Who knew that a general and a lady would join together to shake Burma out of its tropical torpor? The combined efforts of Burma's President (retired general Thein Sein, 67) and the country's top dissident, who is now an elected member of parliament (Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, 67), are transforming a nation that cowered for five decades under brutal military rule. In November, U.S. President Barack Obama validated the reform process by visiting the country known officially as Myanmar. Much still has to be done, including taming ethnic strife. But for the first time in decades, Burma may finally be on the right track.