Top Myanmar Travel Tips

Top Myanmar Traveling Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Modify Its Name?
The country officially called Burma gained independence in 1948 from occupying forces, yet it had not been up until 1989 that the ruling military junta altered the country's name from Burma to Myanmar following a military coup.
Politically, the name Burma was viewed as a relic of the country's previous British colonial past, and Myanmar as much more inclusive of the numerous ethnic groups in the country. 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 as well as on the world stage. This article breaks down the changes, what you 'should' say and the question: does it even matter?
Best Times to Visit Myanmar
There are generally 3 seasons in which you can go to Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter
March to May: Hot, summer season
May to October: Damp, rainy season
The popular, high season is November to February when the climate is warm but not stifling, as well as brings in the greatest number of visitors. This, consequently, makes the minimal accommodation options difficult to secure and will imply trying to book ahead or deal with paying out for the a lot more costly alternatives left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature level increases in Myanmar as well as approaching rains are due. There is a limited number of vacationers which makes it very easy to book accommodation but it is exceptionally hot.

Visas
An e-Visa is available to visitors from these 100 countries.
To get one, go to the official e-Visa site. You'll need to submit a passport photo and also 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 as well as enables you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Getting a visa from your local consular office might be less costly-- if you intend to save some money, applying for a visa by means of your local Myanmar consular office might be cheaper. For example, the cost is simply ₤ 14 in the UK yet $40 in the U.S.A., so do your research and do not fail to remember to consider mailing costs.
It is only possible to go into 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 website for the latest at the time you take a trip.
Reaching Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the usual choice for travellers as the very first mode of entry, with routine scheduled services from Bangkok. Yet, thinking about where Myanmar lies-- bordered by China to the North as well as northeast, Thailand and also Laos to the eastern as well as India as well as Bangladesh to its west-- there are several methods for land entrance, although not every one of them are advised due to security.
No matter, you have to specify a "Port of Entry" in your on-line application which denotes how you will certainly be reaching Myanmar. You will certainly be given a list of alternatives, from which you will certainly require to pick one of the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (located right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (situated in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (situated in between Mandalay and 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 most southern part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Area on the boundary of the Thai Peninsula and also the cluster of islands)
Tamu (in the Sagaing Region of northwestern Myanmar on the border to northeastern India).
Rih Khaw Dar (a six-hour drive from the border town of Khawmawi in the northwestern Chin State of Myanmar on the border of Southeastern India).
Actually, you can enter Myanmar at any designated "Port of Entry" however it is best to stay with the one you originally mentioned if possible to avoid any kind of hold up in the handling of your visa upon arrival.
You can exit at any of the International Airports as well as Land Boundary Checkpoints since your exit point does not require to be mentioned up front. Furthermore, you might leave at the Htikee Land Border Checkpoint, although access from here is not possible.
Flying in as well as out of Yangon is cheaper and has extra connections than Mandalay.
Getting around Myanmar-- Cross Country

Credit: myanmartours.us
Myanmar's local transportation options might be discouraging however the long distance propositions are much more enticing.
Distances are far, road travel is sluggish as well as flying is budget friendly so it might be your much better choice.
You can still reserve flights the old-school means by wandering into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a little bit like flying in the older days-- check-in includes ticking individuals off a list of printed names, luggage claim can mean leaving the flight terminal and grabbing your bag off a cart by the plane and flight announcements are made by an individual holding up a sign as well as calling your flight (in incomprehensible English). It actually is an experience. And a great deal of fun if you don't let it get you stressed.Buses are budget friendly with competing firms and a series of deluxe levels.

Credits: seawander.asia
Many buses travel overnight which is excellent for not losing a day of sightseeing and tour, however isn't so wonderful for sleep. Likewise, you'll tend to reach at weird 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 hours waiting on a 'top-up' snooze. Think about if it will certainly be cheaper to fly if you're going to book accommodation the same night to rest immediately.
Buses are very cold, the luxury buses will certainly give you a blanket yet, wear 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 bit aggravating 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 also tacky video up until the early hrs of the early morning. Pack your iPod, purchase some sturdy extreme ear website plugs or kindly request the sound to be shut off.
Never ask a vehicle driver regarding fate, criminal activity levels are remarkably low.
Still, you ought to take the usual preventative measures of utilizing hotel storage lockers or safes for your valuables. Female tourists should not experience any type of harassment or different treatment.
Do take hand sanitiser-- the cash is filthy as well as there isn't always soap in bathrooms 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 cycling around. Additionally take care with your air conditioning-- Myanmar can be as hot. As a result, several travellers use the a/c in their room however sleeping in low temperature levels can make you sick.
Fruit is easy to come by so top up your body immune system with nutrients in this way. However, as it's commonly pre-cut, try to find a vendor that has actually kept the flies away and also if it's sluiced with water, make certain it's filtered water.
Safety and security
Most government advisories caution against travel to parts of Rakhine (Rakhaing) State in western Myanmar, where clashes in between local authorities as well as the minority Muslim (Rohingya) communities has caused the mass displacement of countless people. Some other parts of the country remain closed to foreigners due to conflict between the government and various ethnic militaries gathered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These locations are mainly in Kachin as well as Shan States, near to the frontiers with China and Thailand, and far from the major visitor locations.
Precise information on conflicts and also closed areas 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 an excellent source of information from tourists on the ground.

What to wear in Myanmar
The majority of the locals dress conservatively| and cover their shoulders and also legs in spite of the heat, as well as 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 as well as frequently enforced for entering the temples as well as pagodas.

Credits: backpackinglikeaboss.com
Every person wears skirts-- males and females alike-- the longyi, a long skirt, is the popular traditional dress in Myanmar for both men and women. Several travelers pick one up as they're breezy in the warmth as well as tick the 'traditional wear' box. They are convenient for taking in the sights so pick up an affordable one a the market 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 choice. Battling with shoelaces in the scorching heat is an undesirable interruption. Bring some cleaning wipes for your feet after visiting a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative country so you'll blend much better if you dress conservatively (covering your knees and also shoulders). You will find individuals in shorts and 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 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 sluggish but keep in mind: you selected to check out Myanmar which 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 whole lot by citizens that wish to chat. Travelers are no longer a novelty in most of Southeast Asia but Myanmar is different. Typically the people are wonderful and also more than happy to appear in photos and also attempt and also talk with limited common words or sign language.
You mayalso get stared at a lot which is generally best handled by offering a smile and also a mingalabar (hey there in Burmese). Burmese English can be hard to understand, be patient, pay attention as well as if you're paying 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 chewing betel quids, tiny parcels that contain tobacco, spices and also areca nuts wrapped in a betel leaf. It's probably popular| since it provides a hit that's equivalent to six mugs of coffee. However, 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 citizens have the tell tale red stained teeth as well as taxi drivers commonly roll down the window in slow traffic to spew after chewing on the betel quids.
There is some begging by youngsters in Myanmar and as heartbreaking as it is, you should not give to the children. Why not? Read this fantastic short article by Uncornered Market.

Credits: mekongtourism.org
It's common to see yellow circles pasted on the faces of the Burmese girls. This is Thanaka, an aesthetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty product in Myanmar as well as additionally functions as a sun block.


It's also common to hear a kissing sound in the coffee shops as well as dining establishments as locals use the kissing sound as an ask for service. Apparently it's simpler for staff to determine the area of the kissing audio so do not be upset!
Burmese Phrases
Both crucial expressions you require in Myanmar are:
Hey there: Ming-gu-la-bah
Thank you: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee
Not only is it polite, but it is well received. Be ready for a lot of residents to giggle in reaction-- they are not mocking you; they are just not anticipating it.

Various other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is generally done by hand and also is billed per item as opposed to kilo so try to show up with your garments washed and also unless you intend to turn over $20 for a load of washing, choose the items you truly need washing as well as wash your smaller items yourself as you go.
Toiletries are easy to find by yet tampons are not so bring what you require with you.
You can't flush toilet paper or sanitary products-- this is very usual in developing nations where the plumbing system can not deal with anything besides bodily fluids.
Myanmar has that strange 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 plugs as well as British three-pin.
Wi-fi is bad in Myanmar so you either need to get over it or, better still, acquire a local SIM. You can obtain one at many airports when you land or in among the stores in the street and the store staff will certainly have you set up in about 5 minutes. You can find out more about your network selections here. Still, with 1 mbps taken into consideration to be a 'quick' connection, don't anticipate to be downloading videos at any time. Online accessibility has improved, with wi-fi coming to be the norm-- most hotels, guesthouses as well as coffee shops have it for free-- and the net is now spreading tofarther locations. However tightly squeezed bandwidth and also power failures can use the net an aggravating 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 knapsack than a travel suitcase. Luggage aren't suitable on dusty, sandy, unevenroadways. Entering and out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transport as well as hefting it up lots of high stairs isn't much better.

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