Myanmar – Best & worst

Our time in Myanmar is at an end. I haven’t always loved it, to be honest, but we’ve had some good times. Here’s my best & worst.

Buddhism & sexism

There is an assumption that Buddhism is rational, modern and liberal in matters of gender, especially in comparison with Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. But is it? I think not. Here’s why.

What makes a good wat?

We have spent just over three months in southeast Asia. Here they arguably make the most beautiful and impressive places of buddhist worship, whether they are called wats, payas, temples or pagodas. During these months I couldn’t help but become a bit of a wat connoisseur (or wat snob) myself.

Myanmar hotels

For the last 4 days of our Myanmar trip we’re staying at The Strand in Yangon, a historic hotel that has been frequented by George Orwell, Rudyard Kipling, Orson Welles and (most impressively) Mick Jagger.

Buddhist bollocks

I’m an atheist. I believe that when we die it’s lights out, game over.

Z-list celebs

This is the first country we’ve visited where locals want to have their photos taken with us. In Cambodia 20 years ago that happened all the time but now westerners are a dime a dozen there.

Slow tourism

Since Myanmar began to encourage tourism a few years ago, it’s become the “place to go” with many travel journalists advising to “go now” while it’s relatively unspoiled by hordes of tourists in the way that Thailand has been.

Food in Myanmar

I thought my overworked digestive system would get a break in Myanmar, as I’d read in several places that the food isn’t all that.

Language difficulties

Of course we’re experiencing language difficulties everywhere we go, but Myanmar is something else. Here, I can’t even say the place names.