Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country's largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes.

Early civilisations in the area included the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Myanmar and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Myanmar. In the 9th century, the Bamar people entered the upper Irrawaddy valley, and following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s, the Burmese language and culture and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country.

At the end of November 2024, I had the opportunity to visit Myanmar, a neighboring country not too far from where I live in Indonesia. Although the political situation in Myanmar is uncertain and the country has only been open to foreign tourists since early 2024, my trip around Myanmar was only a small part, with many military guard posts to pass through.…