Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a Southeast Asian country with its main religion being Buddhism. It's capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city and the former capital is Yangon. So why make it your next destination? Well, tourism is a new and slowly developing sector in Myanmar but with a lot of potentials. From 1962-2011 the nation has been under military rule but since 1992 tourism has been encouraged. This means that a lot of the country has been untouched and not ruined by too many tourists. Fewer than 270,000 people entered the country in 2006. However, in 2020 tourist numbers are expected to rise to 7.5 million. So don't miss out on this unique opportunity, before this country turns into another tourist trap.

If you are planning a trip to East Asia then Myanmar is a great place to start. With its rich culture, beautiful countryside and being off the beaten track, backpackers will fall in love with this country. There are still many parts unexplored and places not really known about. Kayin State in the southeast is one of them. This part of the country is absolutely stunning with its lush scenery. You will be blown away by the mountains, caves and the paddy fields. Hpa-An the capital of Kayin State is a great location to stay whilst in this region. This bustling city is a fantastic place to see the local life of the Burmese people.

Shwedagon Pagoda in the heart of Yangon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. This Buddhist temple complex is my favorite place in Myanmar. It's open daily from 4 am-10 pm and I recommend getting a private tour as it only costs about £5. The religious site is, Myanmar's Fort Knox and the sheer amount of gold here is unbelievable. Its main stupa alone is plated with nearly 22,000 solid gold bars, and estimates of the pagoda's total gold are about 9 to 60 tonnes. Also, it's very tranquil and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

And finally, the top reason to visit this amazing country is that its really good value for money. I traveled by train from Yangon to Hpa-An (290 km) and it only cost me £1.79. Even eating street food costs pennies. So plan your next holiday here before the prices go up and it becomes a tourist hot spot.