There’s an innocence to Myanmar that is unique in Southeast Asia. I can imagine riding a bicycle through the streets of Mandalay or Yangon and it not being uncommon for someone to approach and ask if they can join and give directions to the next destination. As an experienced traveler I would suspect that there will be a price tag, but this particular Burmese refused money at the end: He just wants to practice his English and make me feel welcome.
Still, it is the unique visuals more than the kindness that puts Myanmar on every world travelers list of destinations. Horse-drawn carriages are a frequent form of transportation. The light in the countryside has a gentle serenity. The religious sites, from the enormous Shwedagon Pagoda to the small temples that line the hills throughout the country, have a dreamlike quality.
I rather suspect that even as the country transitions into the modern world, the aura of the past will not disappear.

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