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CURRENTS
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Overview: Yangon, Myanmar
REGION: Myanmar’s name was changed from Burma in 1989 by the military government (the State Law & Order Restoration Council [SLORC]). The SLORC renamed the country because they felt “Burma” was a vestige of European colonialism. Many opposition activists do not recognize the name change because they argue that such a drastic change should be approved in a national referendum. Therefore, the use of Burma or Myanmar is a political issue. CLIMATE: Myanmar has a dry, wet, and monsoon climate. In October there are frequent rains that occur usually in the afternoons and evenings. The rain takes the edge off of the intense heat, but does tend to make things a bit humid. Some unpaved roads may at times be made impassable due to the rains. The average temperature in Yangon for October is approximately 90°F. POPULATION: Myanmar’s population can be divided into four main ethnological groups-Tibeto-Burman, Mon-Kmer, Austro-Thai and Karennic. Tibeto-Burman Speakers are 78% of the population and include the majority Bamar plus over 30 smaller groups. LANGUAGE: The official language is Burmese, with some minority groups having their own language. RELIGION: Approximately 87% of the population is Buddhist. An appreciation of Buddhism is a prerequisite for understanding the culture of the Burmese. CLOTHING: Breathable fabrics are recommended. No shorts or tank tops should be worn when visiting religious sites. Even at the most dilapidated building, visitors must go barefoot in every part of a Buddhist compound, not just in the shrine buildings as in other Buddhist countries. Shoes, not necessarily socks, should be taken off before entering private homes as well. Men should keep their shoulders covered at all times, except at the beach or when bathing. Long trousers, longyis (sarong-style garment) or skirts are considered more appropriate than shorts in all situations except at the beach. Women can wear sleeveless blouses, but should try to avoid tight or low cut tank tops.
FOOD: It is easy to eat very well and inexpensively in Myanmar. Burmese cuisine represents a blend of Bamar, Mon, Indian and Chinese food. The core of any meal is Htamin (rice), which is eaten with a choice of hin (curry dishes), usually fish, chicken, prawns, or mutton. Very little beef or pork is eaten because beef is considered offensive to most Hindus and pork because it is difficult to keep fresh. The curries in Myanmar are much milder than their Indian counterparts. It is said the fattier the curry the better it tastes. Therefore, pork encased in a thick layer of fat is seen as an expensive delicacy. Almost everything is flavored with ngapi, a salty paste made from dried and fermented fish and shrimp. Spicy salads (thouq or lethouq) are made with raw vegetables or fruit tossed with lime juice, onions, peanuts, chilies, and other spices. Among the local favorites are maji-yweq thuoq, made with tamarind leaves and shauk-thi thuoq, mixed with pomelo, which is similar to grapefruit. Htamin let-thuoq are savory salads made with cooked rice. There is also green tomato salad (khayanchin sein thou) that is prepared with limes, chili, peanuts and coriander leaves. Green mango salad (thayet sein thou) is prepared with fish sauce, sesame, onions, chilies, shrimp paste and shrimp powder. Vegetarians may also dine on many vegetable curries and legumes. Noodle dishes are most commonly eaten for breakfast or as a light meal between
the main meals of the day. The most popular and unofficial national dish of
the Burmese people is mohinga. Mohinga is a noodle soup consisting of thin rice
noodles immersed in a fish soup flavored with ingredients fried in vegetable
oil, such as lemon grass, green ginger, garlic, saffron, and banana sprouts.
Another popular snack between meals is kauk-hnyin, sticky rice steamed in a
bamboo cane or wrapped in banana leaves. Sticky rice with coconut and sesame,
sometimes with a banana also makes a good breakfast. Lepet is another snack
made of salted green tea leaves, pressed in a bamboo container. The preferred
drink with meals in Myanmar is green tea. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This
2000-year-old port is the gateway to Myanmar and to the mighty Aeyarwaddy River.
It is the flourishing port on the Yangon River and boasts a unique combination
of old English colonial buildings along with modern day structures, markets
and hotels. The city is lush with tropical palms, wide tree-lined streets, lakes,
parks and gilded shrines.