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Myanmar(Burma)The Inside StoryRelatively untouched by tourism, Myanmar is a hiddengem nestled between India, China and Southeast Asia.Years of being cut off from the outside world means thatthis newly emerging democracy appears to be lost in time;men dressed in longyis stroll colonial boulevards, ancienttemples punctuate city skylines and untouched countrysiderolls into hill tribe villages.With Myanmar now welcoming respectful tourists, myriadtreasures await. Watch the sun set over 2,000 silhouettedstupas in Bagan, follow Buddhist pilgrims to the glitteringShwedagon Pagoda, shop for handicrafts in Bogyoke AungSan Market and sail past Inle Lake’s traditional stiltedvillages in the Land of Golden Pagodas.Traditional, spiritual and hospitable, the jovial populationare determined to show visitors what life is like in Myanmarbeyond the headlines. The Burmese language has no wordfor ‘tourist’, just ‘guest’.Storyto tell -CarlMeadowsWhy I loveMyanmarFor me, Myanmaroffers the purest travelexperience in all ofAsia. I love the pristinelandscapes and warmsmiles, mixed with afantastic architecturalheritage of Buddhistand colonial influences.The temples ofBagan never fail toamaze me and theShwedagon Pagodashould be on everytraveller’s mustseelist.100 BCPyu people settlein northern Myanmar11th-13th COver 10,000 Buddhist temples,pagodas and monasteriesconstructed in Bagan1886Burma becomes British colonyand province of British India1945The British and Aung San’santi-fascist People’s FreedomLeague liberate Burma1057King Anawrahta founds firstunified Burmese state at Paganand adopts Theravada Buddhism1421Italian merchant, Nicola deConti, becomes first Europeanto reach Myanmar1942-45Fascist Japan occupiesBurma during WWII