MYANMAR REGIONAL INFORMATION

MYANMAR REGIONAL INFORMATION

General Info Combining breath-taking natural beauty with a rich and glorious heritage that has maintained its identity over two thousand years of human history, Myanmar has much for the intrepid traveller to see. Wander remote paths through ancient temples; trek untouched routes through spectacular mountains. The regime has been rocky over the past century, but you can always rely on the unwavering spirit and hospitality of the Burmese people. Buddhism here is a way of life, and has shaped communities, architecture and inspiring local crafts and traditions in a truly heart-warming way. People Overview The Land of the Pagodas The Land of the Pagodas, Myanmar s culture and sense of community is closely inter-twined with her Buddhist religious beliefs. Traditional arts often take Buddhist folklores for their stories, and the people come together for religious festivals every month of the year. Religious beliefs unite Burmese far more than language, with over a hundred different languages spoken across Myanmar s many ethnic groups. Education and literacy rates however are high, and English is taught as a second language in schools. Religion & Culture Overwhelmingly Buddhist Buddhism was established in Myanmar at the beginning of the first millennia, and is now the dominant religion, followed by 89.2% of the population, who mostly adhere to the Myanmar Theravada School. The remaining religious community is composed of Christians (5.0%), Muslims (3.8%), Hindus (0.5%) and a small number of animists. Buddhist folklores are often the subject of literature, art and pottery, although some arts are inspired by Hinduism. Traditional crafts include wood-carving, stucco reliefs, bronze-casting and stone-carving, and the saung-gauk, an arched harp, is unique to Burma and dates to pre-hittite times.

Population Very diverse Myanmar s population is estimated at over 48 million. Overall, 135 different ethnic groups are recognised by the government, of which Burans are the largest. Shans, Karens, Arakanese, Kachins, Chins, Mons, and more than a hundred other small indigenous ethnic groups, compromise about 30% of the population. Roughly three quarters of the Myanmar population are rural inhabitants, with the remainder living in urban Yangon, Mandalay and Mawlamyaing. Literacy rates are relatively high at around 90%. Myanmar s educational system is based on the UK model and most schools are government-funded. Language Burmese spoken by two-thirds of the population Burmese is the dominant language, spoken by around 65 % of the population. However there are actually over 100 different languages belonging to ethnic minorities. Ethnic languages fall into four main groups: Sino-Tibetan; Austro-Asiatic; Tai-Kada and Indo-European. The use of minority languages is discouraged to promote a sense of community, and English is the second language taught in schools. Certain manners or turns of phrase in Burmese are related to a person s age, with old age being venerated in Burmese society. The distinctive Burmese calligraphy was adapted from the Mon script in the 12 th century. Food Breathtaking variety of flavours Less well-known than other that of other Asian countries, Burmese cuisine traditionally blends flavours from South-East Asia, China, Thailand and India. Consequently, Chinese soy and fish sauces are used widely and Indian curries, samosas and naan bread are also very popular. Fish is a diet staple for most Burmese dishes, with freshwater fish and shrimp usually cooked in a variety of styles. Salads are also a favourite, often based on wheat, rice or noodles or more unusual ingredients such as pickled tea-leaves or ginger. Cuisine varies between different ethnic traditions.

Environment Overview Myanmar s tropical monsoon climate provides favourable conditions for the vast areas of beautiful, jungle-forest which line her coasts, and these in turn make a home for her wealth of plants and wildlife species. Pierced by the Irrawaddy River and watered by heavy rain between March and April and significant rainfall between May and October, Myanmar s environment is one where exotic plants and rare wildlife can flourish. Look out for the 523 different orchid varieties and the endangered red panda. Geography Slightly bigger than France As the second-largest country in mainland South-East Asia, Myanmar is roughly the size of France and has a total area of 261,969 square miles. Sharing borders with India, China, Bangladesh and Laos, Myanmar extends to the Andaman Sea and The Bay of Bengal, which frames its south-west coast. The coastal regions in Lower Myanmar are filled with lush, tropical forests and pierced by the Irrawaddy River Myanmar s main commercial waterway which is often referred to by locals as The Road to Mandalay. Flora & Fauna Enormous number of fauna species With its vast areas of coastal rain forests, Myanmar is home to a wealth of exotic flora and fauna species, including rare varieties. There are over 25, 000 different flower species, including 523 varieties of orchid and 75 % of the world s Tectona Grandis or Teak reserves. Myanmar has a large wildlife population, boasting over 300 known mammal and reptile species respectively. The adorable red panda and the Myanmar snub-nosed Monkey are unique to the country, while barking and golden deer are still found in some regions. Exotic birds, butterflies, buffaloes and cattle are widespread across Myanmar.

Climate Tropical monsoon Myanmar s climate is tropical monsoon, and can roughly be divided into three seasons: between March and April average monthly-temperatures range from 30 C to 35 C; the spring-like season falls between May and October, and enjoys scant rainfall and temperatures between 25 C and 30 C; while the cold and dry season from November to February has average monthly-temperatures of between 20 C and 24 C. Annual rainfall in the Delta Region is approximately 2,500 millimetres (Yangon 2700 mm), while in the Dry Zone it is less than 1,000 millimetres (Mandalay 840 mm), and the coastal regions have over 5,000 millimetres of rain annually. History & Economy Overview The Land of the Pagodas Known as The Land of the Pagodas, the beautiful, gold-covered constructions that adorn Myanmar s landscape testify to the former glory of a community that once dominated and set an example for the rest of Asia. Home to the earliest civilisations of South-East Asia, the Pyu and the Mon, Myanmar s history is as rich as it is complicated. In spite of years of conflict and colonisation, one look at Myanmar s historical and cultural traditions will testify to her strength of character. History Rich and complex Perhaps inhabited 750,000 years ago, Myanmar s history begins with early Stone Age cultures. It was home to the earliest civilisations of South-East Asia, the Pyu and the Mon, although Buddhism and architectural and political ideologies were modelled on observations formed during trade with India. The first Burmese state, however, was not established until after the rule of The Pagan Empire in the 11 th century. Myanmar s golden age came between the 11 th and 12 th centuries when it was a superpower in Asia, and much of the country s fine architecture dates to this time. Struggling with many years of conflict, Myanmar gained independence from British Colonials in 1948.

Economy Recovering and welcoming foreign investments Myanmar enjoyed great prosperity early in the 20 th century, but suffered great losses at the hands of WWII and subsequent conflicts. Today Myanmar s economy is recovering, and the government now encourages tourism. In ancient times Myanmar established vital trade-links with India, and today her economy is still based on agriculture, which provides 70 % of employment. Rice remains a popular export thanks to heavy rainfall, but other products include sesame, sugar cane, pulses and peanuts. The main exports are: natural gas, wood products (including the infamous teak wood ), rice and jade and gems (notably rubies and sapphires).