An isolated and remote country unspoiled by mass tourism, Burma is for the adventurous traveler, not the average tourist. Travel the great Ayeyawady River to Kipling's Mandalay, the last of Burma's royal capitals, explore the exotic Inle Lake and, of course, meet the people of this richly varied land, from the northern hill tribes to the amiable Burmese themselves. The river is a source of continuity and hope in a country at odds with itself. As it emerges from isolation, the nation of Myanmar is caught between repression and reform, dark and light. For armchair travelers and adventurers alike, this guide intelligently evokes the magic and mystery of what was once the richest nation in Asia.