Burma. How else do you know and understand a place, until you visit it?
It could have been Africa, the Middle East or Asia based on the
sights and smells around us. Women, faces covered in a cosmetic natural
face paint, balanced baskets on their heads as they carried goods and
groceries down dusty roads. Men chewed leaves and nuts from the betel
tree and smiled toothy red grins as they watched traffic roll by. Monks
in red robes scurried past, alms bowls in hand.
Now called Myanmar since 1989 under government orders, Burma is sandwiched between India to the west, China and Laos to the north and Thailand to the east. Like many countries it has had its share of fighting between north and south and tribes and sects, and the British and Japanese have had the most foreign presence there the last century. Since 1962 it has been primarily a socialist state military regime and along with a strict and one-sided government came unhappy people and unrest. A National League for Democracy was founded in the late 80s and led by revered Aung San Suu Yi. Free now since the late 90s, the country is inching towards democracy and progress.
Now called Myanmar since 1989 under government orders, Burma is sandwiched between India to the west, China and Laos to the north and Thailand to the east. Like many countries it has had its share of fighting between north and south and tribes and sects, and the British and Japanese have had the most foreign presence there the last century. Since 1962 it has been primarily a socialist state military regime and along with a strict and one-sided government came unhappy people and unrest. A National League for Democracy was founded in the late 80s and led by revered Aung San Suu Yi. Free now since the late 90s, the country is inching towards democracy and progress.
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