Land of golden pagodas; of ancient kingdoms and capitals; of temples and ruins. Land of green forests, plateaux and mountains; of miles and miles of coastline; of the Rivers Ayeyarwady, Salween and Mekong. Land of a people yearning and striving for democracy. The largest country in South East Asia, Myanmar, or Burma, as it was once called and as many people still prefer, is a culturally rich country, one that remains largely unexplored by tourists.

It’s a beautiful country, with picturesque rivers and lush fertile plains, green paddy fields, warm people and a rich cultural heritage. The military junta ruling the nation is deterrent enough for even the most determined of foreign visitors - but things are changing. The government, insular though it may be, recognises the importance of tourism in earning precious foreign exchange. Myanmar is opening up, slowly but surely, and even though the 'tourist circuit’ is, for all practical purposes, still fairly restricted, the trip is worth the effort.