What do you think about Burma (Myanmar)? As a country, its people, whatever.

I found the culture to be somewhat strange.
I find 'pickle tea' to be something exotic. Tried it but didnt like it.

Oh cool, so you've been there. What part of Burma did you go to?

Pickle tea is tea made from pickles?

Its actually made from fermented tea leaves. The tea is served almost like a light soup.
I dont know of any other culture that eat tea leaves like a salad.

Some of the 'strange' particular things about Burmese culture is their native religion.
They really dont have "gods" per say (except for maybe one). For instance the worship of dead people who became 'dieties'. They refer them as Nats (there are 37 main nats). Most of them died from simple bizarre deaths.
Like falling off a horse and then becoming a diety. Some becomes dieties after being murdered etc.


The music that accompanies Nat festivals (Nat pwe) sounds erratic and off beat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyB7p8WJeNo


Also the medium priests (kadaws) of the old Nat religion are transvestites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxOCikFmcw...feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP9vk3QMnd4...;feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXXptbJFhXo...feature=related

picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10186213@N07/...57600874292494/



http://myanmarpedia.wordpress.com/category/37-nats/
http://www.myanmartravelagent.com/myanmar-nats.htm

So I personally do find Burmese culture to be highly unusual.

A country rich in culture and traditions going through massive turmoil in today's modern age.