Return to Myanmar

My husband, Paul, and I traveled to Myanmar (Burma), Oct. 12-26, 2008, with Asia Transpacific Journeys (Boulder, CO; 800/642-2742, www.asiatranspacific.com). The trip was wonderful.

Including round-trip airfare, Los Angeles-Bangkok, Yangon, in premium-economy class; internal airfare, and 4- to 5-star boutique hotels, this all-inclusive tour cost $6,840 per person. There were eight members in our tour group plus a tour leader and another guide.

This was our second trip to Myanmar, having visited previously in 2000. Of course, we were well aware of the devastation from the May ’08 cyclone, but this tour traveled to inland areas and the only evidence of it that we saw were the toppled banyon trees in Yangon.

Although traveling to Myanmar is indeed controversial, we strongly believe that tourism benefits the local people. Unfortunately for them, we saw very few tourists. Often our tour group was the only one in the nice local restaurants and the beautiful hotels.

We have traveled to more than 100 countries, and Myanmar is one of our favorites. What makes it so special are the people. They are extremely friendly, helpful and gracious. Many of them thanked us for visiting their country and invited us to return.

We would strongly recommend a trip to this beautiful and interesting country with its smiling people.

JOANN TRUJILLO

Santa Maria, CA