Top Myanmar Traveling Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Change Its Name?
The country officially called Burma gained independence in 1948 from occupying forces, yet it wasn't up until 1989 that the ruling military junta altered the nation's name from Burma to Myanmar following a military coup.
Politically, the name Burma was viewed as a relic of the country's former British colonial past, and Myanmar as much more inclusive of the numerous ethnic groups in the nation. Various other names were likewise changed, which is why you will 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 and Myanmar are still used interchangeably, on the ground and also on the world stage. This article breaks down the modifications, what you 'should' say and the concern: does it even matter?
Ideal Times to Visit Myanmar
There are commonly three seasons in which you can go to Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter
March to May: Hot, summer season
May to October: Wet, rainy period
The popular, high period is November to February when the weather is warm but not stifling, and also draws in the greatest number of visitors. This, in turn, makes the restricted accommodation choices difficult to secure and also will imply trying to book ahead or face paying for the a lot more expensive alternatives left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature increases in Myanmar as well as upcoming rainfalls are due. There is a minimal number of visitors that makes it very easy to book accommodation but it is exceptionally hot.
Visas
An e-Visa is available to travellers from these 100 countries.
To get one, go to the main e-Visa website. You'll need to submit a passport photo as well as pay a cost of $50.
It takes under 10 mins to apply as well as you should get approval within 3 working days.
Print out your e-Visa letter, show it when you arrive and you're in.
Your e-Visa letter stands for 90- days from the date of issue and also enables you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Obtaining a visa from your local consular office may be more affordable-- if you intend to save some cash, getting a visa by means of your local Myanmar embassy might be less costly. For example, the expense is simply ₤ 14 in the UK however $40 in the U.S.A., so do your research and also do not neglect to consider mailing expenses.
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 three Thai-Myanmar land boundary crossings Tachileik, Myawadi (Myawaddy) and Kawthoung (Kawthaung). Read the immigration web site for the latest at the time you travel.
Reaching Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the typical option for visitors as the initial mode of entry, with regular scheduled services from Bangkok. But, thinking about where Myanmar is located-- surrounded by China to the North and northeast, Thailand and also Laos to the eastern and also India as well as Bangladesh to its west-- there are numerous avenues for land entrance, although not every one of them are recommended because of safety.
Regardless, you have to specify a "Port of Entry" in your on the internet application which denotes how you will certainly be getting to Myanmar. You will be provided a listing of options, from which you will certainly need to select among the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (situated right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (located in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (positioned in between Mandalay and Yangon)
Crossing at Land Boundary 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 boundary 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 Region 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).
In truth, you can go into Myanmar at any designated "Port of Entry" but it is best to stay with the one you initially mentioned when possible to avoid any hold up in the processing of your visa upon arrival.
You can exit at any one of the International Airports and also Land Boundary Checkpoints considering that your exit point does not need to be mentioned up-front. Furthermore, you might leave at the Htikee Land Border Checkpoint, although entrance from here is not possible.
Flying in and also out of Yangon is less expensive and has more links than Mandalay.
Navigating Myanmar-- Cross Country
Credit: myanmartours.us
Myanmar's local transportation alternatives may be aggravating but the cross country propositions are a lot more attractive.
Distances are far, road travel is sluggish and flying is budget-friendly so it may be your much better option.
You can still book flights the traditional method by wandering right into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a little 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 also grabbing your bag off a trolley by the plane and flight announcements are made by a person holding up a sign as well as calling your flight (in incomprehensible English). It actually is an experience. As well as a great deal of fun if you don't let it get you stressed.Buses are budget-friendly with competing companies and also a range of deluxe levels.
Credits: seawander.asia
Most buses travel overnight which is fantastic for not losing a day of sightseeing and tour, but isn't so fantastic for rest. Additionally, you'll often tend to arrive at strange times in the early morning and also won't have the ability to check into your hostel or hotel until 2 p.m. That's a great deal of hrs awaiting a 'top-up' snooze. Take into consideration if it will certainly be less costly to fly if you're going to book accommodation the same evening to sleep straight away.
Buses are really cold, the high-end buses will offer you a blanket but, wear your warm layers.
Even the VIP bus doesn't have a toilet onboard so anticipate to stop every couple of hrs for a food and toilet break-- a little bit irritating if you're attempting to rest through the night.
Night buses are not sleeper buses, despite the fact that these are the buses which bring you to your destination around 3 or 4am. What's even more, some still play their funky local song CD's and also cheesy music videos up until the early hrs of the morning. Pack your iPod, invest in some durable extreme ear plugs or kindly ask for the sound to be turned off.
Never ever ask a vehicle driver regarding fate, criminal activity levels are remarkably reduced.
Still, you ought to take the common safety measures of making use of hotel lockers or safes for your belongings. Female visitors 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 shower rooms so utilize your sanitiser before you touch anything that will go near your mouth.
Look out for the dust- Myanmar can be very dusty so do bring something to cover your mouth as well as nose when cycling around. Additionally take care with your a/c-- Myanmar can be as warm. As a result, several visitors use the a/c in their room yet sleeping in low temperature levels can make you sick.
Fruit is easy to find so top up your body immune system with nutrients in this way. However, as it's usually pre-cut, look for a seller 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 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 resulted in the mass displacement of thousands of people. Some other parts of the nation stay closed to foreigners because of dispute between the government as well as different ethnic armies clustered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These locations are primarily in Kachin as well as Shan States, near to the frontiers with China as well as Thailand, as well as far from the significant tourist destinations.
Exact info on conflicts as well as closed locations can be tough to come by. Check your government's advice before taking a trip, and inquire about the situation when you are in Myanmar. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree travel forum is a great resource of information from visitors on the ground.
What to wear in Myanmar
A lot of the locals dress conservatively| as well as cover their shoulders and legs regardless of the heat, and you will certainly make everyone more comfortable if you do the same.
Knee length shorts, long skirts, elephant pants as well as t-shirts are the outfit of choice. These are strongly encouraged as well as often enforced for getting in the temples as well as pagodas.
Credits: backpackinglikeaboss.com
Everybody 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 travelers pick one up as they're breezy in the warmth as well as tick the 'traditional wear' box. They are practical for taking in the sights so pick up an affordable one a the marketplace if you have the opportunity.
Flip flops are important! Getting in pagodas means going barefoot as well as flip flops are the most effective footwear option. Dealing with shoelaces in the blistering heat is an unwanted interruption. Bring some cleansing wipes for your feet after checking out a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative nation so you'll blend better if you clothe conservatively (covering your knees as well as shoulders). You will certainly find people in shorts as well as strappy tops in the cities as well as at the beach however in other places it's much less common.
Culture
Credits: parallelsandmeridians.com
The local individuals are exceptionally genteel as well as not used to confrontation so pack your good manners and your patience. Travel can be irritating, warm and also slow-moving yet bear in mind: you picked to see Myanmar which it's not the same as being at home is no good reason to take it out on the residents. Nonetheless, bargain hard with the cab drivers.
You may get stopped a great deal by residents who wish to chat. Vacationers are no more a novelty in the majority of Southeast Asia however Myanmar is different. Normally the people are beautiful and more than happy to appear in pictures as well as try and converse with minimal typical words or sign language.
You maylikewise get stared at a lot which is usually best managed by providing a smile and also a mingalabar (hi in Burmese). Burmese English can be hard to understand, be patient, pay attention as well as if you're paying for a guide, make certain they have great clear English before you book.
Credits: toddholdenarmstrong.blogspot.com
The red stained sidewalks are a consequence of spitting red coloured saliva after eating betel quids, little parcels which contain tobacco, spices and areca nuts wrapped in a betel leaf. It's probably popular| due to the fact that it provides 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, most times onto the ground.
Great deals of locals have the tell tale red stained teeth and also taxi drivers usually roll down the window in sluggish traffic to spew after chewing on the betel quids.
There is some begging by kids in Myanmar and also as heartbreaking as it is, you shouldn't give to the kids. 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 ladies. This is Thanaka, an aesthetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty item in Myanmar and likewise acts as a sunscreen.
It's also common to hear a kissing noise in the coffee shops and also restaurants as residents utilize the kissing noise as a call for service. Apparently it's much easier for staff to recognize the location of the kissing sound so don't 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 most locals to giggle in response-- they are not mocking you; they are just not anticipating it.
Various other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is usually done by hand and is charged per item rather than kilo so try to turn up with your clothes laundered and unless you intend to turn over $20 for a load of washing, pick the items you actually require washing and also clean your smaller sized items on your own as you go.
Toiletries are simple to find by however tampons are not so bring what you require with you.
You can't flush toilet paper or sanitary products-- this is very common in developing nations where the plumbing system can not handle anything besides 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 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, buy a local SIM. You can obtain one at a lot of flight terminals when you land or in one of the stores in the road and the store staff will certainly have you set up in about 5 mins. You can read more regarding your network selections here. Still, with 1 mbps thought about to be a 'fast' link, do not anticipate to be downloading videos whenever. Online access has improved, with wi-fi the standard-- most hotels, guesthouses and also cafes have it free of charge-- as well as the web is now spreading tomore remote places. But tightly squeezed bandwidth as well as power interruptions can make using the net an aggravating exercise.
Do your research in advance or pack a guidebook, and do not anticipate to Skype home very frequently, it's barely possible to get a messenger service to operate at times!
You'll be better with a get more info knapsack than a luggage. Travel suitcases aren't ideal on dusty, sandy, unevenroads. Getting in and also out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transportation and hefting it up numerous high stairs isn't better.