Myanmar

Myanmar formally known as Burma during its colonial period was ruled by a secretive military and closed to the outside world for decades after gaining independence from the United kingdom. As the country has opened up to the outside world, tourist have started to travel and discover Myanmar. Natural attractions stretch throughout Myanmar from the highlands in the north to the pristine beaches of the Myeik Archipelago in the south. I started my trip to Myanmar in Naypyidaw the capital of Myanmar which has fragments of colonial rule, then headed to The Temples of Bagan, from there I took a bus to Inle Lake, then headed to the mountain villages which was a great place to learn about tribal traditions. As much as Myanmar has opened its doors to the outside world, many parts remain closed there is a hidden conflict going on with the ethnic Kachin tribe, who are been killed and persecuted by the Myanmar government. The parts of Myanmar that are at war is closed off to tourist. This short summary of Myanmar will help you plan your trip.

Best Time to Visit

Myanmar has a monsoon climate; the hottest period is between February and May. The rain season is from May to October. The ideal time to visit Myanmar is during the dry season, between October and May. During this time the whole country is accessible.

Things to do and see

Inle Lake is a lake in the southeast of Myanmar 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. Many tourists go to watch the fisherman of Inle lake early in the morning. Surrounding the lake are house villages and Buddhist temples making the scenery extremely idyllic.
Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in the world and most important temples for Buddhist in Southeast Asia. The temple was built roughly 2500 years ago and is covered with Gold on the outside and many Gemstones in the inside. Worth the visit while visiting Yangon one of the largest cities in Myanmar.
The city of Began is in central Myanmar, the city is covered with hundreds of beautiful temples, built by the Bagan kings between 1057 and 1287. Over 2000 Buddhist temples are scattered around the city, making it a beautiful spiritual place o visit. Surprisingly there are barely any other tourist, not sure how long that will last.
Full moon Festival celebrates the end of the rain season. There are many street parties and there is a hot air balloon event in Taunggyi. many locals arrive on pilgrimages, to watch hundreds of balloons made of paper, shaped like different animals, lit up inside; The balloons are released all at once at night, creating an amazing light in the sky.

Food

Many of the dishes are covered in oil to keep away the bugs. Traditional food is hot and spicy. Fish, rice, noodles and vegetables spiced with onions, ginger, garlic and chillies are the common local ingredients. Tea is a popular drink and an integral part of life in Myanmar. On almost every street in some of the larger cities you will be able to find a tea shop. Tea is made with a sweet thick condensed milk and served with a collection of different cakes. Coffee is not common but is becoming increasingly popular. Alcohol is readily available.

Transportation

Air: Yangon is usually your entry and exit point by air, although flights from Thailand into Mandalay are increasing popular. There are no direct flights from London to Myanmar.

Roads: Many roads outside the big cities are not well maintained and can be dangerous to drive during the rain season. Drivers drive on the right side of the road.

Taxi: Taxis from the airport are cheap should be roughly 6$U.S dollars or Burmese Kyat, for a 30min drive and can be paid in dollars or (Kyat). There is no Uber in Myanmar. The Taxis don’t have a meter, so you need to negotiate the price before taking a ride. In Yangon the blue taxis are government run and have a set fare. There are also motor bike taxi’s and rickshaw taxis with a side car.

Bus: Long distance buses usually run at night. There are also several overland border crossings from Thailand and Southwest China which provide alternative options for the more adventurous.

Ferry: The best way to see Myanmar is by boat. The most popular tourist route is Mandalay to Bagan. There are also a few luxury river cruises.

Rail: The government run rail service serves most of Myanmar. The two classes are ordinary and upper.

Visa

Visas are required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals. You can apply for an online eVisa or apply through the Myanmar embassy.

Language

The official language in Myanmar is Burmese, there are also over 100 distinct languages and dialects spoken in Myanmar. English is widely spoken in the tourist industry.

Money

The local currency in Myanmar is kyat (MMK) US dollars are also accepted widely as currency. It Is better to keep your money in dollars and change it into kyat as and when you need to. Try not to change money at the airport as the exchange rate is not good. Some hotels will add a charge of between 4-7% if paying by credit card. Before 2012 there were no ATM machines in Myanmar, now there are a few in the capital. It is always best to take all the money you need in US dollars cash.

Tipping

People generally don’t Tip.

Social etiquette

The people of Myanmar are very conservative in their dress and behaviour its important to respect Buddhist traditions, particularly in temples. You must also remove your shoes before entering a temple and it is wrong to point your feet towards a Buddha image. It is a common courtesy in Burma to use both hands when handing something to somebody else and when shaking hands use the right hand as the left is associated with using the toilet. One of the oldest traditions in Myanmar is chewing Betel Nut and spitting it on the streets, you will notice red stains on the pavements. This tradition is extremely popular with locals and one which might culturally surprise you.

Adaptor

These are five plugs associated with Myanmar.