With new management in place, Myanmar Airways International is set to take on a fresh new look in July and plans to launch flights that will open up Asia’s newest emerging tourist destination. Following its 49 per cent sale to Singapore’s Region Air, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is to rebrand in July, with a new logo and livery spearheading moves to win greater regional recognition and business. MAI presently operates a regional network using Boeing 737-400 aircraft and is poised for significant expansion in the next few years. The aircraft are wet-leased from Malaysian Airlines, an arrangement which will end in June when MAI will switch to Region Air A320s and an A310-300 for longer haul routes. MAI’s primary focus is the regional market and flights to India and Japan are planned in the near future.

Exotissimo Travel are always looking for new and exciting destinations and Ma Taung National Park and the charming village of Kanpetlet in Myanmar’s Chin State are both of these. Only recently opened to foreigners, the Chin State is an area of immense natural beauty in the west of the country bordering India and Bangladesh. Time seems to have stood still here for centuries as villagers toil in the paddy fields and old men smoke hand-rolled cheroots outside teashops. Kanpetlet is a typical Chin village situated at 1,400 metres above sea-level in the shadow of the 3,000 metre-high Mount Victoria and offering breathtaking views. Kanpetlet is also known throughout Myanmar for its tattooed women. During the 11th century, in what was known as the Bagan Period, the Chin people worried that their womenfolk would be taken to serve the king in Bagan and so started the practice of face tattooing. It was thought that the women would be less attractive with tattooed faces and they would escape being carted off to the royal court in Bagan. Even today many older women can be seen with tattooed faces in Chin State. Apart from being an interesting place to visit in its right, Kanpetlet is also the starting point for exploring Nat Ma Taung National Park. This beautiful park has a very diverse flora that includes mixed oak, rhododendron, montane bamboo, broad-leafed evergreen forest and pine forest which it turn provdies a habitat for many rare and unique animal species. The Chin State really does offer a unique experience for travellers who are seeking real adventure and in unexplored areas of Myanmar. For more details contact myanmar@exotissimo.com.