So, second up is Southeast Asia! While in Southeast Asia, I will be going to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Two of these counties are “closed countries,” meaning it is illegal to spread the Word of God openly to the people there. During my time in those two countries, I will have my blog’s password protected! Head on over to my Facebook or Instagram (@thats___so___regan) for the password. I’ll be using the same password for both of the countries, so it will always be the same!
So, next up for Southeast Asia is Myanmar! #BlackBunsForever
MAP OF MYANMAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
MAP OF MYANMAR
Summary
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Myanmar’s story is of a struggle for independence.
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Political groups have fought an ongoing war in this country for over 60 years.
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Commonly called Burma but officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, political unrest and human right violations have led to nearly 200,000 refugees residing within Myanmar and neighboring countries like Thailand.
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Natural disasters, a sinking economy, and corrupt government have led to despair and poverty for many Burmese.
Area
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676,578 sq km (Myanmar is approximately the same size as Texas, but slightly smaller)
Culture
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89% of the population is Theravada Buddhist. The remainder are Hindu, Christian, and animist. Many Buddhist also hold some animist beliefs, including worship of nats (spirits) which are rationalized as being disciples of the Buddha.
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Traditional garments worn are the Longyi, which is a sarong type garment worn by both men and women. For Business occasions, men where a Manchu Chinese jacket over an English collared shirt.
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The musical traditions in Myanmar are one of pride for the Myanmar people. Traditional music typically includes an orchestra (or hsaing waing) and the Mahagita, which is a collection of songs. Pop music also dominates the current music scene.
What I am going to do there?
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I am not exactly sure yet, but I will be working with a ministry host who has a powerful story!
Climate
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Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons.
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The hottest period is between February and May when there is little or no rain and temperatures can rise above 104F.
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The rainy season is generally from May to October, giving way to dry, cooler weather from October to February.
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The coast and the mountains see significantly more rainfall than the arid central pains, which include Mandalay and Bagan, and roads can become impassable during the rainy seasons in those areas.
Language
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The official language of Myanmar is Burmese.
Fun Facts
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Myanmar is one of only three countries to not adopt the metric system; the local measure of weight is the peiktha, which equals 3.6 pounds. The other two countries to not adopt the metric system are Liberia and the United States.
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Both men and women in Myanmar use a yellow paste from the bark of the Thanakha tree as a cosmetic. Applied to the face, it is an effective sunscreen that also tightens the skin and prevents oiliness.
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Chinlone — a combination of sport and dance team sport with no opposing team — is the traditional sport of Myanmar. The focus is on how beautifully one plays the game. Any number of players form a circle and keep the chinlone as long as possible in the air by kicking it soccer-style from player to player, using any body part except the hands.
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The country’s literacy rate is 83 percent, the median age is 27.9 years and the average life expectancy is 57 years.
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Myanmar is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia and the 40th-largest in the world.
Is it safe?
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I want to elaborate on this more than I typically do. Is Myanmar safe? For the most part, yes. Myanmar is one of the most complicated, and most captivating places I will visit. The overall rating for the country from the State Department is “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution”. However, it is worth noting that that is the same advice given for Ukraine, which I have already been to, and Colombia, which is where I will go after Myanmar. So do I think it is safe? Yes, I wouldn’t be going if I didn’t think it was safe and in desperate need of the love of Christ. Will I use caution? Of course.
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