Myannmar : Land of Serenity and Mystery

What is Mynmar?  Myanmar is a mystical land. A country of hills and valleys, mountains and beaches, temples and jungles. From its northern Himalayan border with Tibet, the thick teak clad hills of the Golden Triangle and the confluence of the Mekong river with Thailand and Laos, along into the plains of Mandalay, on to the Ayeyarwaddy delta and down into the hundreds of scattered, tropical islands of the Andaman sea, the visitor cannot fail to delight in the marvel that is Myanmar and all the wonders it has to offer. The country is swathed in history and culture, overflowing with old-world charm and a way of life rapidly disappearing in the rest of the world today. Whilst this is an obvious setback for the inhabitants of Myanmar, it is a fascinating insight into an ancient Asian culture and one that is sure to succumb to the sweeping tide of modernisation engulfing Asia today

Where is Myanmar?  Situated between Indian and Thailand, Burma is a southeast Asian nation. From the borders of India and China in the north, the country extends into the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the south. The country also shares borders with Laos and Bangladesh. Slightly smaller than the state of Texas, Burma has an area of 678,500 square kilometers (261,969 square miles). Its land borders are 5,876 kilometers (3,651 miles) long and its coastline, home to many excellent natural harbors, is 1,930 kilometers (1,199 miles) long. Burma's capital, Rangoon (also known as Yangon), is in the south. Mandalay, Moulmein, Pegu, Bassein, Taunggyi, Sittwe, and Myanwa are the other most important cities in the country.

What is the Language of Myanmar  The Burmese language (Burmese myanma bhasa) is the official language of Burma. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as that of some ethnic minorities in Burma like the Mon.  Burmese is spoken by 32 million as a first language and as a second language by 10 million, particularly ethnic minorities in Burma and those in neighboring countries. Although the Constitution of Burma officially recognizes the English name of the language as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese.

Burmese Traditional foods  Burmese cuisine includes dishes from various regions of the Southeast Asian country of Burma (now officially known as Myanmar). The diversity of Myanmar's cuisine has also been contributed to by the myriad of local ethnic minorities. The Bamars are the most dominant group, but other groups I  Burmese cuisine is characterized by extensive use of fish products like fish sauce and ngapi (fermented seafood). Owing to the geographic location of Myanmar, Burmese cuisine has been influenced by Chinese cuisine, Indian cuisine and Thai cuisine.ncluding the Chin people also have distinct cuisines.