1. Myanmar

2. Republic of the Union of Myanmar, in Southeast Asia bordered by China, Thailand, India, Laos and Bangladesh.

3. Situated in South East Asia
Borders with China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India
Area = 676,577 km2 (261,228 sq miles)
Population = ~ millions
the world's 24th most populous country
it is the world's 40th largest country and
the second largest in Southeast Asia.

4. Myanmar shares borders with five countries
Myanmar shares borders with five countries. Its land border of 5,876 kilometers (3,651 mi) is the longest in Southeast Asia. Myanmar’s land borders by country and length
Country
Length (km)
China
2185
Thailand
1800
India
1463
Laos
235
Bangladesh
193

5. Highest point in Myanmar- Hkakabo Razi, mountain located in Kachin State, at an elevation of 5,881 metres (19,295 ft)
Myanmar's longest river- The Irrawaddy River, nearly 2,170 kilometres (1,348 mi) long, flows into the Gulf of Martaban.
The majority of Myanmar’s population lives in the Irrawaddy valley, which is situated between the Rakhine Yoma and the Shan Plateau.

6. Map of Myanmar
The country is divided into seven states and seven regions, formerly called divisions

7. Independent Day – 4 January 1948
Capital: Naypyidaw
Yangon was the capital of Myanmar
Naypyidaw means "Royal Palace/City",
= "seat of kings“
The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a west of Pyinmana on 6 November 2005.
Naypyidaw is approximately 320 kilometers north of Yangon.
Currency: Kyat
Myanmar is a country rich in jade and gems, oil, natural gas and other mineral resources.

8. An ethnolinguistic map of Burma.
Myanmar is an ethnically diverse nation with 135 distinct ethnic groups officially recognized by the government.
These are grouped into eight "major national ethnic races":
Kachin
Kayah
Kayin
Chin
Mon
Bamar
Rakhine
Shan

9. Eight Major Nationalities of Myanmar
Kachin
Kayah
Kayin
Chin
The peopleMyanmar is a union of 135 ethnic groups with their own languages and dialects. The major races are the Bamar, the Chin, the Kachin, the Shan, the Kayah, the Kayin, the Mon and the Rakhine. The population of Myanmar is estimated at 52.4 million (July, 2003)
ReligionAlthough the main religion, Buddhism is practiced by 89.3 percent of the population, there is full freedom of worship for other religions. Christianity is practiced by 5.6 percent, Islam by 3.8 percent, Hinduism by 0.5 percent and Animism by 0.2 percent respectively.
CultureMyanmar lies on the cross-roads of two of the world’s great civilizations China and India. Its culture is a blend of both interspersed with Myanmar native traits and characteristics. Buddhism has great influence on daily life of the Myanmar. The people have preserved the traditions of close family ties, respect for the elders, reverence for Buddhism and simple native dress. Myanmar is known for their simple hospitality and friendliness.
RaceMyanmar is inhabited by 135 ethnic nationalities, distributed in the different regions. There are eight major national races; Bamar, Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakkhine and Shan races. Most of tribal groups still follow their own traditional customs, costumes and life-style.
Language
The official language is Myanmar. English is widely spoken and understood.
EconomyBase on market oriented economy, private sector has been encouraged to do business in domestic & foreign trade and commerce.

10. Eight Major Nationalities of Myanmar
Bamar
Mon
Rakhine
Shan
Population
The Union of Myanmar is made up of 135 national races, of which the main national races are Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan. Population of the country is estimated at 52.4 million (July, 2003) and the population growth rate is 1.84 percent.
Kachin 12
Kayah 9
Kayin 11
Chin 53
Mon 1
Bamar 9Rakhine 7
Shan 33
Total 135 10

11. Ethnic Composition in Myanmar (Rough Estimate)
Bamar   
68.00%
Shan
9.00%
Kayin
7.00%
Rakhine
3.50%
Mon
2.00%
Kachin
1.50%
Kayah
0.75%
Other groups including Wa, Naga, Lahu, Lisu and Palaung
4.50%

12. Religion The main religions of the country are Buddhism (89.5 % ),
Many religions are practiced in Burma.
The main religions of the country are
Buddhism (89.5 % ),
Christianity (4.9 % ),
Muslims (3.8 % ),
Hindus (0.05 % )

13. Religions Buddhism 89.2% Hinduism 0.5% Christianity 5.0% Islam 3.8%
Spiritualism Animism
1.2 %
Religion
TourismMyanmar.com says that approximately 80 percent of the people in Myanma practice Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is the most common religious belief and focuses on karma, or the idea that doing good causes more good and doing evil causes more evil. Most Mayanmarese also believe in reincarnation. The country offers freedom of religion, and some of its population follow the Christian, Muslim and Hindu faiths.
The main religions of the country are Buddhism (89.2%), Christianity (5.0%), Islam (3.8%), Hinduism (0.5%), Spiritualism (1.2%) and others (0.2%). Religious intolerance or discrimination on grounds of religion is nonexistent in the Union of Myanmar throughout its long history.
Superstitions
Rural Myanmarese often have strong superstitions and might use astrology or clairvoyance when facing important decisions. According to common superstitions, bad luck occurs because of leaving a shoe or slipper upside-down, keeping broken glass in the home or washing the hair soon after a funeral. Some believe that walking under a staircase or a clothesline used to dry women’s longyis can cause an individual to lose will power. Others believe that carrying hairs from an elephant’s tail can ward off evil.
Business Culture
Business relationships focus on building trust and friendship. If a business favor is received, the recipient must repay it at a later date. Business topics typically do not come up in conversation when two businessmen meet for the first time, but rather serve as an opportunity to evaluate strengths, weaknesses and personality. World Travel Guide indicates that most commercial business transactions in Myanmar occur in English, but business cards with Burmese translation can facilitate better communication. People in Myanmar have a custom of showing respect to their elders, which can create friction in business situations when a supervisor is younger than a subordinate.
Dress
Typical dress for men in Myanmar is a white shirt with no collar, an overcoat and a longyi, which is a garment made from a long piece of cloth folded and secured at the waist, resembling a sarong. Ladies in Myanmar usually wear dresses, often of silk or cotton, or blouses with a longyi. Both men and women often wear Western tops with the traditional longyi on the bottom. Female visitors should avoid shorts. They also should not wear T-shirts without proper undergarments. 13

14. Language and Literature
Burmese - the mother tongue of the Bamar and official language of Myanmar.
Language: belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages.
33 consonants and twelve vowels
Script: originally adapted from the Mon language (derived from Pali, the ancient Indian language of the sacred text of Theravada Buddhism.
It is written in a script consisting of circular and semi-circular letters, which were adapted from the Mon script, which in turn was developed from a southern Indian script in the 8th century.

15. Myanmar Scripts and Alphabet
33 consonants
Burmese Basic Vowels There are 12 basic vowels. They can be extended with two tone marks.
Numbers

16. Myanmar Culture
Generally speaking, Myanmar culture (Burmese culture) means Buddhist culture.
Early civilizations in Myanmar included the Tibeto-Burman speaking Pyu in Upper Burma and the Mon in Lower Burma.
In the 9th century, the Burmans of the Kingdom of Nanzhao entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Empire in the 1050s, the Burmese language and culture slowly became dominant in the country.
During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually became the predominant religion of the country.

17. A diverse range of indigenous cultures exist in Myanmar, the majority culture is primarily Buddhist and Bamar.
Bamar Culture has been influenced by the cultures of neighbouring countries (its langauge, cuisine, music, dance and theatre).
The arts and literature have been influened by Theravada Buddhism
Buddhism is practised along with nat worship, which involves elaborate rituals to propitiate one from a pantheon of 37 nats.

18. In a traditional village, the monastery is the centre of cultural life.
Monks are venerated and supported by the lay people.
A novitiation ceremony called shinbyu is the most important coming of age events for a boy, during which he enters the monastery for a short time.
All male children in Buddhist families are encouraged to be a novice (beginner for Buddhism) before the age of twenty and to be a monk after the age of twenty.

19. Girls have ear-piercing ceremonies at the same time.
Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year
Many villages have a guardian nat, and superstition and taboos are commonplace.

20. A novitiation ceremony called shinbyu

21. In Buddhism, men have a higher status than women - Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and a woman has to hope that, in her next life, she is reborn as a man.
The husband is considered the spiritual head of the Myanmar household because of his hpon (PONE), or spiritual status.
In public, women let men take the lead, often walking behind their husbands or fathers.
At home, however, a husband usually hands his earnings over to the wife, who manages the family budget and often runs her own small business, too.

22. Myanmar Wedding

23. Women are excluded from certain areas of religious buildings, such as the middle platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda and Golden Rock Pagoda etc.
Despite the hierarchy of Buddhism, however Myanmar women have a quiet self-confidence that comes from a tradition of independence.
Women also have equal rights of inheritance with men.

24. Proper Etiquette
- Excessive emotion, whether prompted anger or by love are frowned upon (an expression of disapproval).
Elders and others of a higher status are treated with polite behaviour.
It is considered rude to pass things over the heads of seated elder
- To show respect to grandparents, parents, and teachers on formal occasions, Kneel down with foreheads and elbows touching the ground
- When passing a pagoda or meeting a monk, they put their palms together in a gesture of reverence.

25. Ah-nar-Deh
Myanmar people are also very sensitive about imposing on, or inconveniencing, other people.
The fear of embarrassing others is called anade (Ah-nar-Deh).
If you asked a Myanmar guest what drink you could serve him or her, your guest would probably say, "Anything is fine," (ba be pyi pyi ya bar de) to avoid embarrassing you by asking for something you might not have.

26. Family Tie Myanmar households often consist of three generations.
Grandparents, Parents, Children
Children:
learn to share and to participate in family life at an early age.
expected to respect and obey not only their parents but all their elders.
They are also expected to take care of their aged parents.

27. Some Interesting Myanmar Culture
Burmese Traditional Orchestra
Drum circle
Main Drum

28. Some Interesting Myanmar Culture Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)
Thanaka (Burmese: သနပ္ခါး); is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of Myanmar seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls and to a lesser extent men and boys.

29. Thanaka cream is made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots of a thanaka tree with a small amount water on a circular stone slab called kyauk pyin which has a channel round the rim for the water to drain into.

31. Some Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)
A man wearing taungshay paso in late 1800s
A woman dressed in the old htamein style prevalent until the 1900s

32. Some Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

33. Some Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

34. Food Curry Mon-hin-ga - Spicy Noodle with Catfish
Food in Myanmar represents a mixture of Indian and Chinese cuisines, with local curries and soups adding a Burmese flair to the food. Rice is the staple food in Myanmar, making up approximately 75 percent of the local diet, according to Myanmar.com. Typically, meals are served at a dining table, with the individual pieces laid out so that diners can serve themselves and create their own combinations. A condiment made from preserved fish or prawn and chili powder accompanies most meals.
The regional food is hot and spicy. Fish, rice, noodles and vegetables spiced with onions, ginger, garlic and chillies are the common local ingredients.
Myanmar daily Food Every country has its own customs and traditional food. Myanmar has a variety of traditional food. Our staple food is rice and curry daily. We still serve our dishes the same way our ancestors serve them. In Myanmar, rice, meat, fish and prawn curries are serve as main dishes while fried- vegetables salads, soups, and boiled or raw vegetables eaten with fish sauce are eaten as side-dishes.
Table Manners
When dining in someone’s home in Myanmar, people usually sit on the floor or on a floor mat at low, round tables. Diners do not drink alcoholic beverages with their meals, but rather have juice, tea or water. Eating begins once all of the food is on the table, and diners should handle serving spoons with the left hand, which locals consider the clean hand. Forks and spoons have gained popularity in Myanmar, but many locals still eat with their fingers. Elderly diners and guests serve themselves first. Leaving rice on the plate signals to the host that the diner wants more rice.
Food in Daily Life. Rice is the staple food except among those in highland areas where rice is difficult to grow. In those areas, rice, millet, sorghum, and corn are the staples. Rice is accompanied by a raw salad of leaves, fruit, or vegetables; a soup; and curries of fish, meat, prawns, or eggs. In addition to turmeric and chili, curries are seasoned with fermented fish or shrimp paste. A variety of cultivated vegetables and wild greens are eaten as well as bamboo shoots. Meals often are accompanied by lentils, pickled relishes, and balachaung (made from fried dry prawns). There are a variety of rice-noodle dishes. After a meal, it is common to eat fresh fruit.
Burmese traditionally eat a morning meal and an evening meal that is taken before dark. The meals are served in a large platter or on a low table, with members of the household sitting on mats. Food is eaten with the fingers, although sometimes utensils are used. It is common to drink water and eat fruit after the main meal. Throughout the day people eat betel and smoke tobacco. Burmese not only drink tea made from dried tea leaves but also eat pickled tea as a snack. Other snacks include chappatis, fried insects, and Chinese pastries.
Read more: Culture of Burma - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family 34

35. Economy GDP 2010 estimated: Total - $42.953 billion, Per capita - $702
Currency: Kyat
Economy Economically Myanmar is a poor country, and agriculture remains the main sector. Since late 1988, Myanmar has replaced the centrally planned economy with a more liberalized economic policy based on market-oriented system. For the moment Myanmar is the place unlike most other tourist destinations. Travel is sometime unpredictable because the essential infrastructures such as efficient good management, transport, communication and hotels are still far from near complete. However in this age of mass tourism with loss of local cultures in many a thousand locations worldwide (Asia especially), Myanmar people still maintain some of their traditional cultures.
Myanmar's Economy
Almost three quarters of Myanmar's population either grows or processes crops, with roughly only ten percent of of population working in the industrial sector. Myanmar is considered an agricultural country and before World War II, it had been the world's top exporter of rice.  Since the population increased after the war, it decreased the amount of surplus rice on hand for export.
Although there aren't many visitors to Myanmar (in 1996, there were about 185,000), tourism is the leading resource of foreign exchange.  The government had tried to improve the economy by pushing socialism and nationalizing most of the industries, but it was on the whole unsuccessful in its efforts.  In the early 90's, the government tried a different approach, accepting foreign investments, but again, it is not successful.  The most successful economy in Myanmar is the black market, which has little government interference.
Since the late 90's Myanmar's economy has worsened due to U.S. economic sanctions (due to a negative human rights record) and the widespread Asian economic problems.  These issues decreased the amount of foreign investment and increased inflation even more.   35

36. Myanmar Festivals
Living in one of the Nature's most favored lands, the Myanmar are lively and enjoyable people.
With agriculture as their main occupation they make an easy livelihood as their natural environment.
Every month of the Myanmar lunar calendar has its own season, its own flower, its own zodiacal sign, its own constellation and its own seasonal festivals.
The Myanmar year begins in mid-April.
Both the Myanmar and Gregorian calendar are widely used.

37. Festivals There are twelve monthly Myanmar festivals:
Tagu (April) - Burmese New Year (Thingyan water Festival)
Kason (May) - (banyan tree watering ceremony)
Nayon (June)- Festival of religious examination
Waso –(July) Waso Festival(Festival of ordination of monks)
Wagaung (August)- festival of giving religious charity by lot
Taw Tha Lin (September)- Regatta Festival
Thadingyut (October) – festival of lights
Ta zaung mon (November) – - Tazaungdine (Kahtein festival - offering robes to Buddhist monks)
Na Daw –(December) Celebration in honour of the literati
Pya Tho – (January) Equestrian Festival
Ta Bo Dwe – (February) Festival of making Htamanei. (Htamane is made up of glutinous rice, coconut flakes, roasted peanuts, sesame, ground nut oil and fried ginger.)
Ta Baung – (March) Festival of Sand pagodas

38. Tourism in Myanmar
The most popular available tourist destinations in Myanmar include big cities such as Yangon and Mandalay;
religious sites in Mon State, Pindaya, Bago and Hpa-An;
nature trails in Inle Lake, Putao;
ancient cities such as Bagan and Mrauk-U;
as well as beaches in Ngapali, Ngwe-Saung, Mergui

39. Shwedagon Pagoda One of the wonders of the world
Marvelous architecture
* Conical structure
* 99.4 meters (326 feet) high
* 432.8meters (1420 ft)perimeter
* Covered with 60 tons of gold leaf
* Priceless Gems on pinnacle

40. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda also known as Golden Rock is a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Myanmar. It is a small pagoda (7.3 metres (24 ft)) built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees.

41. Bago

42. U Bein Bridge is a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.

43. Bagan

44. Bagan

45. Bagan

46. Mount Popa is a volcano 1518 metres above sea level, and located in central Burma about 50 km southeast of Bagan. It can be seen from the Ayeyarwady River as far away as 60 km in clear weather. Mount Popa is perhaps best known as a pilgrimage site, with numerous Nat temples and relic sites atop the mountain.

47. Inle Lake - Shan State

48. Hkakabo Razi is Southeast Asia's highest mountain, located in the northern Myanmar state of Kachin. It lies in an outlying subrange of the Greater Himalayan mountain system. The mountain lies on the border tri-point among Myanmar, China, and India.

53. Thank you
Disclaimer : I don't own any of pictures and video clips included in this presentation. Credits go to the rightful owners. This PowerPoint is intended only for educational purpose only .