Page 9 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

INTRODUCTION 7

BURMESE CHIC
Want to dress up like a Burmese? Just don a longyi, and slap on some thanaka. The longyi is a
sarong-like garment worn by both men and women in most parts of the country. Patterns vary
by gender, as does the style of folding. You may notice certain colour-related traits – green, for
example, is strongly associated with education and thus de rigueur with students, while those
working in the service industry often opt for sky blue. Longyis are extremely comfortable in
hot weather and can be picked up in any local market for as little as a couple of dollars.
Then there’s thanaka, a bright yellow paint that many of the country’s women and children
(and a fair few men as well) plaster on their faces – often in elaborate patterns. Made from
ground tree bark, thanaka is usually applied in the morning and serves as an all-purpose
sunblock, insect repellent, perfume, skincare product and adornment. Thanaka powder is widely
available in shops countrywide: just mix with a little water to form a paste and daub away.

most of those who do visit hurrying straight to the idyllic beach at Ngwe Saung. North
of here, in Rakhine State, is the perhaps even more stunning beach resort of Ngapali,
while in the far north of the state is far-flung Mrauk U, a sleepy backwater dotted with
magnificent temples dating back to its glory days as one of Myanmar’s richest and most
cosmopolitan cities. North of Mrauk U, remote Chin State is one of Myanmar’s final
frontiers, only recently opened to foreigners and still seeing barely a trickle of
adventurous travellers lured by the chance of climbing soaring Mount Victoria and
meeting the state’s famous women with facial tattoos.
South of Yangon (and also accessible overland from Thailand), southeastern Myanmar
offers a relatively untouristy but rewarding destination. Bago boasts a dazzling crop of
golden stupas and giant Buddha statues, while further south is the so-called Golden Rock
at Kyaiktiyo, a gravity-defying giant golden boulder balanced on the edge of a cliff – one
of the country’s most jaw-dropping sights. South of here, the absorbing former British
capital of Mawlamyine is a lovely place to kick back for a few days, and it’s also the
starting point for enjoyable boat trips along the Thanlyin River to Hpa-An, which is

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