A Few Questions about Burma

[TotallyOz]

The US President visiting Burma has made me even more interested than ever to visit Burma. I have been there in the past but just across the border.

 

Does anyone know how easy it is for American's and Thais to get Visas? How is the travel once you there? Are the hotels, etc. nice? Do they have high speed Internet in the hotels?

[fedssocr]

While things are changing fast, it will take some time for the infrastructure to catch up.

 

Getting a visa is pretty easy. Fill out the form, pay the fee. I got my from the Embassy in Washington in 10 business days last year. I believe it is about the same now. You can also apparently get a visa on arrival again now but I don't know the details. I believe Thais have no problems as ASEAN citizens. Not sure if a visa is required but suspect it probably is.

 

Best thing to do is arrange a trip via a travel agency based on Burma. Hotels are not the same standard as Thailand. And they were all charging outrageous rates for a while when things really started booming since the supply isn't enough for all of the visitors. But I believe I read that situation has improved recently. There are a couple of higher class hotels in Yangon. I stayed at the Parkroyal which was more or less a 3+ star hotel. They have highspeed internet in their business center for a reasonable fee. I could never get the wifi to work in my room there.

 

Hotels elsewhere can be decent but are not luxurious. Internet connections were spotty for me. But that was a year ago. So I expect things are improving somewhat.

 

The most important thing is to pack your patience. Domestic travel is not at the same standard as Thailand. Vehicles are old. Roads are in poor shape. Airports are very Third World.

 

But having said all that, the people are fantastic. The young men are gorgeous. And they wear those longyi which really show off their butts. :-)

[mahjongguy]

Visa on arrival is no longer available. One choice is to engage one of several online companies who will obtain the visa and hand it to you when you arrive. But, US$80 is probably more than it's worth.

 

If you are in Thailand you can get a visa from the Myanmar Embassy (actually the building behind it) on North Sathorn Road. If you already have a return air ticket you can get the visa same-day for about 1,200 baht. Otherwise, pay 1,000 baht for 1-day service or 800 baht for 2-day service.

 

Getting a hotel booking in advance from a travel agency is strongly recommended, and don't expect any bargains.

 

Note that there are no ATMs in Burma. You'll need to sufficient take cash for your visit.

[fedssocr]

Visa on arrival is no longer available. One choice is to engage one of several online companies who will obtain the visa and hand it to you when you arrive. But, US$80 is probably more than it's worth.

 

If you are in Thailand you can get a visa from the Myanmar Embassy (actually the building behind it) on North Sathorn Road. If you already have a return air ticket you can get the visa same-day for about 1,200 baht. Otherwise, pay 1,000 baht for 1-day service or 800 baht for 2-day service.

 

Getting a hotel booking in advance from a travel agency is strongly recommended, and don't expect any bargains.

 

Note that there are no ATMs in Burma. You'll need to sufficient take cash for your visit.

 

Right and that cash has to be pristine US dollars. No markings on them of any kind. No creases. No rips, tears or holes. The funny thing is they require perfect notes from you and then hand you a pile of currency that has been soaked in motor oil and is completely beat up. (That's only a slight exaggeration). I think Euros might also be changeable now as well.

[Guest joseph44]

Used the Myanmar VOA service myself for my trip last month.

Splendid service, efficient way of communicating and spot-on time management.

 

I contacted them through their website, filled in the forms and did send a copy of passport as well as a pass photo by email.

Within 10 days I got a reply letter from the Myanmar Embassy that I was put on a list for a VOA (list was included) and another 3 days later I received a letter, stating that a VOA would be issued upon arrival.

Those letters, my passport and 2 pass photo's + $ 100 bank note would be enough to get me into Myanmar.

 

Right after arrival I watched for a guy showing my name and I quickly found him. He pointed out that I had to go to the VOA-booth and there the Immigration officer was waiting for me with all my documents. Within 5 minutes the visa was issued and I could continue to the regular immigration desks.

 

Right after entering Myanmar they guy from the agency was waiting for me, I paid $ 100 and got $ 25 change back.

The agency guy didn't leave me out of his sight until I was gone with a taxi.

 

OK, not very cheap, but 2 rides from Pattaya to Bangkok and the visa fee would be around the same amount. Big advantage: If you apply for a Myanmar visa in Bangkok, you won't have a passport for approx. 7 days.

 

If the moderation allows me to give the website of the agent (otherwise remove it): http://www.myanmarvisaonline.com/

[pong]

then you paid 3 times as much as the ''normal'' service via Embassy.

From various traveller-fora (alas, i have to follow those to see what trends etc....-blah, buh) it is now VERY important to RESERVE as intrest has exploded for this country and the available HTLrooms etc are simply not enough-prices have also shot up 3/4 fold. For the rest: even Laos seems pretty developed with what you will encounter there.

There is not ANY need to travel from PTY to BKK for it-just let an agency do the legwork. Maybe an extra 3-500 THB

[Bob]

then you paid 3 times as much as the ''normal'' service via Embassy.

 

Like Joseph said, he also avoided a couple of trips to Bangkok so, as far as I'm concerned, he's ahead of the game.

 

Here in Chiangmai, we have a couple of travel agencies which, for a reasonable fee (about 1000 baht plus the usual Burma visa fee), they'll take care of the paperwork for you. That's a pretty reasonable deal to me (I'd pay a lot more than that to avoid having to go to Bangkok). For those in Bangkok, obviously just do it yourself and go to the Myanmar embassy.

 

I could be wrong but I've got to believe Pattaya has a travel agency or two that will take care of the paperwork for you.

[Rogie]

Here in Chiangmai, we have a couple of travel agencies which, for a reasonable fee (about 1000 baht plus the usual Burma visa fee), they'll take care of the paperwork for you.

 

Last time I checked Bob (in May this year) there were twice weekly flights from Chiang Mai to Rangoon. Not sure what airline though.

 

See link plus discussion at:

 

http://www.gaythaila...012/#entry56794

[Guest fountainhall]

I'd be really interested if those who have been to Burma could suggest an itinerary to take in the main cities and sights. I have long wanted to go and hear there are fantastic sites up country.

[Bob]

Last time I checked Bob (in May this year) there were twice weekly flights from Chiang Mai to Rangoon. Not sure what airline though.

 

Air Bagan flies between Yangon and Chiangmai on Thursdays and Sundays. I've wanted to go over there for a while and recently checked it out.

[Guest]

Several threads were removed for being irrelevant to this discussion. This topic is about Burma and one poster made a post that was unreadable and not pertaining to Burma. It was removed as were other comments about that odd post. One post was edited to remove a quote.

[Guest thaiworthy]

Several threads were removed for being irrelevant to this discussion. This topic is about Burma and one poster made a post that was unreadable and not pertaining to Burma. It was removed as were other comments about that odd post. One post was edited to remove a quote.

 

Bravo.

[Nikom]

Those thinking of visiting Myanmar should do so sooner. With last year’s rush of tourists and the tourist projection for the next five years Myanmar will soon lose is wholesome welcome nature.

 

The number of tourist doubled in 2011 from the previous year. The costs of hotels greatly increased however in many of the hotels new services were also added. Tourist officials expect the number of local people employed in the field will double this year. One tourist agent told me, smiling, that it seemed like a new tourist company was being formed every week!

 

Added to this is the fact that every plane going to Myanmar from Bangkok now is full of Asian businessmen all seeking a part of the pie. Interestingly, many passengers were from India. Myanmar at one time was part of the British Indian empire and thousands of Indians lived in Myanmar. After the Army coup year ago most left as the government took their businesses. Now they are coming back in force!

 

Unfortunately the only travel guide available, in English, is Lonely Planet. The current guide was poorly researched and is out of date. Lonely Planet is now owned by BBC news so that should give you an idea of its quality. But that is all there is now so go buy it.

 

A travel route? Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake. The two ‘must see’ are the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, and Bagan. If you have time and the season is right there are some nice beaches on the west.

 

The climate is the same as Thailand. The water festival is held the same dates as in Thailand [because of the hottest weather]. If you go during ‘high season’ you will need hotel reservations well in advance. If you go during low season it is still possible just to go and take a chance. During rainy season Yangon is by far the wettest however the rain is much less up north around Mandalay.

 

The boys of Myanmar are of a mixed lot. Some very dark, some white like Bangkok Thai. Many tall and thin and many shorter and thicker. My favorites are the mixed Burmese and Shan boys in Mandalay! Yangon has every kind of boys from all over the country!

[Guest]

Those thinking of visiting Myanmar should do so sooner. With last year’s rush of tourists and the tourist projection for the next five years Myanmar will soon lose is wholesome welcome nature.

I like to have the flexibility to book into hotels at short notice, but keep reading about a shortage of hotels. Think I'll leave Burma for a couple of years.

 

Unfortunately the only travel guide available, in English, is Lonely Planet. The current guide was poorly researched and is out of date. Lonely Planet is now owned by BBC news so that should give you an idea of its quality. But that is all there is now so go buy it.

The BBC is an unreformed state supported monopoly* full of old socialists who have no business sense. They also should not be permitted to invest taxpayers* money into publishing ventures. That's not what the TV license is for. This is morally wrong and the BBC management have extended their control beyond their sphere of competence. They have screwed up LP guides. I hope there will soon be a "Rough Guide" to Burma. The Rough guides are not quite as good as the old LP product, but are superior to the latest LP editions.

David Cameron should issue an apology for allowing the BBC to go around fouling up perfectly good publishing companies.

 

[* The BBC is funded by a TV "License" which is a compulsory tax that every UK household with a TV must pay. The BBC get the vast majority of this money.]

[Guest fountainhall]

Thanks to Scooby for the information about posts being deleted and the reason why. This is far more useful to readers than posts simply being deleted with no reason being given, as has sometimes happened in the past.

[Rogie]

Unfortunately the only travel guide available, in English, is Lonely Planet. The current guide was poorly researched and is out of date. Lonely Planet is now owned by BBC news so that should give you an idea of its quality. But that is all there is now so go buy it.

 

Apart from a bit of controversy (the long-running, but now largely forgotten, should you or should you not visit Burma argument) as far as I know the LP guide has traditionally been well regarded. I have only ever bought one - the 2000 - edition and used that for several visits in subsequent years and was always grateful to have it.

 

I can't comment on the latest edition as I didn't buy it for my brief visit earlier this year, but I have to say I would be surprised if the old LP ethos could survive such a transformation. Soon after I bought my Burma LP guide and following an enquiry I'd made to Lonely Planet I received a long email from them answering my queries in full and signed by none other than Tony Wheeler himself (the founder of Lonely Planet). Now as to whether it was the great man himself who actually sat down and compiled that email I shall never know but now all links with LP's origins have been broken I cannot see them building up the same faithful following of independent travellers who bought the books because usually (I'm sure not all - inevitably there must have been a few dogs) they could be relied upon being researched and written by people not much different from themselves.

 

That's important because it makes what might seem a daunting prospect, visiting a country you know hardly anything about (the cover of the 2000 edition actually had a a sub-heading Myanmar - The Unknown Golden Land) more accessible and do-able by just about anybody with the right can-do attitude.

 

A travel route? Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake. The two ‘must see’ are the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, and Bagan. If you have time and the season is right there are some nice beaches on the west.

 

Yes that is a good foundation for a travel route. I don't think you could really expect to see more of the country on a first visit and in fact I only managed to visit 3 of the 4 mentioned. I failed to get to Inle Lake, although I went trekking for 3 days from a base in Kalaw instead. One has to bear in mind the distances are quite big and the roads slow and buses old so you need to allow lots of time for travelling. Some of the roads are probably better now.

 

I like to have the flexibility to book into hotels at short notice, but keep reading about a shortage of hotels.

 

Z's comment raises and interesting point. I would suggest that anyone wishing to visit Myanmar as an independent traveller will need to do a lot more forward planning than was formerly necessary. Ideas of just walking into a hotel and expecting to get a room may no longer be realistic, I don't know, but no harm in pre-booking provided you have your itinerary all worked out. And that's the rub, isn't it? The beauty of independant travel is the ability to make your plans on the hoof or to alter them at short notice. So, all in all I think I would recommend anybody visiting for the first time to join an organised tour. There will (and Nikom's comments ring true about other Asians wanting a slice of the action) be plenty of new tours being offered, although if I were contemplating joining a tour group I would use one from my home country rather than a Myanmar-based one - who knows some of the new crop of entrepreneurs may have 'previous' form, shall we say.

[Rogie]

I've been impressed with the Brandt series of guidebooks in the past so was hoping and expecting to find they have a Burma/Myanmar one but apparently not (I just checked). No doubt there will be someone out there researching one but these things take time, so in fact I would be a bit suspicious if any guidebook from a company who haven't produced one before appeared out of the blue, as it's probably too soon to expect a decent one to come out following Burma's emergence into the limelight.

 

The only other guidebook I could track down was one called the Blueprint Guide. Here is a link to a site with some info on it, preceded by a rather quirky exerpt:

 

Currently your only option to get the 'Myanmar blueprint' in Bangkok. Ask for it with the cashier at my friends pub, the 'Pickeled Liver' in Sukhumvid Rd. Soi 11, easy walking distance from BTS skytrain, 'Nana' station. Price is 950baht.

 

Convenient book shopping until late (very late if there's an important game on TV...), accompanied by a drink (no, the book does not comes with a free drink, you will have to pay for it!) and a chat with the pub crowd.

 

Location is in a little back alley next to the Suk11 guesthouse, down soi 11 from the skytrain station, past the Zanzibar Restaurant, turn left into the back alley at Cheap Charlies or Suk11.

 

I don't suppose you frequent the Pickeled Liver pub do you Fountainhall, or how about you Michael next time you are in Bangkok; but it might be worth your while checking it out, or if anyone is planning an independent trip whether as a first time traveller or as a more committed Burma-phile.

 

http://tools4fools.info/blueprinthome.html

[Guest]

Of course as Burma's had a sudden increase in tourism, there should be a bubble in hotel construction. So a couple of years down the line, there should again be a supply of nice hotels for tourists who stroll into town on a flexible schedule. That's when I'll think about going.

A few bland new hotels plus some tasteful small scale redevelopment of old buildings should not alter the character of the country too much.

[fedssocr]

The "Big 4" are as noted above: Yangon/Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. It's a shame there is so much trouble in Rakhine state at the moment and it is basically off limits still, I think. I really enjoyed the time I spent in Sittwe and Mrauk U.

 

But I agree that the real must sees are Shwedagon in Yangon and Bagan. I was surprised a bit by how much I enjoyed Inle Lake. Much cooler up there in the mountains. I was not really a fan of Mandalay.

[Rogie]

The Wanderlust Trip Finder looks like a useful tool for anyone researching a trip. By means of a drop-down menu you can specify what kind of holiday you are looking for. Here is one example of an itinerary in Burma, that includes the four places mentioned previously by several of our members, that I came across using this 'finder':

 

http://tripfinder.wanderlustmarketplace.co.uk/

 

This tour introduces you to the culture of Burma, taking in the most popular and spectacular sights this beautiful country has to offer. Beginning in Yangon you visit the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda then travel up to Bagan and its thousands of stupas and pagodas. Continue on to Mandalay and the ancient capital cities of Ava, Amarapura and Sagaing ending at the vast Inle Lake.

 

Day 1 London

 

Fly to Yangon via Bangkok on Thai Airways.

 

Day 2 Yangon

 

Arrive in Yangon and transfer to the first class Traders / Chatrium Hotel for two nights. Rest of the day is at leisure to rest after the long flight. Enjoy a welcome dinner at Green Elephant Restaurant.

 

Day 3 Yangon

 

Today we enjoy a full day tour of Yangon.Visit Sule pagoda in the centre of the city. Walk around the Mahabandoola Park to see the colonial courthouse and the city hall. Visit Kandawgi Royal Lake. Enjoy the taste of Burmese tea and take in the atmosphere of a local teashop. Visit the bustling Yangon harbour and its environ. Early evening visit the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset.

 

Day 4 Bagan

 

We fly to Bagan in the early morning and check-in to the first class hotel at Tharabar Gate / Thiripyitsaya for two nights. We set off to visit the colourful Nyaung Oo Local Market, Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi, a cave temple with exquisite jatakas murals paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its plaster carvings. Observe the process of traditional lacquerware, one of the best-known Burmese handicrafts. Our next visit is to Ananda, an architectural masterpiece and one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period. We then visit Thatbyinnyu, the highest pagoda in Bagan, rising to 61 m. End your day watching the sun set over the plains of Bagan from one of the open upper terraced temples.

 

Day 5 Bagan

 

Drive to Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano over 1500m, about 48 km south east of Bagan. Visit the Nat worship shrines, stupas and monasteries at the summit. In the late afternoon, return to Bagan & stop at the countryside village of Minnanthu, the least visited temple area in Bagan. Enjoy a sunset boat ride along Ayeyarwaddy River in the evening.

(Optional proposal: Balloon flight will be available for a supplement and you will be picked up at the hotel around 0500 AM for sunrise balloon ride).

 

Day 6 Mandalay

 

Take an early flight to Mandalay, the centre of Burmese culture. On arrival, we drive to Amarapura to witness the daily meal of over a thousand monks at the country's largest monastery, Mahagandayon. We also visit a silk weaving workshop, the craft speciality of Amarapura. Check-in at the Mandalay City Hotel for 2 nights. In the afternoon, we take a tour of Mandalay, visiting Mahamuni Pagoda, famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf. A tour of traditional workshops includes crafts such as woodcarving, marble masonry, Kalaga tapestry and gold leaf making. Next stop is at the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world's biggest book) & Shwenandaw Monastery. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill.

 

Day 7 Mandalay

 

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to the jetty and take a ferry boat to Ava, exploring by horse cart, before returning to Mandalay. In the afternoon proceed to Sagaing, Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious centre of Burma and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Enjoy the sunset from Sagaing Hill.

 

Day 8 Inle Lake

 

We fly to Heho in the morning and drive to Nyaung Shwe to take a boat to the picturesque Inle Lake. Check-in at the first class Inle Resort / Aureum Palace for three nights. Take a full day tour of Inle Lake visiting the Lotus robe weaving village of Inpawkhon. We stop at a floating village at Ywama, the lake's downtown, Kan Paw Nan Paw Pagoda. Our final stop is at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda.

(Note: Enjoy the special festivities at the famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival on 06 October departure).

 

Day 9 Inle Lake

 

This morning, we visit In Dein village in the south of the lake, by motorboat. From the middle of the lake, the boat takes you through a long channel where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on the lake. After a walk around the village, passing a local school, take the covered stairway to the beautiful Alaung Sitthu area where ancient stupas are partly covered by vegetation. From here we get a magnificent view over the lake.

 

Day 10 Inle Lake

 

Enjoy soft trekking about 2.5 - 4 hours in Inle in the morning. Trekking routes are not fixed. Your guide will be pleased to suggest the best route (softer or harder trekking routes) depending on your wish (how far and how long you are able to walk). In the afternoon continue your visit of the lake by boat to the floating gardens, built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Remainder of the day will be at leisure.

 

Day 11 Yangon

 

We transfer back to Heho airport in the morning for our flight to Yangon. Check in at the Traders / Chatrium Hotel for the night. Enjoy a visit to Chinatown, fruit market and the famous Bogyoke Market (formerly Scott's market). Rest of the day is at leisure.

 

Day 12 Return flight

 

The day is at leisure today before you take your return flight to Bangkok and on to London.

 

Day 13 London

 

Arrive London in the morning.

 

http://tripfinder.wanderlustmarketplace.co.uk/operator-directory/TransIndus_131/Burma-Highlights_11345