There is 55 million of population in Myanmar and over 80% of them are Theravada Buddhists. The rests are Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some animists.

There is 55 million of population in Myanmar and over 80% of them are Theravada Buddhists. The rests are Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some animists.

National currency is in Kyat MMK. Major credit cards are not widely accepted and cash is more convenient.

As some defines it, "culture" defines 'way of life', meaning the way groups do things. Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture. An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior. The outlook, attitudes, values, morals goals, and customs shared by a society. As described, Myanmar culture covers a wide range of areas, from festivals, religion, food, clothing, music, dances, tradition, customs, superstitions, and numerious ways of doing things.

Stereotype of Myanmar can be constructed out of Myanmar culture, however it is needed to note that Myanmar is a very heterogeneous country teamed up of 135 different nationalities all around the country, with different language, religion, and cultures too.

Burmese

Burmese is the native language of the Bamar people and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as that of some ethnic minorities in Burma like the Mon. Burmese is spoken by 32 million people as a first language. Burmese is spoken as a second language by another 10 million people, particularly ethnic minorities in Burma and those in neighbouring countries.

Burmese is a Sino-Tibetan language belonging to the Southern Burmish branch of the Tibeto-Burman languages. Burmese is the most widely spoken of the Tibeto-Burman languages and among the Sino-Tibetan languages, the second most widely spoken, after the Sinitic languages. Burmese was the fourth of the Sino-Tibetan languages to develop a writing system, after Chinese, Tibetan, and Tangut.

Indigenous languages

Aside from Myanmar (Burmese) and its dialects, the hundred or so languages of Myanmar include Shan (Tai, spoken by 3.2 million), Karen languages (spoken by 2.6 million), Kachin (spoken by 900,000), various Chin languages (spoken by 780,000), and Mon (Mon–Khmer, spoken by 750,000). Most of these languages use the Myanmar (Burmese) script.

English as a second language

Newspapers in the street of Yangon (February 2006) including publications also in English
Today, Burmese is the primary language of instruction, and English is the secondary language taught. English was the primary language of instruction in higher education from late 19th century to 1964, when Gen. Ne Win mandated educational reforms to "Burmanise". English continues to be used by educated urbanites and the national government.

Myanmar traditional cuisine is curry and serves together with rice. So the soup, curry, salad, raw and cooked vegetables are eaten together with rice at once. Myanmar cuisines are not much spicy but a bit oily. Myanmar Traditional restaurants prepare the dishes to suite with tourists and there are many of Chinese food, Thai Food and European food restaurants in major cities.

The climate of Myanmar is a tropical climate with three seasons. The rainy season during the south-west monsoon from mid-May to mid-October, the cool season (Winter) from mid-October to mid-February and the hot season (Summer) from mid-February to mid-May. The best time to visit Myanmar is from October to April.

Myanmar Standard Time (MMT) is the standard time in Myanmar, 6:30 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+06:30). MMT is calculated on the basis of 97° 30' longitude. MMT is used all year round as Myanmar does not observe daylight saving time.

Electricity

220 VOLT 50 HZ

Transportation is by domestic flight, highway bus, taxi and train for mostly and trishaw, horse carts and bicycles are also used.