Burma

by Courtauld, Caroline

• ISBN13: 9789622176089
• ISBN10: 9622176089
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-07-01
• Publisher: Odyssey Books & Maps

Summary

An isolated and remote country, unspoiled by mass tourism, Burma is for the traveler, not the average tourist. This guide takes its readers to the far corners of this little-known country. Travel the great Ayeyarwady River to Kipling's Mandalay, the last of Burma's royal capitals, and explore exotic Inle Lake whose inhabitants live on floating islands overgrown with flowers and lush vegetation. And, of course, meet the people of this richly varied land, from the northern hill tribes to the amiable Burmans themselves. This fully revised and lavishly illustrated second edition intelligently evokes the magic and the mystery of what was once the richest nation in Asia. Fully revised second edition. Takes the reader to the far corners of this remote country. Extensive illustrations include fascinating archival material. Detailed background on the history, religion and people of Burma. Personal observations from an author who knows the country extremely well. Indispensable practical information. Evokes the magic and mystery of what was once Asia's richest nation.

Author Biography

Caroline Courtauld is a writer specializing in Burma and China, a published photographer and documentary film producer and researcher. Her publications have focused on Asian travel, history and culture, including books on Burma (In Search of Burma, Shangri-La Press, Hong Kong and Frederick Muller, London), China and Hong Kong. Together with May Holdsworth, she wrote The Hong Kong Story (Oxford University Press), covering the history of the former colony, and The Forbidden City (Odyssey).

Table of Contents

Foreword	12	(8)
Introduction	20	(4)
History	24	(31)
Some Basic Themes	24	(1)
Early Mists	24	(1)
First Unification	25	(2)
Elephant Wars	27	(5)
The Impact of the West	32	(7)
World War II and Independence	39	(8)
Burma Since Independence	47	(2)
The Ne Win Inheritance	49	(3)
New Identity	52	(2)
The Name Change	54	(1)
Geography	55	(3)
The Peoples of Myanmar	58	(8)
Religion and Society	66	(8)
The Arrival of Buddhism	66	(1)
The Nat Spirit Gods	66	(2)
The Burmese Cosmos	68	(1)
Quest for Nirvana	68	(2)
Becoming a Monk	70	(2)
Monks and Burmese Society	72	(1)
The Status of Burmese Women	72	(2)
Festivals and Theatre	74	(9)
Facts for the Traveller	83	(23)
Getting to Myanmar	83	(1)
Getting Around	83	(7)
Visas	90	(1)
Customs and Foreign Exchange	90	(1)
Health	91	(1)
Climate and Clothing	91	(4)
Food	95	(1)
Shopping	96	(7)
Major Festivals	103	(1)
To Visit or Not to Visit?	104	(2)
Yangon (Rangoon)	106	(25)
History	106	(1)
Sights	107	(24)
The Circle Line	107	(3)
The Shwedagon Pagoda	110	(9)
Maha Wizaya Pagoda	119	(1)
The Royal Lake	120	(2)
Zoological Gardens	122	(1)
Sule Pagoda	122	(1)
Around the Sule Pagoda	122	(1)
Strand Hotel	123	(5)
National Museum	128	(1)
Botataung Pagoda	128	(1)
Bogyoke Aung San Market	129	(1)
Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda	130	(1)
Maha Pasana Guha	130	(1)
Kaba Aye Pagoda	130	(1)
Buddhist Museum of Art	130	(1)
Around Yangon (Rangoon)	131	(10)
Bago (Pegu)	131	(5)
The Road to Bago	131	(1)
Sights	132	(4)
Thanylin (Syriam)	136	(5)
Sights	138	(3)
Mandalay	141	(22)
History	142	(4)
Sights	146	(17)
Mandalay Palace	146	(2)
Shwenandaw Monastery	148	(2)
Atumashi Monastery	150	(1)
Kuthodaw Pagoda (Maha Lawkamazin)	150	(1)
Sandamuni Pagoda	151	(1)
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda	151	(1)
Mandalay Hill	152	(2)
Silk Weaving	154	(1)
State School of Fine Art	154	(1)
Zegyo Market	155	(1)
Mandalay Museum and Library	155	(1)
Eindawya Pagoda	155	(2)
Logging	157	(1)
Mahamuni Pagoda	157	(2)
The Artisan Guilds	159	(1)
Shwe In Bin	159	(4)
Mandalay's Surroundings	163	(20)
Amarapura	163	(2)
History	163	(1)
Sights	164	(1)
Inwa (Ava)	165	(3)
History	166	(1)
Sights	166	(2)
Sagaing	168	(3)
History	168	(1)
Sights	168	(3)
Monywa	171	(1)
Mingun	171	(2)
History	171	(1)
Sights	172	(1)
Pyin U Lwin (Maymyo)	173	(10)
History	174	(1)
Sights	174	(9)
Bagan (Pagan)	183	(25)
History	184	(4)
Kings of Pagan's Golden Era	188	(1)
Sights	188	(9)
Shwezigon Pagoda	189	(2)
Kubyaukgyi Temple	191	(1)
Sarabha Gateway	191	(1)
Ananda Temple and Monastery	191	(2)
Htilominlo Temple	193	(1)
Dhammayangyi Temple	193	(1)
Shwesandaw Pagoda (Ganesh Pagoda)	193	(1)
Shinbinthalyaung	194	(1)
Sulamuni Temple	194	(1)
Thatbinnyu Temple	195	(1)
Gawdawpalin Temple	196	(1)
Bagan Museum	196	(1)
The Road South	197	(11)
Myinkaba and Thiripyitsaya	197	(4)
Sale (Salay)	201	(2)
Mount Popa	203	(5)
Inle Lake	208	(12)
History	208	(1)
Sights	208	(7)
The Lake	208	(2)
Ywama (Hairya Ywama)	210	(4)
Phaung Daw U	214	(1)
Paya Pauk Pagoda	214	(1)
Zakah	214	(1)
Nga Phe Monastery	215	(1)
Mine Thauk Market	215	(1)
Nyaung Shwe	215	(3)
Shwe Yan Pye	217	(1)
Taunggyi	218	(1)
Sights	218	(1)
Kalaw	218	(1)
Pindaya Caves	219	(1)
Other Open Places in Myanmar	220	(5)
Pathein (Bassein)	220	(1)
Shwemoktaw Pagoda	220	(1)
Twante	221	(1)
Thantwe (Sandoway)	222	(1)
Shin Aung Village	222	(1)
Pyay (Prome)	222	(3)
Sights	223	(2)
Off the Beaten Track	225	(20)
Mrauk-U (Myohaung) and the West	225	(3)
History	225	(1)
Sittwe (Akyab)	225	(1)
Mrauk-U	226	(2)
Sights in the Mrauk Area	228	(2)
Mawlamyine (Moulmein) and the South	230	(6)
Mawlamyine	231	(3)
Kyaikkhami (Amherst)	234	(1)
Setse Beach	235	(1)
Thanbyuzayat Cemetery	235	(1)
Mudon	235	(1)
Vicarious Visits	235	(1)
The East: Kayah, Kayin and Shan States	236	(7)
The North: Mogok and Kachin State	243	(2)
The Road to Myitkyina	243	(2)
Practical Information	245	(18)
Travel Agents	245	(1)
River Journeys	246	(1)
Hotels	246	(11)
Yangon	247	(3)
Mandalay	250	(2)
Bagan	252	(1)
Inle Lake Region	253	(4)
Off the Beaten Track	257	(1)
Restaurants	257	(6)
Yangon	257	(2)
Mandalay	259	(2)
Bagan	261	(1)
Inle Lake Region	262	(1)
Glossary	263	(2)
Recommended Reading	265	(4)
Index	269