The Human Face of the Buddhist Nation

When people think of travelling in Asia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as Vietnam and Cambodia immediately come to mind. However, there is one country that is often forgotten, which has now opened up visa-free access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders, and that is the Buddhist country of Myanmar.

The main attractions in Myanmar are the Buddhist temples and pagodas, and the fact that everyone believes in Buddhism is perhaps the reason why the Burmese people are more open-minded and friendly. Because of this, the most unforgettable impression that Myanmar brings to me is not the splendid temples and elaborate statues of Buddha, but the strong sense of humanity.

Every Buddha statue and every Buddhist tablet is meticulous, reflecting the Burmese people's respect and dedication to their religion (Joe Chiu/Photo)

I still remember a small episode when I travelled alone in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, in 2017: I was in a youth hostel late at night when I suddenly suffered from severe abdominal pain, for which painkillers did not work, but at that time, I didn't even know the local telephone number to call for help, so I had no choice but to ask a staff member of the hostel for help. He took me to the hospital and asked the doctor to help me, but after he learnt that it was just a case of not feeling well, he went back to the hostel to continue his work. I thought he had already done his job, but on the following day, he even brought me supplies and prepared a small game for me to relieve my boredom, so he took care of me in every possible way.

Apart from the above, I have come across countless good people in Myanmar, and there are many examples of their willingness to help others. Many people think that the low economic level and poor living conditions in Southeast Asia mean that you have to be more careful when travelling and worry about scammers. However, I think Myanmar is a breath of fresh air in Southeast Asia. Travelling here is a great way to unplug, meet new people, and gain a deeper understanding of the people's livelihoods and customs in the region.

The setting sun shines brightly on the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda (Joe Chiu/Photo)

Apart from the must-see attractions such as the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, another must-see city in Myanmar is Bagan, the ancient capital of the Ten Thousand Buddhas, which is about 1.5 hours away from Yangon by air. A must do activity in Bagan is to ride a hot air balloon. Although hot air ballooning is not a special event, as you can try it in Turkey, Egypt, Kenya, etc., the most amazing way to see the ancient capital of Buddha is to fly in the air and look down on the thousands of stupas in the sky, with a salted egg yolk in the background, which is absolutely unique in the world.

Tips for travelling to Myanmar: Remember that slippers are a necessity. Many attractions require you to take off your shoes and go barefoot inside. In addition, you can also bring along some US dollars as some shops, day trips and hot air balloon rides are usually settled in US dollars, so if you have enough US dollars, you won't have to pay in Burmese currency.

With direct flights from Hong Kong to Yangon and visa-free access, it is very convenient to travel there. Myanmar is definitely worth a visit if you want to discover new attractions in the future.