Hi all!

I am travelling to Myanmar to continue making my forthcoming travel book called ”Little differencies” (a rough translation from Swedish). I have gathered material for the book in my travels around the world during last ten years. Now I´m on the road again and I´ll be travelling mostly in Middle-East but I´m also coming to Myanmar. I am interested in stuff that is weird and bizarre for us westerners but everyday life for the locals. I´m not trying to make some ”Ripley’s Believe Or Not” kind-of-like sensational exploitation crap, but instead I try to understand the habits and traditions of different cultures that may seem strange and sometimes even unacceptable to us.

Topics in my book range from sausages made out of dog-meat in Laos to cricket fighting gambling in Shanghai, or from eagle hunting in Kazakstan to ritual bodypiercing in Philippines. From Ayahuasca sessions in Peru to Singaporean law that forbids bubblegum in the whole country. From the weird tradition of Papuan people of keeping their dead village chiefs in their huts as mummies to the panty selling vending machines in Japan etc...

Have you encountered any weird, funny or bizarre habits/things during your travels that may seem unlogic and odd at first sight but when you think about it for a while you maybe understand the reason and logic behind it. ( Yes, I know that for many things you might encounter, there is absolutely no logic reason behind them whatsoever... ) I´ve noticed that these little differeces are sometimes the best way to understand different cultures.

Thanks in advance for your help, fellow travellers!

Niklas Tawastjerna

Hi Niklas
Sorry to be of little help but may I point out that Burma has one of the worst human rights records in the world. The democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is under house arrest and has respectfully asked people not to visit until democracy has been restored. Although your proposed book sounds like a fascinating collection of stories, I fear that to include Burma, or Myanmar as you wish to call it, would make light of a very grave situation.

Apologies for such serious tone. love and wishes

Lots of tourists still go to Myanmar anyway. Even poor people have to make some money and tourism money is good money! Tourists are witnesses for what the people are going through and brings their problems to the outside world.

There are some neat places to see like like Mt. Popa and Bagan.

One odd thing that I do remember was a driver with extra fingers on his hands! It would have been simple when he was younger for a local doctor to snip off the extra fingers - but it didn't happen. The other drivers and locals thought he had mystical or shaman like powers because of the extra digits, some of them held him in awe. (This was a driver I got leaving the airport in Bagan.)

Good luck.

Must agree with Infidelal, was in Myanmar last year, and made sure the kids on street got something. People said, prior to leaving, don't talk politics, I found when I got there, that's all people wanted to do!!

Happy Trails - D.R.