Some trips carry with them an element of discomfort that transcends lumpy beds and uncertain food.
The people of Burma, according to news reports, are living under one of the world’s more repressive military regimes. Human rights in this beautiful but tortured country are a myth, they say, and political murder is a way of life.
Long closed to outsiders, Burma (also called Myanmar) has begun to allow limited tourism–because, say rights activists, 1) carefully controlled access projects an image of normalcy to the outside, and 2) tourist dollars, indirectly, buy bullets. Don’t go, they say.
But there is another view.
Among the handful of companies that offer Burma trips is Geographic Expeditions. Its president is Jim Sano.
“I’m sure some of the money is going to an oppressive regime,” says Sano, “but in our mind, the benefits of people being exposed to situations far outweigh the downside.
“Look at Tibet, another good example. Very few people cared about or even heard about Tibet prior to the 1980s. It was only with it opening up to tourism that people began to learn and understand what’s really going on there.
“In fact, the (exiled) Dalai Lama advocates Western travelers going to Tibet.”
There are other Tibets. There are other Burmas.
Your decision.
Land prices (subject to change) for Geographic Expeditions’ Burma tours range from $1,890 (eight days) to $2,790 (14 days); 800-777-8183. Others offering Burma include Abercrombie & Kent, Wings of the World, Wilderness Travel and Mountain Travel/Sobek.