Vidotour

BRIEF HISTORY

Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country of some 676,000 sq. km. and is bordered by Thailand and Laos on the east, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal to the west, China and India to the north, with the Andaman Sea bordering the southwestern coast. For administrative purposes it is comprised of seven divisions (where Burmans are in the majority), and seven states with non-Burman majority; Shan, Kachin, Chin, Rakhine, Kayah, Kayin, and Mon. The total population is around 50 million, of which nearly five million reside in the capital city
of Yangon. The second largest city is Mandalay, in central Myanmar, with a population of about one million. Officially the government recognizes 67 different ethnic groups but others
count as many as 135.

Perhaps the first group that we can know in Mynamar are the Mon who settled the Delta area and further east into Cambodia as well. They may have come from eastern India around the 6th century or earlier. Then around the 7th century a group know as the Pyu came from the Tibeto-Burman plateau or India and created city states in Central Myanmar such as Sri Ksetra, and Halingyi. During this period, Myanmar was part of an overland trade route from China to India. Then came the Burmans, probably from somewhere in the eastern Himilayas around the 8th or 9th century.

The Burmans took over from the Pyu after they were vanguished by the Yunnanes and came into control of central Myanmar. There followed a long a complicated struggle between the Burmans and the Mons for control of the whole country. Eventually the Burmans came out on top and by then much of the Mon culture had merged with the Burman.

The colonial period came about as the British, Dutch, French and Portugese were vying for trading power and rights in the area. The British seized on a border incident in eastern India in 1819 to initiate the first Anglo-Burmese war and thereby gain control of the Rakhine and Tanintharyi states. In 1852 another incident led the British to start the second Anglo-Burmese War and gain control of Rangoon and lower Myanmar. In 1885 another trading incident was the excuse for the British to declare the third Anglo-Burmese war and with the resulting success in the campaign, all of Myanmar was united, although now with the British as colonial master.

Following WWII, the strong desire for independence in Myanmar was recognized by the British and on 4 January 1948, Myanmar ( then Burma) officially became an independent country.

Although court culture has been extinguished, popular street-level culture is vibrant and thriving. Drama is the mainstay of this culture, and just about any celebration is a good excuse for a pwe (show). Performances may recount Buddhist legends, or be more light-hearted entertainments involving slapstick comedy, dance, ensemble singing or giant puppets. Myanmar music is an integral part of a pwe; it originates from Thai and emphasises rhythm and melody. Instruments are predominantly percussive and include drums, boat-shaped harps, gongs and bamboo flutes. Over 85% of the Myanmar population is Theravada Buddhist. In the Rakhine region, towards Bangladesh, there are many Muslims. Christian missionaries have had some success among hill tribes but many remain staunch animists.The toys of Myanmar are not only for the children but also famous in the world, known as the Marionettes (or) Puppets of Myanmar. Its a combination of Myanmar Art and Culture, together to show the inner expressions of the Myanmar people. Myanmar also have festivals all around the year, at least one in each month of the year. The most famous festival of Myanmar is the Thingyan Water Festival, which is held from 13 April to 16 April every year.

MYANMAR MARRIAGE/WEDDING
In Myanmar, regardless of the means by which a young couple is brought together, the marriage ties are social rather than religious. The Myanmar custom is to do court marriage in front of the honorable judge superiors by signing officially before celebrating ceremony.
In modern times, especially among urban people, it is usual for some sort of public ceremony and reception to be held in the presence of parents and elders. The bride and groom are taken to their place in the stage by Master of ceremonies. The master of ceremony reads the Aubur-Zar, eulogy and oversees the performance of the marriage rites such as placing a four-foot long chain around the couple's necks, putting their hands together with palms facing each other, immersing their joined hands in a silver bowl containing scented water and soon. At the conclusion of the ceremony the guests are entertained with music & refreshments. The newlyweds greet the guests and thank them for gracing the occasion with their presence. After the festivities are over, the young couple pay respect (Kadaw) to the respective parents and elders. The newlyweds then proceed to prominent pagodas and say prayers for “successive long marriage life.
All is not yet over -- laughing friends and relatives bar the entrance of nuptial chamber by a gold chain and demand payment for entry. This payment is known as gare-boe “stone money". This is traditional custom of demanding money from the newly-married couple as joyous.

NOVITIATION CEREMONY
As the majority of Myanmar are Buddhist, novitiation is vitally important. Novitiation is the act of putting one's son into the Buddha's order of the Sangha.
In Myanmar culture, mothers pray for sons so that they could perform this religious duty of novitiation ceremony for their sons. The parent are very proud to have their sons become novice and improve their religious training.
During the summer holidays young boys enter the Buddhist order and become a 'son of the Buddha' for a week or more.
What the ceremony includes depends on the financial status of the parents. There may be entertainment by Myanmar culture orchestras; there may be a procession of the novice-to-be through the town on elephant, or a house for the humble people on ox carts. The noviate wears a crown made of gold thread and glittery sequins, dresses in princely garments of silk, wears a gold headdress and is followed by his parents, family members and local damsels carryings sets of yellow robes, offerings, ornate betel box and by music troupes and dancers.
Novices-to-be have to shave their heads. The boy's mother and father hold a white cloth to receive the falling hair, which they bury near some sacred place. Then they have to beg permission of the monk to be novitiates as they hold a roll of yellow robe with both hands. After investing the monks with the robes, the boys become novices. During his novice hood, he will not take any food after noon, but can have soft drink in the evening.
Novices must keep ten precepts and study Buddha's teaching. They must also meditate. Entering into the novice hood is the first step for them to understand the rules of nature in order to live the rest of their lives meaningfully, peacefully and successfully.

PUPPET
Myanmar puppets are made of clays and wood. For a toy prince puppet, a manly chest and wing-like jacket, accentuated by a wasp's waist and a sarong tucked underneath like a pant complete the picture. The jacket and sarong are made of thin muslin with a design of small paper clippings done attractively. Puppets are manipulated by strings attached at elbows, hands and knees. There are horses, monkeys, giants, elephants, tigers, clowns, even princes. Myanmar puppets are a famous cultural aspect of Myanmar. Puppet shows can be seen at some restaurants or at certain celebrations.

BETEL LEAVES AND BETEL BOXES
Betel, tobacco and pickled tea is an expression in Myanmar Language that speaks of hospitality and welcomes a visitor to one's home.
Betel boxes, along with bowls and trays of all sizes and shapes, were important items of the regalia of the Myanmar Kings. Betel Boxes may be lacquer, silver or bronze, ornate or plain, depending on the wealth of the owner, and are part of the furnishings in the knife is.
The circular betel box at first glance, looks solid, but is in reality nicely fitted with a lid over a small container for holding betel nut. The top of the bowl is fitted with two shallow trays, one on top of the other. The upper tray has four little cups to hold ingredients for making betel nuts: cloves, cutch, and seeds, shredded wild Licorice or sweet creeper (Nwe-Cho). Lime, soft and pure, is kept in the brass phial. In the second tray is a layer of dried tobacco leaves. Only when the tray is taken out of the main bowl are green fresh betel leaves revealed.
Betel boxes also played an important part in courtship some fifty or sixty years ago. In those days houses had a kind of Loggia for marriageable girls of the family to entertain their suitors by betel box. The girl chatted with the young men until she chose the person she liked. She showed her preference for a particular young man by giving him a betel quid made of her own hands. The habit of serving the visitor with betel box is a sweet habitual custom of Myanmar people since Myanmar Kings era till now in some parts of the country

When traveling from Cambodia to Vietnam be sure to detail a brief list of all antiques purchased in Cambodia. Upon arrival in Vietnam, have Vietnamese customs authorities confirmed and stamped this brief list. Basically, there are strict restrictions on exporting certain Vietnamese arts and antiques so identifying goods purchased in Cambodia in advance are a best thing to do.

MONEY MATTERS * CREDIT CARD & TRAVELERS CHECK ALERT!!
As a result of the US sanctions, credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted in Myanmar at most hotels or at any banks. A few deluxe hotels have found a way to accept credit cards primarily for expenses. Therefore travellers should bring enough CASH for all expected expenses (USD or Euros are the easiest- larger bills get slightly better rate). * Please also note there are no ATM machines.

Currency - The Myanmar currency is known as the 'kyat' (pronounced 'chaat'). The official rate is about 6 kyat to the dollar but the 'real' rate is much higher. Visitors may change their dollars into kyat at the local market rate. Major hotels and a few restaurants will charge in USD but most other expenses in Myanmar will be in kyats.
For a general reference, as of January, 2010 the approximate exchange rate was One USD = 1000 Kyats, however this can vary up or down over a period of days and weeks.

Myanmar is actually one of the safest countries in the world to visit. With a predominantly Buddhist populace and strict police, there is very little street crime and virtually none directed at tourists. Of course ordinary precautions such as not leaving your camera lying unattended should be taken. From a health stand point, visitors should have health insurance including medi- evac if needed as Myanmar does not have the facilities or enough skilled practitioners in many areas to provide more than basic health care if you are injured or sick. While no immunizations are formally required, malaria prophylaxis is often recommended by traveler’s personal physicians. Occasionally, typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations are also recommended. Drink only bottled or boiled water and it is suggested that food not be purchased from sidewalk vendors. Insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites is recommended, especially up-country and in wooded areas. The main destinations of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake are considered essentially non-malaria areas.

Regular mail service does operate in Myanmar but it may not always be reliable.
Although it is allowed to bring mobile phones into Myanmar they will not work unless the visitor hires a SIM card locally, for use in Myanmar. These are available in Yangon and can be arranged through your local agent. International phone service is available at most major hotels though travelers should always check the rates before using IDD lines to ensure that the rate is not too high. In Yangon and Mandalay overseas phone service is fairly easy but in Bagan and more so Inle Lake, can be difficult though deluxe hotels at Bagan and Inle Lake can normally provide email service. There are some Internet Cafes in Yangon and Mandalay and major hotels will have internet and email as well.