Burmese Wars, the British Empire took over the Burma territory in 1885 and the country remained a colony until 1948. During that period, Yangon became the capital.

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Nobel Prize - Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of General Aung San, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, but she couldn't accept it personally because she was under house arrest. She was actively fighting the military dictatorship that had been running the country since 1962.

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Currency - Officially, the country has 5, 10, 25 and 50 pias coins and 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 kyats, but they stopped being produced most likely due to their low value.

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Traffic - People in Myanmair used to drive on the left side of the road like the British, but the government changed the law in the 70s.

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Sports - The most popular sport among the population is Chinlone, a local activity that is a mix of footvolley and dance. The Chinlone is also a way to worship the Buddha.

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Opium - According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Myanmar is the second biggest producer of opium, right after Afghanistan.

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Reading - Myanmaris love to read and it is common to find book stalls in the streets.

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Potholes - Yangon has many deep holes scattered throughout the city center.

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Buddhism - Buddhism is the official religion in Myanmar and it is extremely important to Burmese people.

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Lacquer - Myanmar's main product is lacquer. Bagan is the main producer and there are over 200 studios where lacquer-based products are handmade. It's possible to find all sorts of things made with lacquer, from jewelry boxes to tables, chairs and wardrobes.

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Gold - In Bagan, a traditional activity is to place gold leaves on Buddha statues.

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Week days - A normal week in Myanmar has an extra day, because they divide Wednesday into two days - the morning is Bohdahu and the afternoon is Yahu.

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Cleaning the Buddha - In Yangon, they clean their Buddhas as a symbol of worship.

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Necklines - On TV, necklines are still blurred out.

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Breakfast - At hotels, breakfast usually consists of rice, noodles, vegetables, fried eggs and bananas.

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Coffee - The instant coffee comes in little packets, and the only place where you can get an espresso is at the Yangon International Airport. However, it is very expensive.

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Tea - The typical Burmese beverage is black tea mixed with condensed milk.

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Snacks - Crickets and grasshoppers are just some of their favorite snacks.

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Stray dogs - There are many stray dogs wandering the streets.

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Temples - You have to take your shoes and socks off to visit any temple. It's also considered disrespectful to show knees and shoulders, and at some temples, it's even forbidden to enter if you don't follow that dress code.

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Roads - Most of the roads were manually built by women. Some of them break the rocks until they're small, while others carry them in baskets and spread them on the ground.

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Agriculture - Agriculture is still based on manual labor: the rice is still mowed with a sickle and plowing is still done with the help of cows or buffaloes.

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Monks - Every morning, monks walk around with pots collecting food and donations.

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Children - Many children are sent to monasteries so they can study for free.

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Cigars - In the most rural areas, it is common to see even older women smoking cigars.

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Domestic airports - At the domestic airports, flight timetables aren't shown on electronic panels but by a staff member holding a poster. There isn't a designated baggage claim area either - passengers are responsible for collecting their luggage at the door that gives access to the runway.

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Myanmar: everything you need to know about the trendy destination

The former British colony is full of unique customs and beliefs.

01/01/18 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL MYANMAR

The country of Myanmar is a former British colony located in southern Asia. Filled with beautiful temples and a peculiar culture, the country is a very special destination. Click here to learn all you need to know about this amazing country!