Unlike neighboring Thailand, Burma doesn't top most people's lists of relaxing travel spots. A brutal military dictatorship, heroin trafficking and the democracy activism of Aung San Suu Kyi are perhaps the three most common associations with the Southeast Asian nation. But despite its troubled history, Burma – or Myanmar as it’s called by the current government - can actually be a safe and inspiring place for adventurous travelers to explore.

Burma’s visual wonders include ancient Buddhist ruins, lush rice fields, golden pagodas and lakeside markets. Most Burmese locals – though still wary of the junta leadership – are generally at ease with foreign travelers and eager to share stories.

I first flew to Burma on a whim one night from Thailand in Summer 2000. After teaching English in Vietnam for a year, I had a month to explore the rest of Southeast Asia. I quickly tired of Thailand’s worn-out tourist scene and yearned for adventure. At a cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I spotted an advertisement for a $35 flight to Rangoon, Burma's capital. I bought the ticket, applied for a Myanmar tourist visa, and three days later I found myself on a near-empty night flight to Rangoon, wondering if I was out of my mind.

I hope my photos displayed throughout this site are proof that I wasn't. I stayed in Burma for two weeks, and I had a wonderful time. I made some good friends and visited truly amazing places.

I also asked my cousin, Thomas R. Lansner, who is adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a former correspondent in Asia, to provide an article on Burmese history for this site. His article was originally written for the Open Society Institute's Burma: Country in Crisis website.

My photos – taken with a $15 point-and-shoot camera that I bought in Thailand after being robbed – cannot do these people or places justice. I only hope they offer a taste of life in the ‘golden land.’

All photos and writing by Christine Gralow except where otherwise noted. About Christine.