Leading Myanmar Travel Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Modify Its Name?
The country officially referred to as Burma acquired independence in 1948 from occupying forces, however it wasn't till 1989 that the ruling military junta changed the country's name from Burma to Myanmar following a military coup.
Politically, the name Burma was seen as a relic of the nation's previous British colonial past, and also Myanmar as a lot more inclusive of the many ethnic groups in the country. Other names were additionally changed, which is why you will certainly see Rangoon now referred to as Yangon.
For tourism, Burma travel is Myanmar travel. Same same, as they say in Southeast Asia.
Both the names Burma as well as Myanmar are still utilized interchangeably, on the ground as well as on the world stage. This article breaks down the modifications, what you 'should' say and also the question: does it even matter?
Best Times to See Myanmar
There are usually 3 periods in which you can go to Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter season
March to May: Hot, summer period
May to October: Damp, rainy season
The popular, high period is November to February when the weather is warm however not stifling, and also attracts the greatest number of visitors. This, subsequently, makes the restricted accommodation choices difficult to secure and also will certainly mean trying to book ahead or deal with paying for the much more costly options left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature rises in Myanmar and approaching rains are due. There is a limited number of vacationers that makes it easy to book lodging however it is exceptionally warm.
Visas
An e-Visa is readily available to tourists from these 100 nations.
To obtain one, go to the main e-Visa site. You'll be required to submit a passport photo as well as pay a cost of $50.
It takes under 10 mins to apply and also you should get approval within 3 working days.
Print out your e-Visa letter, show it when you get here and you're in.
Your e-Visa letter is valid for 90- days from the date of issue as well as allows you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Getting a visa from your local consular office may be less expensive-- if you want to save some cash, requesting a visa via your local Myanmar consular office might be cheaper. For instance, the price is simply ₤ 14 in the UK but $40 in the USA, so do your research as well as don't fail to remember to factor in mailing expenses.
It is only possible to enter Myanmar on an e-visa at Yangon, Mandalay and also Nay Pyi Taw international airports; and at three Thai-Myanmar land boundary crossings Tachileik, Myawadi (Myawaddy) and Kawthoung (Kawthaung). Check the immigration site for the most recent at the time you travel.
Reaching Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the usual alternative for travellers as the initial mode of entry, with normal scheduled services from Bangkok. However, taking into consideration where Myanmar lies-- bordered by China to the North and northeast, Thailand as well as Laos to the eastern as well as India and Bangladesh to its west-- there are several methods for land entrance, although not all of them are suggested because of security.
Regardless, you need to specify a "Port of Entry" in your on-line application which denotes just how you will certainly be reaching Myanmar. You will certainly be given a list of choices, from which you will certainly require to pick one of the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (situated right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (situated in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (situated in between Mandalay and also Yangon)
Crossing at Land Border Checkpoints:
Tachileik (in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar on the border to northern Thailand)
Myawaddy (in the Kayin State of southeastern Myanmar on the border to western Thailand)
Kawthaung (in the southernmost part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Region on the boundary of the Thai Peninsula as well as the collection of islands)
Tamu (in the Sagaing Area of northwestern Myanmar on the boundary to northeastern India).
Rih Khaw Dar (a six-hour drive from the boundary town of Khawmawi in the northwestern Chin State of Myanmar on the boundary of Southeastern India).
Actually, you can enter Myanmar at any designated "Port of Entry" yet it is best to stick to the one you originally stated preferably to prevent any hold up in the processing of your visa upon arrival.
You can exit at any of the International Airports as well as Land Border Checkpoints considering that your exit point does not need to be mentioned up front. Furthermore, you may exit at the Htikee Land Boundary Checkpoint, although entry from here is not possible.
Flying in as well as out of Yangon is more affordable as well as has much more connections than Mandalay.
Getting around Myanmar-- Cross Country
Credit: myanmartours.us
Myanmar's local transport options might be frustrating but the cross country propositions are a lot more appealing.
Distances are far, road travel is slow-moving and flying is budget-friendly so it may be your much better option.
You can still book flights the traditional way by wandering right into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a bit like flying in the older days-- check-in entails ticking people off a listing of printed names, baggage claim can mean leaving the flight terminal and getting your bag off a trolley by the aircraft and flight announcements are made by a person holding up a sign and also calling your flight (in incomprehensible English). It really is an experience. And also a great deal of fun if you do not let it get you stressed.Buses are budget friendly with competing businesses and also a variety of high-end levels.
Credits: seawander.asia
Most buses travel overnight which is excellent for not losing a day of sightseeing and tour, but isn't so terrific for rest. Likewise, you'll have a tendency to reach at odd times in the morning and will not be able to check into your hostel or hotel up until 2 p.m. That's a lot of hours waiting on a 'top-up' snooze. Consider if it will be less expensive to fly if you're going to book accommodation the exact same evening to sleep immediately.
Buses are very cold, the deluxe buses will certainly offer you a covering however, wear your warm layers.
Even the VIP bus doesn't have a toilet onboard so expect to stop every few hrs for a food and toilet break-- a bit aggravating if you're trying to sleep through the night.
Night buses are not sleeper buses, although these are the buses which bring you to your destination around 3 or 4am. What's more, some still play their funky local song CD's as well as cheesy music videos until the early hours of the morning. Pack your iPod, buy some sturdy extreme ear plugs or kindly request the sound to be switched off.
Never ever ask a vehicle driver regarding fate, crime levels are exceptionally low.
Still, you need to take the typical precautions of utilizing hotel storage lockers or safes for your valuables. Female tourists should not experience any harassment or different treatment.
Do take hand sanitiser-- the cash is filthy as well as there isn't always soap in restrooms so use your sanitiser prior to you touch anything that will go near your mouth.
Look out for the dust- Myanmar can be very dusty so do carry something to cover your mouth and also nose when biking around. Likewise take care with your a/c-- Myanmar can be as warm. Consequently, lots of tourists use the a/c in their room but sleeping in low temperatures can make you ill.
Fruit is very easy to come by so top up your body immune system with nutrients this way. Nonetheless, as it's often pre-cut, try to find a vendor that has actually kept the flies away and also if it's sluiced with water, make sure it's filtered water.
Safety
Many government advisories alert against traveling to parts of Rakhine (Rakhaing) State in western Myanmar, where clashes in between local authorities as well as the minority Muslim (Rohingya) communities has actually caused the mass displacement of countless people. Some other parts of the country remain shut to foreigners as a result of problem in between the government as well as various ethnic armies clustered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These areas are mostly in Kachin and Shan States, close to the frontiers with China and also Thailand, as well as far from the major tourist locations.
Exact info on disputes and also closed locations can be tough to come by. Check your government's advice before taking a trip, as well as ask about the situation when you are in Myanmar. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree travel forum is a great source of information from visitors on the website ground.
What to wear in Myanmar
Most of the locals dress conservatively| and also cover their shoulders as well as legs despite the heat, and you will certainly make everyone more comfortable if you follow suit.
Knee length shorts, long skirts, elephant pants and tees are the attire of choice. These are highly encouraged and usually enforced for going into the temples and pagodas.
Credits: backpackinglikeaboss.com
Everybody wears skirts-- males and females alike-- the longyi, a long skirt, is the popular traditional dress in Myanmar for both men and women. Lots of tourists pick one up as they're breezy in the heat as well as tick the 'traditional wear' box. They are convenient for taking in the sights so grab an inexpensive one a the marketplace if you have the chance.
Flip flops are necessary! Entering pagodas means going barefoot as well as flip flops are the most effective footwear choice. Battling with shoelaces in the scorching heat is an unwelcome distraction. Bring some cleansing wipes for your feet after seeing a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative country so you'll blend much better if you clothe conservatively (covering your knees and also shoulders). You will certainly find individuals in shorts and also strappy tops in the cities and also at the beach yet elsewhere it's much less usual.
Culture
Credits: parallelsandmeridians.com
The local people are exceptionally genteel and also not used to confrontation so pack your good manners as well as your patience. Travelling can be irritating, warm and also slow-moving yet bear in mind: you picked to check out Myanmar and that it's not the same as being at home is no good reason to take it out on the locals. However, haggle hard with the taxi drivers.
You may get stopped a whole lot by citizens who want to talk. Visitors are no more a novelty in a lot of Southeast Asia however Myanmar is different. Typically the people are lovely and also are happy to appear in pictures and attempt as well as converse via minimal common words or sign language.
You mayalso get stared at a whole lot which is normally best dealt with by providing a smile and also a mingalabar (hi in Burmese). Burmese English can be difficult to comprehend, be patient, listen hard and also if you're spending for a guide, make sure they have excellent clear English before you book.
Credits: toddholdenarmstrong.blogspot.com
The red stained pavements are a consequence of spewing red coloured saliva after eating betel quids, small parcels which contain tobacco, spices and areca nuts covered in a betel leaf. It's probably popular| due to the fact that it delivers a hit that amounts to six mugs of coffee. But, as well as being dangerous when chewed long term, the byproduct is bright-red saliva which is spat out, the majority of times onto the ground.
Lots of residents have the tell tale red discolored teeth as well as cab drivers frequently roll down the window in slow-moving traffic to spit after chewing on the betel quids.
There is some begging by youngsters in Myanmar and as heartbreaking as it is, you shouldn't give to the youngsters. Why not? Read this brilliant post by Uncornered Market.
Credits: mekongtourism.org
It's common to see yellow circles pasted on the faces of the Burmese girls. This is Thanaka, a cosmetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty product in Myanmar as well as additionally works as a sun block.
It's also common to hear a kissing sound in the cafes and dining establishments as citizens use the kissing sound as an ask for service. Apparently it's easier for staff to determine the place of the kissing audio so do not be alarmed!
Burmese Phrases
The two most important phrases you need in Myanmar are:
Hello: Ming-gu-la-bah
Thank you: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee
Not only is it polite, however it is well received. Be prepared for a lot of citizens to giggle in reaction-- they are not mocking you; they are just not anticipating it.
Other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is typically done by hand as well as is charged per item rather than kilo so try to turn up with your clothes laundered and unless you want to hand over $20 for a load of washing, select the items you really require washing as well as clean your smaller sized items on your own as you go.
Toiletries are simple to find by but tampons are not so bring what you need with you.
You can not flush toilet tissue or sanitary products-- this is extremely usual in developing countries where the plumbing system can't handle anything aside from bodily fluids.
Myanmar has that odd half-hour difference| to its time zone so it's 6 and a half hrs ahead of GMT.
Most of the plug sockets of Myanmar have multiple adaptors for European and also North American 2-pin plugs as well as British three-pin.
Wi-fi is bad in Myanmar so you either need to overcome it or, better still, acquire a local SIM. You can obtain one at most airports when you land or in one of the stores in the street as well as the shop personnel will have you set up in about 5 mins. You can learn more concerning your network options below. Still, with 1 mbps thought about to be a 'fast' link, don't anticipate to be downloading video clips at any time. Online accessibility has actually improved, with wi-fi the norm-- most hotels, guesthouses as well as coffee shops have it for free-- as well as the net is now spreading tofarther locations. Yet tightly squeezed bandwidth and power blackouts can make using the internet a discouraging exercise.
Do your research ahead of time or pack a guidebook, and also do not expect to Skype home very often, it's barely possible to get a messenger service to operate at times!
You'll be much better with a knapsack than a luggage. aren't ideal on dusty, sandy, unevenroads. Getting in as well as out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transport as well as hefting it up lots of high stairs isn't better.