Introduction
Travelling to Myanmar presents an ethical decision - Should you go? With a bustling modern city, emerging beach destinations and more temples than tourists, Myanmar's rich and thrilling culture - of dozens of languages and peoples - is naturally a drawcard. But going to Myanmar is more complicated than just buying a ticket.
Destination Facts
Capital: Nay Pyi Daw
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council: General Than Shwe
Prime Minister: Lt General Thein Sein
Government: military junta
Time zone: GMT +6.5
Area: 678500
Population: 47373958
Languages: Theravada Buddhist (89%), Christian (4%), Muslim (4%), animist (1%), other (2%)
Currency: Kyat (K)
Weight System: Imperial
Country Dialing Code: 95
Getting there and away
Although Myanmar essentially remains a 'fly in, fly out' destination, the military government has gradually extended visa stays, resulting in more and more airlines putting Yangon on their itinerary. There is a departure tax of around 10.00. There are some road border crossings at the Thai/Myanmar border (noticeably the Mae Sai-Thachilek and Ranong-Kawthoung crossings), but they sometimes close because of guerrilla and bandit activity in the area. In times of certainty, foreign travellers can travel the famous Burma Road and enter Myanmar via the Yunnan province in China, although border traffic is all one way. It's not possible to cross back into China from the same checkpoint. One persistent rumour is that Chin State may open its borders to limited tour groups, which could lead to permission for individual travellers to traverse the state via the Chin River, all the way to the Indian border at Tamu.
Getting around
Travel in Myanmar tends to be uncertain and uncomfortable. Many visitors are tempted to take internal flights because of the restricted 28-day stay regulation, but the poor safety record and 'flexible' notion of schedules of Myanmar Airways and, to a lesser extent, Air Mandalay, can be a deterrent. Others opt to stick with transport not controlled by the government. The Yangon-Mandalay bus service is the most comfortable long-distance bus trip. Otherwise, visitors can pay a little extra to get a more spacious 'pick-up truck' that crams locals in the back and makes many stops between towns all over Myanmar. Many visitors reckon train travel here is like riding a horse - with saddle-soreness from hard-seat bouncing lasting for a day or two. There are daily express trains between Yangon and Mandalay; one service is run by a private company. Forget the ordinary-class trains, which are dirty, slow and unreliable. Another alternative is arranging a car with a driver; this is easiest to do with a travel agent in Yangon. Getting around towns can be much of the fun. In most towns, including Mandalay, you'll see horse carts clip-clopping by, and trishaws are everywhere. Once settled, it's usually easy to rent a bicycle for a couple of dollars to join the fraccas. Always negotiate fares in advance.
Weather
There are three distinct seasons: the cool, dry winter from November to February; the unpleasantly hot summer from March to May; and the wet, humid monsoon from May to October - also not terribly pleasant. Generally, year-round daytime temperatures average 30 ° C (86 ° F), dropping slightly at night. During the cool season, however, you can expect temperatures between 25 ° C (77 ° F) and 15 ° C (59 ° F). Coastal areas are usually cooler, but more humid.
Places of Interest
With a bustling modern city, emerging beach destinations and more temples than tourists, Myanmar's rich and thrilling culture - of dozens of languages and peoples - is naturally a drawcard. But going to Myanmar is more complicated than just buying a ticket.
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Travelling to Myanmar presents an ethical decision - Should you go? With a bustling modern city, emerging beach destinations and more temples than tourists, Myanmar's rich and thrilling culture - of dozens of languages and peoples - is naturally a drawcard. But going to Myanmar is more complicated than just buying a ticket.
Destination Facts
Capital: Nay Pyi Daw
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council: General Than Shwe
Prime Minister: Lt General Thein Sein
Government: military junta
Time zone: GMT +6.5
Area: 678500
Population: 47373958
Languages: Theravada Buddhist (89%), Christian (4%), Muslim (4%), animist (1%), other (2%)
Currency: Kyat (K)
Weight System: Imperial
Country Dialing Code: 95
Getting there and away
Although Myanmar essentially remains a 'fly in, fly out' destination, the military government has gradually extended visa stays, resulting in more and more airlines putting Yangon on their itinerary. There is a departure tax of around 10.00. There are some road border crossings at the Thai/Myanmar border (noticeably the Mae Sai-Thachilek and Ranong-Kawthoung crossings), but they sometimes close because of guerrilla and bandit activity in the area. In times of certainty, foreign travellers can travel the famous Burma Road and enter Myanmar via the Yunnan province in China, although border traffic is all one way. It's not possible to cross back into China from the same checkpoint. One persistent rumour is that Chin State may open its borders to limited tour groups, which could lead to permission for individual travellers to traverse the state via the Chin River, all the way to the Indian border at Tamu.
Getting around
Travel in Myanmar tends to be uncertain and uncomfortable. Many visitors are tempted to take internal flights because of the restricted 28-day stay regulation, but the poor safety record and 'flexible' notion of schedules of Myanmar Airways and, to a lesser extent, Air Mandalay, can be a deterrent. Others opt to stick with transport not controlled by the government. The Yangon-Mandalay bus service is the most comfortable long-distance bus trip. Otherwise, visitors can pay a little extra to get a more spacious 'pick-up truck' that crams locals in the back and makes many stops between towns all over Myanmar. Many visitors reckon train travel here is like riding a horse - with saddle-soreness from hard-seat bouncing lasting for a day or two. There are daily express trains between Yangon and Mandalay; one service is run by a private company. Forget the ordinary-class trains, which are dirty, slow and unreliable. Another alternative is arranging a car with a driver; this is easiest to do with a travel agent in Yangon. Getting around towns can be much of the fun. In most towns, including Mandalay, you'll see horse carts clip-clopping by, and trishaws are everywhere. Once settled, it's usually easy to rent a bicycle for a couple of dollars to join the fraccas. Always negotiate fares in advance.
Weather
There are three distinct seasons: the cool, dry winter from November to February; the unpleasantly hot summer from March to May; and the wet, humid monsoon from May to October - also not terribly pleasant. Generally, year-round daytime temperatures average 30 ° C (86 ° F), dropping slightly at night. During the cool season, however, you can expect temperatures between 25 ° C (77 ° F) and 15 ° C (59 ° F). Coastal areas are usually cooler, but more humid.
Places of Interest
With a bustling modern city, emerging beach destinations and more temples than tourists, Myanmar's rich and thrilling culture - of dozens of languages and peoples - is naturally a drawcard. But going to Myanmar is more complicated than just buying a ticket.
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