Page 7 - Myanmar Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

THE LAND PAGE 3 Population | Time | Visas Any visitor to Myanmar is likely to be spellbound by its unique ambiance. The varied sights, sounds, and scents Insurance | History give it a truly other worldly feeling that overtakes visitors. PAGE 4-5 History | Language Although the reality of Myanmar is one of traumatic changes throughout its political and social structures, visitors often only see the fairy tale Myanmar of beautiful pagodas and ancient ruins. PAGE 6 Climate On a map, Myanmar is shaped somewhat like a hexagonal kite with a dangling tail, the heartland of Myanmar is PAGE 7 a hot dry plain surrounded by rugged mountains on three borders and the Bay of Bengal to the south. This ring The Land of mountains is the most important element affecting the climate, and has also served to keep Myanamar both politically and culturally isolated from the outside world. The central basin is divided into the fertile rice- PAGE 8 People | Safety & Crime growing region of lower Myanmar which includes Yangon and the dry, almost desert-like region of upper Myanmar. To the north is a confusing knot of mountains that soar to over 6,000 meters, (19,685 Ft) Mountains on PAGE 9 the west run from China down to the southwest corner of Myanmar where they disappear under the sea and Currency | Credit Cards reappear as the Andaman Islands. Myanmar's main transportation link is the Irrawaddy (Sanskrit for "River of Changing Money | Tipping Refreshment") River, popularized by Kipping as the "Road to Mandalay" and "River of Lost Footsteps". PAGE 10 Religion | Etiquette Rich tropical forests cover over half of Myanmar with rhododendron forests in the far north above 2,000 meters PAGE 11 (6,561 Ft.) and monsoon teak at lower elevations. With some 80% of the world's teak reserves, Myanmar is a Communications major exporter of these valuable hardwoods. Health & Vaccinations PAGE 12 Food| Shopping | Customs PAGE 13-14 Culture & The Arts | Religion