Myanmar: the third of three stops in the visual story of my recent trek through Southeast Asia. While each region of Myanmar reflects an incredibly unique blend of neighboring Indian, Chinese and Thai cultures, a handful of it's charms are universal: steamed peanuts, traditional thanaka face painting, golden everything, delicately beautiful script, and most distinguishing of all - their gentle spirit and heart-warming smiles. Under military dictatorship since 1962 and limited areas opened to the outside world for only the past 4 years (many regions of the country remain un-explored by expats), the original authenticity of this culture remains largely intact. Hands down, there is something very very special about this country.

See previous stops in Vietnam and Cambodia's ancient temples of Angkor Wat.

Yangon - The golden city of the golden country with the very golden Shwedagon Pagoda.

Bagan - An ancient city of 2,000+ 11th-13th century Buddhist temples & monuments, hot air balloons over a red sunrise, sand paintings, prayer bells, and horse drawn carriages.