I was in Burma, or Myanmar, during February/March of this year. It's like stepping back into 1950s UK, with a few slight cultural differences. People are really happy to meet foreigners and hear something of other countries so we shouldn't deprive them of this small pleasure. And there is so much to see and do - one of the largest Buddhist sites in the world is at Bagan, Central Myanmar, with 4000 temples spread over a dusty plain. Bullock carts, horsecarts, bicycle rickshaws and bicycles are the preferred methods of transport in the country - who said they needed fuel to get to school??
The semi-ruined buildings of the Raj in Rangoon, the mystic pagodas on Mandalay Hill,(you walk barefoot up for 1 hour up a covered walkway), the river boats on the Aerawaddy (Irawaddy) River, and just the sheer charm of the tropics are all excellent reasons to visit Myanmar. Maybe it's OK to live in a time-warp - who are we to stand in judgement?

Shenagh Whitehead, Gueret, France

All ex-pat Burmese activist organisations, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, have since 1988 appealed to tourists NOT to further enrich one of the most brutal regimes on this planet with their need for holiday snapshots of golden pagodas.

Tourists are only allowed to stay in government-run accommodation and travel along predefined routes.

Unless you want to report on the crimes of this brutal regime, I too would urge you not to include Burma on your holiday itinerary.

Visit the Burmese (or Karen) refugee camps along the Northern Thai-Burmese border instead; spend your dollars and take your holiday snapshots there. After listening to the horrendous stories of the abused, sick and starving, your desire to visit Burma will hopefully disappear and your appetite for exotic adventure stilled.

Jane Roberts, Amsterdam, Netherlands