Top Myanmar Travel Tips

Top Myanmar Traveling Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Modify Its Name?
The country officially called Burma acquired independence in 1948 from occupying forces, yet 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 Myanmar as more inclusive of the numerous ethnic groups in the nation. Various other names were additionally altered, which is why you will certainly see Rangoon currently 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 made use of interchangeably, on the ground and on the world stage. This write-up breaks down the changes, what you 'should' say as well as the concern: does it even matter?
Ideal Times to Visit Myanmar
There are usually 3 seasons in which you can go to Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter
March to May: Hot, summertime season
May to October: Wet, rainy season
The popular, high season is November to February when the climate is warm yet not stifling, and also draws in the greatest number of visitors. This, consequently, makes the minimal accommodation alternatives tricky to secure and also will indicate attempting to book in advance or deal with paying for the a lot more pricey options left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature level rises in Myanmar as well as upcoming rainfalls are due. There is a minimal number of visitors that makes it very easy to book holiday accommodation however it is exceptionally hot.

Visas
An e-Visa is readily available to visitors from these 100 countries.
To obtain one, go to the main e-Visa site. You'll need to upload a passport photo as well as pay a charge 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 stands for 90- days from the day of issue and also permits you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Obtaining a visa from your local consular office might be cheaper-- if you intend to save some cash, obtaining a visa via your local Myanmar consular office might be more affordable. For example, the price is simply ₤ 14 in the UK but $40 in the U.S.A., so do your research and also don't neglect to factor in mailing costs.
It is only possible to get in Myanmar on an e-visa at Yangon, Mandalay as well as Nay Pyi Taw international airports; and at 3 Thai-Myanmar land border crossings Tachileik, Myawadi (Myawaddy) and also Kawthoung (Kawthaung). Read the immigration site for the most recent at the time you take a trip.
Reaching Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the normal alternative for visitors as the first mode of entrance, with normal scheduled services from Bangkok. But, taking into consideration where Myanmar is located-- bordered by China to the North as well as northeast, Thailand as well as Laos to the east as well as India and also Bangladesh to its west-- there are multiple avenues for land access, although not all of them are recommended because of safety and security.
Regardless, you must specify a "Port of Entry" in your on the internet application which denotes exactly how you will certainly be getting to Myanmar. You will be provided a list of options, where you will certainly need to select among the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (situated right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (situated in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (located in between Mandalay and also Yangon)
Going Across at Land Boundary Checkpoints:
Tachileik (in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar on the boundary to northern Thailand)
Myawaddy (in the Kayin State of southeastern Myanmar on the boundary to western Thailand)
Kawthaung (in the southernmost part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Area on the boundary of the Thai Peninsula and the cluster 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 if possible to prevent any hold up in the handling of your visa upon arrival.
You can leave at any one of the International Airports as well as Land Border Checkpoints because your exit point does not need to be mentioned up front. Furthermore, you may leave at the Htikee Land Boundary Checkpoint, although entrance from here is not possible.
Flying in as well as out of Yangon is more affordable and also has a lot more links than Mandalay.
Navigating Myanmar-- Cross Country

Credit: myanmartours.us
Myanmar's local transportation choices may be frustrating yet the long distance propositions are a lot more enticing.
Distances are far, road travel is sluggish and flying is budget-friendly so it may be your far better choice.
You can still book flights the old-school method by wandering right into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a little bit like flying in the older days-- check-in involves ticking people off a list of printed names, luggage claim can mean leaving the airport and also grabbing your bag off a trolley by the aircraft and also 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 a lot of fun if you do not let it get you stressed.Buses are budget-friendly with competing companies and also a series of luxury levels.

Credits: seawander.asia
The majority of buses travel overnight which is wonderful for not losing a day of sightseeing, yet isn't so terrific for sleep. Likewise, you'll often tend to arrive at strange times in the early morning as well as won't be able to check into your hostel or hotel till 2 p.m. That's a great deal of hrs awaiting a 'top-up' snooze. Consider if it will certainly be less expensive to fly if you're going to book accommodation the exact same evening to rest straight away.
Buses are really chilly, the deluxe buses will certainly offer you a covering yet, use your warm layers.
Even the VIP bus doesn't have a toilet onboard so expect to stop every few hours for a food as well as toilet break-- a little bit frustrating if you're trying to sleep through the night.
Night buses are not sleeper buses, even though 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 and cheesy music videos up until the early hrs of the early morning. Pack your iPod, buy some sturdy extreme ear plugs or kindly request the sound to be turned off.
Never ask a vehicle driver regarding fate, criminal activity levels are extremely low.
Still, you should take the common safety measures of using hotel storage lockers or safes for your valuables. Female tourists should not experience any harassment or different treatment.
Do take hand sanitiser-- the money is unclean as well as there isn't always soap in bathrooms so use your sanitiser prior to you touch anything that will certainly go near your mouth.
Keep an eye out for the dust- Myanmar can be really dusty so do carry something to cover your mouth as well as nose when cycling around. Additionally take care with your air conditioning-- Myanmar can be as hot. As a result, several visitors use the a/c in their room however sleeping in low temperature levels can make you ill.
Fruit is very easy to find so top up your immune system with nutrients this way. Nonetheless, as it's often pre-cut, search for a vendor that has actually kept the flies away and also if it's sluiced with water, make certain it's filtered water.
Safety
A lot of government advisories advise against traveling to parts of Rakhine (Rakhaing) State in western Myanmar, where clashes in between local authorities and also the minority Muslim (Rohingya) communities has actually brought about the mass displacement of countless individuals. A few other parts of the nation stay closed to foreigners as a result of conflict in between the government and also different ethnic militaries clustered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These areas are mostly in Kachin and Shan States, near the frontiers with China and also Thailand, and also far from the significant visitor locations.
Precise info on conflicts and closed locations can be hard 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 good source of information from visitors on the ground.

What to wear in Myanmar
Most of the locals dress conservatively| and cover their shoulders and also legs in spite of the high temperatures, and you will make everybody much more comfortable if you do the same.
Knee length shorts, long skirts, elephant pants and also tee shirts are the outfit of choice. These are highly encouraged as well as commonly enforced for going into the temples as well as pagodas.

Credits: backpackinglikeaboss.com
Every person puts on skirts-- men and women alike-- the longyi, a long skirt, is the popular traditional dress in Myanmar for both males and females. Numerous vacationers pick one up as they're breezy in the warm as well as tick the 'traditional wear' box. They are practical for taking in the sights so pick up an affordable one a the market if you have the chance.
Flip flops are essential! Going here into pagodas indicates going barefoot and flip flops are the very best footwear selection. Struggling with shoelaces in the scorching heat is an unwelcome interruption. Bring some cleansing wipes for your feet after seeing a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative nation so you'll blend better if you dress conservatively (covering your knees as well as shoulders). You will certainly find individuals in shorts and also strappy tops in the cities and at the beach but somewhere else it's less typical.

Culture

Credits: parallelsandmeridians.com
The local people are remarkably genteel and also not used to confrontation so pack your good manners as well as your patience. Travelling can be frustrating, hot and slow but remember: you chose to go to Myanmar and that it's not the same as being at home is no good reason to take it out on the residents. Nevertheless, haggle hard with the taxi drivers.
You may get stopped a lot by citizens that wish to chat. Travelers are no longer a novelty in most of Southeast Asia but Myanmar is different. Generally individuals are beautiful as well as are happy to appear in photographs and also try and chat via limited common words or sign language.
You mayalso get stared at a whole lot which is generally best managed by providing a smile and a mingalabar (hello in Burmese). Burmese English can be difficult to comprehend, be patient, listen hard and 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 that contain tobacco, spices and areca nuts covered in a betel leaf. It's possibly popular| because it supplies a hit that's equivalent to 6 cups of coffee. Yet, as well as being dangerous when chewed long term, the by-product is bright-red saliva which is spewed out, many times onto the ground.
Great deals of locals have the tell tale red discolored teeth and also taxi drivers usually roll down the window in slow traffic to spew after eating on the betel quids.
There is some begging by children in Myanmar and as heartbreaking as it is, you should not give to the children. Why not? Read this fantastic write-up by Uncornered Market.

Credits: mekongtourism.org
It's common to see yellow circles pasted on the faces of the Burmese ladies. This is Thanaka, an aesthetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty item in Myanmar and also works as a sun block.


It's also common to hear a kissing sound in the cafes as well as dining establishments as citizens use the kissing noise as a call for service. Apparently it's less complicated for staff to identify the place of the kissing sound so do not be surprised!
Burmese Phrases
Both most important phrases you need in Myanmar are:
Hi: Ming-gu-la-bah
Thank you: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee
Not only is it courteous, however it is well received. Be ready for a lot of residents to giggle in response-- they are not mocking you; they are just not anticipating it.

Other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is normally done by hand and also is billed per item instead of kilo so try to show up with your clothing laundered as well as unless you intend to turn over $20 for a load of washing, pick the items you really need washing and clean your smaller sized items yourself as you go.
Toiletries are easy 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 common in developing nations where the plumbing system can not handle anything aside from bodily fluids.
Myanmar has that strange half-hour difference| to its time zone so it's 6 and a half hrs in advance of GMT.
Most of the plug sockets of Myanmar have multiple adaptors for European and also North American 2-pin connects in addition to British three-pin.
Wi-fi is bad in Myanmar so you either have to overcome it or, much better still, purchase a local SIM. You can get one at most airport terminals when you land or in one of the stores in the street and also the store staff will certainly have you set up in about 5 minutes. You can find out more about your network options here. Still, with 1 mbps considered to be a 'rapid' connection, do not expect to be downloading videos at any time. Online accessibility has improved, with wi-fi coming to be the standard-- most hotels, guesthouses as well as cafes have it free of charge-- and also the internet is now spreading tofarther locations. However tightly squeezed bandwidth and also power failures can use the net a discouraging exercise.
Do your research beforehand or pack a guidebook, and don't expect to Skype home extremely frequently, it's hardly possible to get a messenger service to work at times!
You'll be better with a backpack than a travel suitcase. Suitcases aren't suitable on dusty, sandy, unevenroadways. Entering and also out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transport and hefting it up numerous steep staircases isn't far better.

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