Ms Juree Setavoraphan moved from Thailand to Myanmar in 1994.

WHEN Ms Juree Setavoraphan moved from Thailand to Myanmar in 1994 to start a new business, the first thing she noticed about the people in her adopted home was their beautiful smiles.

“The most outstanding thing I found in Myanmar people was that they were so friendly and willing to help in whatever situation – I immediately felt at home with them,” she says.

Ms Juree has now been in Myanmar for 11 years, during which time she has started a number of successful business ventures, including the Aqua Shop, Hello Pet Shop, Seven Sun Rays Co., Ltd and most recently, a branch of the Black Canyon Coffee & International Thai Cuisine franchise. And she has plans to open another branch of the coffee shop in Mandalay in November.
She says it took some time to get accustomed to the business environment in Myanmar.

“There are many business investors in Myanmar who have difficulties, but if you face the problems and solve them slowly and methodically, you will always find a solution. All you need to do is calm down,” Ms Juree says.

She says one of the biggest problems she faced as a businesswoman was with the language.

“At first I had to speak English, but many people didn’t understand my accent so communication was difficult,” she says. “But then I spent a year learning the Myanmar language, and since it has some similar intonations to Thai it wasn’t too hard to pick up. But if someone speaks too fast I still get lost in the language.”

She says there are other similarities between Myanmar and Thailand aside from the language, including the food.

“The ingredients in Myanmar foods are not too complicated and are quite similar to those in Thai foods. It’s easy to figure out what the ingredients are just by tasting them,” Ms Juree says.

Her favourite traditional food in Myanmar in Rakhine monti salad because it is hot and spicy. She also enjoys the somewhat less spicy pickled green tea leaf salad.

“I also like mohinga but the taste is very different from one restaurant to the next,” she says, adding that one of her favourite places to dine is Aung Thuka Myanmar Cuisine, where a wide range of traditional Myanmar foods is available.

Among the other aspects of Myanmar culture she finds appealing are traditional longyis.

“Thailand has some traditional fashions that are quite similar to longyis,” Ms Juree says. “I think when women wear longyis they look so feminine and attractive.”

“I wear traditional silk longyis to special occasions, and I also like wearing shawls – the combination makes you look perfect and gives you a calm beauty,” she says.

Ms Juree says that although Myanmar has maintained many of its traditions, she has noticed some changes during the time she has lived in Yangon.
“I remember when I first moved here there were fewer people and the vehicle traffic was not as heavy as it is now,” she says. “But the good thing is that although the country is developing, it has managed to maintain its culture and traditions.”

Too much technology and development can cause people’s minds and attitudes to change, and can affect the country as a whole, she says.

“That’s why I don’t want to live in a country that is developing too quickly – people here have maintained their culture, they are sincere, and they make me feel comfortable staying here,” she says.

Ms Juree also says she feels safe going out in Yangon, even at night.
“Even with transportation, here you don’t have to worry so much about pickpockets on public buses like you do in some other countries,” she says.
Nevertheless, she prefers to get around in her own car, as it is more convenient than travelling by bus or taxi. She also uses her car to travel around the country.

“I have been to Pyin Oo Lwin and Inle, and also to Taunggyi, where it is so cool and nice throughout most of the year,” she says. “In Pyin Oo Lwin, I saw two rainbows at the same time, which I had never seen before in my life, and not only once but three times, which is a rare and wonderful experience.”

“The thing I enjoyed about Inle Lake was the leg-rowing because it was so beautiful and artistic, and I also liked how you could feed the birds from the boat and they would follow you,” Ms Juree says.

“And the road from Mandalay to Taunggyi is so amazing, almost like Switzerland with all the trees and mountain views,” she says.

Among her travel plans for the near future are to visit Myitkyina and Putao in Kachin State, and to go scuba diving and explore coral reefs along the southern coast.

With the appeal of Myanmar’s people, traditions and natural beauty, Ms Juree says she would visit the country even if she did not own businesses here.
“I stay here not only because this is where my businesses are located, but also because I have so many good friends here, including locals and foreigners,” she says. “I just love Myanmar.”