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Myanmar thread

Anonymous Thu 08 Oct 2015 05:10:31 No.1039584 View Reply Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1040772 >>1040784 >>1040822 >>1041044 >>1041104 >>1042389 >>1044770

Let's get a Myanmar thread going.
I would like to know about:

>Myanmar literature worth reading
>The current prices of accommodation
>Accessibility of the country (are there no-go-areas?)
>Food to eat
>Activities worth participating
>Dos and Don'ts
>Secret spots
>Should I call it Myanmar or Burma?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 11 Oct 2015 13:57:57 No.1040629 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Anyone?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 00:04:04 No.1040764 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Bumping for interest

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 00:46:37 No.1040772 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1039584
Are those giant wasp nests?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 01:01:24 No.1040784 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1039584
I've tried to start one of these before, it must truly be somewhat difficult to define because myanmar threads die quickly.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 02:55:26 No.1040822 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1040844

>>1039584
I've never been to Myanmar but I was planning on travelling there in August before all of the floods happened. So I had to call my trip off.

So although I can't give you first-hand experience I can tell you what I found out through my research.

Accommodation is more expensive than other parts of SEA because there isn't such a great amount of it.

There are lots of no-go areas in the north but there is a well-beaten track in other parts of the country for tourists which *should* be easy to follow.

I'm currently reading 'Finding George Orwell in Burma,' which is really great. It's very readable and very accessible.

It's officially called Myanmar but the locals all still apparently call it Burma because of habit and in a slight act of rebellion.

Also, if you're going to fly domestically within the country, do your research on which airline to use. Some of the domestic ones don't have a good safety record.

If you have any more particular questions I can try to answer them.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 04:20:09 No.1040844 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1040845

>>1040822
Does the book give you a better understanding of the country, its culture, politics and lifestyle?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 04:31:36 No.1040845 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1040901

>>1040844
Yes, absolutely. It only really uses George Orwell as an accessible entry point. I'm only a third of the way through it, but it mainly chronicles the writer's interactions with the locals, the daily struggles of the Burmese and the politics of the country.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 09:35:30 No.1040901 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1040913

>>1040845
Oh, I just realized it's about Orwell's literature. Not a book by him. Have you, by any chance, read any of the books he wrote in Burma?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 10:36:41 No.1040913 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1040901
I haven't, sorry. But I've heard that they're good!

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 13:58:26 No.1040989 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041017 >>1041044 >>1041917 >>1045989

I've been to Myanmar in 2012. Because it's changing so fast, some of my experience might already be outdated. But here goes off the top of my head:

>accommodation is expensive and scarce, due to too many tourists and not enough hotels
>food is okay and cheap
>use planes to travel inside the country, they're cheap
>call it Myanmar while there, that's what locals do
>your cell phone probably won't work
>almost impossible to use credit or bank cards, bring cash with you
>by cash I mean USD, and by USD I mean crisp, clean, new bills. This is no joke. Anything even slightly crumpled won't be accepted. Get a fresh stack from your bank before leaving.
>it's safe to the point of you wondering how it can be so uber safe. Nobody will try to rob or scam you. Even taxi drivers won't rip you off.
>if you're staying at a 5 star hotel in Yangon, there are probably local girls working as hookers in the hotel bar, ready to be taken to your room

Highly recommended, overall. I loved it. Would go back.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 15:13:09 No.1041017 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041035

>>1040989
>>accommodation is expensive and scarce, due to too many tourists and not enough hotels
Is this true throughout the entire country or what? Is it only high in certain cities? i was thinking about living there for a while and it did seem that a studio apartment was ridiculously expensive.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 15:53:14 No.1041035 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1041017
I wouldn't know. All I can tell you is from the places I visited, accommodation costs are similar to the developed world, and what you get for the price is pretty meh. All the other countries in the region have far cheaper hotels.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 16:42:47 No.1041044 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041331 >>1041918

>>1040989
>almost impossible to use credit or bank cards, bring cash with you
This has changed since then, definitely. Even in 2013 when I was there, there were ATMs in all the major cities - and most of them were even working, compared with a friend who went a few months before and found that most were out of order.

That said, I agree with your suggestion to take crisp USD, newer than 2006, and unmarked. While a few places would accept slightly crumpled ones, it's definitely not worth the risk.

>>1039584
>We paid ~$50 for a room on average, split between 2 people. As mentioned, this was in 2013 so things may have changed by now.
>As mentioned, the North still has a lot of no go areas. The typical tourist spots are Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, and Mandalay. I usually see Hsipaw and Kalaw recommended - Hsipaw was decent, didn't get chance to check out Kalaw.
>I highly recommend Mrauk U as well. When I was there it was only accessible by boat from Sittwe (fly from Yangon), but I believe there's now road access for tourists as well.
>Food: Definitely get breakfast at the teahouses at least once. The best I found was at Lucky 7 in Yangon (the one on the road to the airport, not the one in the heart of downtown). The tea leaf salad is worth trying as it's one of the national dishes.
>Don't miss Bagan, this was one of the highlights of all of SE Asia to me. I also enjoyed the train from Mandalay to Hsipaw, though I'll admit this may not be to everyone's tastes.

I think that covers most of your queries, OP. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 12 Oct 2015 18:53:33 No.1041104 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041954

>>1039584
Wanted to travel Myanmar on my SEA trip , but too damn expensive and too hard to get entry it seems. Maybe in the next 15 years I'll visit Yangon for a week vacation.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 13 Oct 2015 08:32:19 No.1041331 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041954 >>1042137

>>1041044
Thanks! How long do you recommend I should spend there? I'm a slow traveller who doesn't "do" countries. But I still have about a month max for my entire trip. Bangkok will be my entry and exit point.

I was just wondering, should I try to make it to Bangladesh too while I'm in Myanmar?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 14 Oct 2015 20:47:08 No.1041876 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Bump! I want to live here!

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 14 Oct 2015 22:12:02 No.1041917 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041979

>>1040989
How hot are those local girls, and how expensive?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 14 Oct 2015 22:14:14 No.1041918 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042137

>>1041044
Where can you get those crisp new bills from in SE Asia? I'd be in Bangkok or somewhere similar before going there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 00:27:38 No.1041951 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Been there in 2013. Yes accommodation is expensive, it was around $30 for a room in a guesthouse and $70-80 for a hotel. Though, after quick research, it seems to be a little cheaper now and some hostels have appeared. The reason they're expensive is because they need a license from the government to house foreigners, similar to China.

Yes, ATMs are there and they work. They only spew out Kyat though, no USD.

Keep in mind that you need USD to pay for all government related things such as accommodations, entrance fees, flight and train tickets, although they can bend the rules a little bit and accept Kyat sometimes, as the exchange rate has stabilized. Everything else (food, souvenirs, bus tickets, tours) is to be paid with Kyat, so you'll constantly have two currencies on you.

You can exchange Kyat for USD in the country in banks apparently, but I haven't tried it so I cannot confirm if it works.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 00:36:56 No.1041954 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1041104
Not hard at all. Can even get an e-visa online.
Overland entry and exit from Thailand is also possible, if you have an advance visa, which is super easy to get in Bangkok.

>>1041331
Border to Bangladesh is closed. It's also the site of an ethnic cleansing so you can probably not even get close anyway.

But do visit and see the touristy stuff. It's good.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 02:53:27 No.1041979 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1041981 >>1042083

>>1041917
Pretty hot, I'd say. I got a petite qt who looked more like Eurasian. Also surprisingly expensive. I paid 100 USD for short time with her. She wouldn't budge on the price. But I did it anyway because she was so qt.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 02:55:08 No.1041981 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042083

>>1041979
Oh, forgot to add, the hotel charged me 20 USD for "extra bed" when she went to the front desk to give her ID. The front desk called me after she left, and asked if they can "release my lady". So it's for safety too.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 11:47:43 No.1042083 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042094

>>1041981
>>1041979
How was it?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 12:33:08 No.1042094 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042171

>>1042083
Bretty good, would do again.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 15:04:30 No.1042137 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1041331
We spent about 3 weeks, and saw everything we wanted to in that time without feeling rushed. I'd have liked an extra few days to play with just to spend a day or two relaxing in some of the places we went, aimless wandering etc, so I'd say make the most of the month there rather than try and fit somewhere else in as well.

>>1041918
Yeah, Bangkok will be fine. We withdrew ours from banks - I found that my UK debit card was rejected in some where my friends US card was accepted, and vice versa, so don't panic if you can't find somewhere first try.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 16:41:56 No.1042171 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042172

>>1042094
I somehow can't imagine Burmese prostitutes being into it. Or even faking it. I guess that's because I think of it as such an isolated country.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 15 Oct 2015 16:47:09 No.1042172 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1043587

>>1042171
There's still the Asian service mentality. And of course it really depends on the girl. Some will be perfectly happy to have sex with a young good-looking white guy, and getting paid for it too.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 16 Oct 2015 03:20:39 No.1042374 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1042389 >>1043546

Been living in Myanmar for over a year now, working with a PR firm. Interesting enough place, although with the elections coming up, probably less safe.

ATMs currently exist, although transferring money out still runs the ire of most international banks.

One complaint would be rent prices...Yangon (Rangoon) is ranked something like the 28th most expensive city for expats because you end up paying 1-year in advance (no laws about rent-hiking) for an apartment that may not guarantee water or electricity.

But after a while...you call it home.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 16 Oct 2015 05:47:14 No.1042389 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1042374
OP here, sounds intereseting. Could you answer my questions here, please? >>1039584

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 19 Oct 2015 07:34:27 No.1043350 Report Delete

Quoted By:

bumpin
not OP here
going to Myanmar in JAnuary
any more recent experiences?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 19 Oct 2015 19:13:33 No.1043546 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1044767

>>1042374
How are VISA conditions in Burma? Is it easy to obtain business or longterm Visa?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 19 Oct 2015 22:25:51 No.1043587 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1043781

>>1042172
>good-looking

You have pretty high expectations for this site.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 20 Oct 2015 15:24:32 No.1043781 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1043587
This is /trv/, not /r9k/. So if any board on 4chan can be expected to have reasonably normal or event decent-looking people, this would be it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 23 Oct 2015 21:51:50 No.1044748 Report Delete

Quoted By:

More travel tips please

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 00:18:58 No.1044767 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1043546
Aust here. Visa is about 50 bucks for same day process at the embassy in Bangkok.
You'll need cash, passport photos (2), copy of your passport and your actual passport. You'll also need application forms which you can get there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 00:26:11 No.1044769 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1044832

For those who have been can you comment on my itinerary?? Any tweaks are much appreciated.
Facts: solo, female, Australian. Have 3 weeks. Haven't booked flights / got visa. Making way down to Bangkok. $1000/ $250/w is my budget and I've been able to do that in Laos but who knows

Fly into Yangon then buses
Mt Kyaiktiyo (golden Buddha)
Mawlamyine (day trip to bilu kyun etc) boat to
Hpa An ~ then overnight back to Yangon
Bago
Pyay
Ngapali Beach
Inle Lake
Meiktila
Bagan
Mandalay fly out to Bangkok for flight to Hanoi (or just book another flight to Hanoi depending on price as didn't realise I was gonna go)

- any recommendations for hostels, couch surfing, guest houses?

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO image.jpg, 168KiB, 625x1000

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 00:29:31 No.1044770 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1045158 >>1045166

>>1039584

Also smart traveller (aust) says orange to reconsider ya need and yellow is keep your eyes and wits about

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 08:05:39 No.1044832 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1044769
How much do you spend money on beers? Do you drink a lot?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 08:37:05 No.1044834 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1044843

I've never really considered visiting Burma, I can only see so many temples, and I like visiting places that have a connection to European or American history.

For example I really enjoyed visiting Changi beach in Singapore, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, The Yasukuni Shrine and Tokyo air raid museum and Fortaleza do Monte and the ruins of St Pauls in Macau.

I'm planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia soon and I'm really looking forward to seeing historic sites connected to the Khmer rouge and the bridge over the River Kwai and death railway.

Is there anything like this in Burma or is in not for me.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 09:21:48 No.1044843 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1045178

>>1044834
>bridge over the River Kwai and death railway

Aren't these in Burma?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 25 Oct 2015 14:45:23 No.1045158 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1045166

>>1044770
thanks. now I´m scared.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 25 Oct 2015 15:05:48 No.1045166 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1044770
>>1045158
You will be perfectly safe. The junta won't let foreigners anywhere near troubled areas. Even in the very unlikely event that you end up in the middle of a conflict, you will be whisked away to safety first thing as a foreigner.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 25 Oct 2015 15:48:07 No.1045178 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>1045197 >>1046088

>>1044843
Kwai bridge is in Thailand, isn't it?

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO The-Bridge-Of-The-River-Kwai-195 (...).jpg, 776KiB, 3000x1732

Anonymous Sun 25 Oct 2015 17:34:14 No.1045197 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1045178
True, I just watched The Bridge Over River Kwai and it is indeed in Thailand

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 28 Oct 2015 17:54:43 No.1045987 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Was there last year

>Burmese Days by George Orwell, of course
>Actually not particularly cheap, kind of meh for Asia. Pretty much no hostels anywhere except Rangoon, all 'guest houses'.
>Curries are decent. Got pretty sick at the end of my trip, no idea what caused it. Lassi is very tasty.
>Bagan, Inle Lake, all those. Really really amazing places.
>Don't worry when you're going into Inle Lake and Bagan and the rickshaw guy pulls over and people from a kiosk ask for money. It looks dodgy as fuck, but it's actually a legit thing, apparently.
>Do take dollars, but make sure theyre NEW ones. We had issues with them not accepting ones where lincolns head was in a circle or something.
>Do take shittons of medication etc.
>Don't go out clubbing unless it's Friday or Saturday, it'll be dead as fuck
>Call it whatever you like.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 28 Oct 2015 17:56:37 No.1045989 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1040989
>it's safe to the point of you wondering how it can be so uber safe. Nobody will try to rob or scam you. Even taxi drivers won't rip you off.

Had ONE taxi driver try that, but no others. Only other hassle is people wanting to sell you shit.

If you've lived in Asia you automatically become super-suspicious of everyone, and second-guess everything, but in general Myanmar is one of the best Asian countries for not getting hassled or scammed. People don't even stare all that much, which I found bizarre (having lived in China)

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 29 Oct 2015 02:15:48 No.1046088 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>1045178
Wasn't it built after the movie came out for tourism?

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