Even though the country’s official name is now Myanmar, many inside and outside of the country still refer to it as Burma and the term Burmese is widely used. During our two weeks in the large city of Mandalay and the surrounding area, we found the Burmese people to be extremely friendly. They greet visitors on the street and smile easily. Quite a few women, men, and children wear the unique, light yellow face paint known as thanaka. Made from ground bark of the Murray’s tree, the cosmetic is applied to the face in creative patterns, protects skin from the sun’s UV rays, and keeps the skin cooler. 

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A typical Myanmar man wears a checkered longyi with a knot in front paired with a collared shirt. Common clothing for a Burmese woman includes a longyi with a side knot (similar to a wrap around skirt) and a matching blouse.

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The women we observed carrying items on their head used rolled cloth made into a small head covering to provide some padding between their skull and their load. And the hat-like accessory may also provide a level base for the items.

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Morning visit to a local street market

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People snapshots from our day-long tour of four ancient cities surrounding Mandalay

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