Burma

While traveling I didn't write much about Burma so I would like to make up for that now. I am going to call the country Burma even thought it has been renamed Myanmar. I believe it should be refered to as Burma. The people of the country have not accepted this name change that was made by the military government years ago and nor should the rest of the world.

While we were in Asia I became very interested in learning more about Myanmar. I will admit that before visiting Southeas Asia I knew nothing about Burma. It is a very mysterious place considering that not much is shared with the western world about what has gone on there and what is going on there now. I think it deserves some attention so, I am going to devote some time to it...

Above is a photo I took of two women in Burma. Their faces are painted with a golden colored paste called thanaka. Face painting is a traditional custom throughout the country. Women and children can be seen wearing intricate patterned swirls on their cheeks made with thanaka. It has been worn in Burma for centuries and is still in common use, mostly in rural areas.

Thanka is made from the sweet-scented bark and roots of the thanaka tree. It is used as sun block, decoration, perfume and as a cleansing agent, as has anti fungal qualities which can cure skin irritations.

The production of thanaka has not changed in centuries. Bark and roots of the thanakha tree (same genus as the orange, lime and lemon trees) are stripped and soaked in water, then pulverized, using a mortar and a flat stone, to create a fragrant paste. Dehydrated thanaka paste is a natural beige color. It only needs a few drops of water before it can be applied to the face. Unlike many face powders used in the West, thanaka stays fresh, keeping its fragrant smell being unaffected by the tropical temperatures that make modern make-up melt.

In towns thanaka has competition from modern cosmetics, although many urban women do not wear thanaka around town, they may still wear it at home. In villages the use of thanaka continues not only because of tradition, but because it is cheap and effective.

I am aware that Burma is a far away country that only makes the western news every 10 years or so. I would like to help change that. Only when we get to know the insides of Burmese society and learn of their suffering, will we begin to see these people as real human equals. No worse, no better.