From Past To Present
ASIAN Geographic|PASSPORT 2016 - 2017

Burma underwent significant changes after inge sargent left the country. Take at look at her former home hsipaw, an untouched area of myanmar.

Monica Pitrelli
From Past To Present

Myanmar dominated global headlines in 2012 for all the right reasons. The National League for Democracy swept the country’s by election, the world’s most famous former house arrestee, Aung San Suu Kyi, was elected to Parliament, and international sanctions were lifted. The country was on track to morph from recluse to world player by the year’s end.

But old habits die hard. That year, I tried to obtain a tourist visa to Myanmar. The man behind the counter at the Burmese embassy perused my application, saw the words ‘Occupation: Writer’ and promptly tore it in two. He passed me a new application and whispered, “this time, you are a housewife”. Permission granted.

The rules were in flux. The old way of doing things was ending, and a new script had yet to be written. Change was afoot, but how much and, more importantly, would it last?

This story is from the PASSPORT 2016 - 2017 edition of ASIAN Geographic.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the PASSPORT 2016 - 2017 edition of ASIAN Geographic.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ASIAN GEOGRAPHICView All
Green Dreams
ASIAN Geographic

Green Dreams

With its tea plantations and rice paddies, dense jungles and expansive forests, the region is well known as a green paradise. But many of the most impressive Asian landscapes have names you may never have heard of. Journey with us as we reveal just some of the incredible locations that make the rest of the world green with envy!

time-read
4 mins  |
AG 162
Life On The Edge
ASIAN Geographic

Life On The Edge

In the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the remote northern Russian Far East, indigenous ethnic groups like the Chukchi and the Yupik live in the most extreme conditions, hunting seals in their traditional kayaks as they have for millennia

time-read
10+ mins  |
AG 162
The Karakoram Anomaly Decoded
ASIAN Geographic

The Karakoram Anomaly Decoded

For decades, scientists have believed that glaciers in the Karakoram Range are defying the trend of those across the globe-resisting glacial melt due to human-induced global warming. But as we trek up the Karakoram's second-longest glacier in July, as the United Nations announces the world's hottest ever month on record, does the melting ice beneath our feet suggest the so-called Karakoram Anomaly is slowing? Or is there a ray of hope it will continue to delay the inevitable?

time-read
10+ mins  |
AG 162
Green Water Revolution
ASIAN Geographic

Green Water Revolution

Southeast Asia's Quest to Sustainable Wastewater Management in an Era of Climate Sensitivity

time-read
10+ mins  |
AG 162
Green Philippines
ASIAN Geographic

Green Philippines

The Philippine Archipelago may be synonymous with perfect beach holidays, but the Southeast Asian nation is also a great choice for your next ecotourism adventure

time-read
7 mins  |
AG 162
Why so Green?
ASIAN Geographic

Why so Green?

From the Green Dome of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina to the fluorescent greens of flags and political campaigns, Islam has established itself as the world's \"green\" religion

time-read
3 mins  |
AG 162
Pilgrimage To Japan
ASIAN Geographic

Pilgrimage To Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun is as eclectic as it is fascinating, an exotic blend of ancient and modern. But two destinations in particular offer visitors an authentic taste of this unique nation: Wakayama, its spiritual centre, and Kyoto, its cultural heartland.

time-read
3 mins  |
AG 161
The Silk Road Through Uzbekistan
ASIAN Geographic

The Silk Road Through Uzbekistan

High-speed trains may ply some of this route today, but the historical, religious and cultural significance of the great cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva remains intact

time-read
8 mins  |
AG 161
10 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Visit Sri Lanka
ASIAN Geographic

10 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Visit Sri Lanka

From eye-popping temples and tea estates to jaw-dropping national parks and natural wonders, the "teardrop island" has it all

time-read
10+ mins  |
AG 161
Nepal: In The Shadow Of Giants
ASIAN Geographic

Nepal: In The Shadow Of Giants

Sandwiched between China to the north and India to the south, Nepal receives influences from Asia's two major powers, but this unique land bordered by the greatest mountain range on Earth promises experiences offered nowhere else

time-read
8 mins  |
AG 161