Go and meet them

My time in Myanmar has finally come to an end. I've seen some amazing sights (Bagan springs to mind), but more importantly, I've met lots of people. The Burmese people all seem to want to talk to foreigners, even if they don't speak English, and find out what life is like outside their backwards, isolated country. But despite the poverty and lack of opportunities, they remain happy somehow. Never have I seen so many people smiling and singing in the streets (and outside my room when I'm sleeping). This gives me hope that eventually the spirt of the people will overcome their unjust government.

So, should I have visited Myanmar, and should you come? The leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, and hero of the people, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says "no," and points out that tourists are a source of much-needed foreign exchange for the government. This is probably true for all the middle-aged people on government package tours. But as an independent traveler, you can minimize the money you give to the government. I think the money I've given the government is outweighed by the fact that I've met so many Burmese people, Myanmar has become a real place to me. I was always vaguely aware that Myanmar had an oppressive government, but now that I've met the people who have to live with that government, I actually want to do something about it. Maybe if more people visited (independently, you won't meet any locals on a package tour), more people would become concerned about the Burmese people's plight, and try to help them. After visiting, Myanmar will always have a special place in my heart.