Discovering Myanmar on Our Own

Golden pagodas springing up everywhere, monks neatly in line waiting for their daily meal, genuine smiles that meet your gaze…Myanmar is an incredibly authentic and fascinating place, poor but dignified, imprisoned by dictatorship yet fiercely free in its feelings. Myanmar guards enchanting places, capable of bewitching the heart and soul of every visitor. But the unique aspect that distinguishes the country is its people, hard to remain indifferent to a mindset that seems incredible to us, made of simplicity, spirituality and principles.

I don't know how many “mingalarbar” I have uttered over these days, I think a few thousand! Everyone you meet feels the need to greet you, to welcome you to their land, to offer you the little they own. The tight, frenetic times of us tourists don't allow us to grasp some of these aspects on the fly, but the moment you stop for a few days in a fixed place and reflect on what you have seen and experienced during the journey, it is easier to understand that our cultural baggage has been enriched by something unique, precious and unforgettable. For the first time on a trip, along the road that took me back to the airport for the farewell to Myanmar, and observing some scenes of daily life that have repeated themselves over these days, I felt a sense of nostalgia mixed with emotion. I could never live in such a place, but at the same time I'm sorry to leave it.

My guide and travel diary on Myanmar: