Cheng Ming Festival By Sharon Schweitzer The Ching Ming Festival, also known as Qingming (清明节), is a Chinese custom celebrated worldwide by people of many Asian cultures. Sometimes called Tomb Sweeping Day or the Pure Brightness Festival (pure brightness is the English translation of Qingming), it's an annual event to remember and honor ancestors [...]
International Tea Day By Sharon Schweitzer Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinesis plant. Tea is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. It is believed that tea originated in northeast India, north Myanmar and southwest China, but the exact place where the plant first grew is not known. There is evidence that [...]
Yi Peng Lantern Festival By Sharon Schweitzer Yi Peng Festival is a Thai celebration held on the evening of the twelfth month’s full moon in the traditional lunar calendar. It is an ancient celebration that was adapted from Brahmin origins and is inextricably linked with Thai Lanna culture. The Lanna culture dates back to the [...]
Celebrating National Rice Month By Sharon Schweitzer The history of National Rice Month which is celebrated in September, started in 1991, when President George H.W. Bush designated the month as such. The president and the United States Rice Federation came to an agreement to celebrate and recognize the usage of the grain in our daily [...]
With so many destinations offering diverse cultural experiences, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for making the most of international trips. Nevertheless, ensuring that you travel with an open mind and a desire to grow is the most important part of any itinerary. In honor of World Tourism Day on September 27, enjoy these four tips to maximize your cultural immersion and create lifelong memories.
These four insights give us a glimpse into Myanmar’s vibrant culture and their path towards independence. As Myanmar moves towards a new era of democracy, progress, and peace, the Burmese celebrate January 4th as a landmark moment in their country’s rich history.
As many are recognizing, Myanmar’s position as a resource-rich, emerging market presents a unique ‘greenfield’ opportunity (to build from the ground up).
Today, I am thrilled to welcome as a new guest blogger, my brilliant colleague, Aquatic Biologist and Research Specialist, Ms. Kristen Eggers, who was indispensable to the success of Access to Asia. In all honesty, if someone had asked me a year ago to point out the country of Myanmar on a map, I would [...]
Asia is a beautiful continent with unique cultures that are as varied as its beautiful silks.
The global consulting firm McKinsey calls Myanmar “one of the few remaining largely untapped markets in the world.” But for those of us who simply love mysterious Myanmar (formerly Burma) for being one of the most fascinating nations worldwide, it is “the land of the pagodas.” The past year was significant for Myanmar as the [...]
