1. No kissing on train

This photo was shot in an air-conditioning board of a circular train in Yangon (the 1 USD train), which is about a warning that no kissing on train. Like many Asian country in belief, kissing in public places in Myanmar is considered as an indecent act. This is actual and all travelers should obey.

2. Unique Buddha image wearing eye-glasses

This statue belongs to Shwe Myat Mhan Pagoda, Pyay (Prome) township, Bago region of Myanmar, which is extraordinary because the Buddha wears a giant set of glasses with gold-plated rims.

The glasses were first added to the image during the Konbaung Era, when a nobleman offered them to the pagoda in order to stimulate the regional faith through curiosity. Soon, rumors such as the image was capable of curing any kind of diseases, especially afflictions linked to eyes, spread. The rumors made people from all over the country flock to this pagoda.

The first spectacles were stolen, but then the image wore a second pair, donated by the residents nearby. Subsequently, the image was enshrined to protect from thieves. A third pair were offered by a Britain officer stationed in Pyay during the colonial time, when his wife suffered from eye trouble. As the myth says, after this donation, his wife was cured and got her sight back.

3. The temple with about 20 snakes

Baung Daw Kya temple located on the way from Yangon to Twante is rumored to be home of about 20 snakes. Called as “temple-snakes”, they crawl everywhere at the temple, around Buddha images, on the door, on the tree.

Beside Baung Daw Kya, there is also a snake pagoda in Mandalay, namely Hmwe Paya.

4. Buses in airport are covered with STICKERS

Passengers of domestic flights in Myanmar will be attached stickers on their chest to verify which airline they belong to.

These photo was taken in Yangon airport. As you can see, this bus was stuck fully with stickers.

5. “Buses on air”

Flying from Yangon to Mandalay, you may surprisingly realize that your flight also stops in Bagan to pick up some passengers then continue flying to Mandalay.

One thing you need to pay attention in a Myanmar’s domestic flight route is that how many LAYOVERS it has. Normally flying from a destination to another destination, a domestic plane can stop at one or several places in the middle of the route (layovers) to pick up additionally passengers then keeping on flying to the next place or the final destination. Therefore, Myanmar’s domestic flights are called as “buses on air” or “commuters planes”.

>> read more: Myanmar domestic flights: One step to the past

6. The dead tree that everyone also shoots

Near U Bein bridge – the oldest and longest teak wooden bridge in the world, you will see a dead tree standing alone. It appears so much on artistic photos of travelers. So, as traveling to Mandalay and visit U Bein bridge, you can take some breathtaking photos about this special tree.

7. People swim in jeans and T-shirts

The standard of Burmese beach costume is a jean and a T-shirt. Some wear shorts or pajamas, but the truth is that they do not wear bikinis, swimming trunks or swimming suits. This can be understood because this is a new-opening-country and also a Buddhism nation.

>> read more: Top Myanmar beaches and time to go

8. Almost people in the country wear flip-flop, including the president

Climate in Myanmar is really hot and also really wet in the rainy season. Therefore, flip-flop is the popular, favorite footwear in this country. Almost Burmese people wear flip-flop, including the president and other leaders.

This photo is about the Myanmar president Thein Sein as he met the USA president Barack Obama. He wore flip-flop too.

9. Artistic thanaka faces

Thanaka is the national, traditional cosmetic in Burma, which is well-known as sunblock and also anti-fungal can makes skin cool and smooth. It is believed to help remove acne as well.

Thanaka is a yellowish-white paste made of ground bark of thanaka trees (Murraya). It is commonly applied on face and sometimes arms of women and especially children both girls and boys. Men also use but with a lesser extent.

Thanaka is applied to face with attractive shapes like round, leaf and flower on cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. In this photo, you can see a Mickey shape created by thanaka on forehead of the boy.

By Xuan Tran (Synthertize) – HIT Indochina
Photo: Ngoc Anh Do & Internet