With To Myanmar With Love at the printer, it won’t be long before this exciting guidebook hits bookstores and online retailers. To whet your appetite, I’ve posted ten full essays online.

From the wild river dolphins outside Mandalay to ethnic noodles in Yangon, the subject of each essay offers a unique look at this little-understood country. Writers teach you how to spit like a local, take you to a spirit festival led by transvestites, and guide you up a mountain to experience a night under the stars at the Buddhist pilgrimage site, Golden Rock. And in an essay from “Paying it Forward,” my favorite chapter in each of the To Asia With Love guidebooks, you will also learn how to donate to a local library. Win Thuya’s story about establishing this library for locals is just one of many about how you can give back to Myanmar when you visit.

Whether you’re planning a trip or just want to learn more about Myanmar, make sure to check out the To Myanmar With Love page on the ThingsAsian website.