home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- From: "http://www.pmgeiser.ch, Peter M. Geiser"
- Newsgroups: rec.travel.asia,soc.culture.burma,rec.answers,soc.answers,news.answers
- Followup-To: rec.travel.asia
- Subject: Myanmar - The Internet Travel Guide (FAQ) (part 2/2)
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Summary: Travel guide to Myanmar.
- Expires: 31 Dec 2004 23:59:59 GMT
- NNTP-Posting-Host: 212.254.90.222
- Message-ID: <3fed4d73_2@news.tiscalinet.ch>
- Date: 27 Dec 2003 10:14:27 +0100
- X-Trace: news.tiscalinet.ch 1072516467 212.254.90.222 (27 Dec 2003 10:14:27 +0100)
- Organization: Customers of Tiscali DataComm AG - http://www.tiscali.ch/
- Lines: 803
- Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!npeer.de.kpn-eurorings.net!newsfeed.tiscali.ch!news.tiscalinet.ch!not-for-mail
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.travel.asia:187773 soc.culture.burma:94913 rec.answers:84414 soc.answers:18668 news.answers:263635
-
- Archive-name: travel/myanmar-guide/part2
- Url: http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar
- Posting-Frequency: quarterly
-
- MYANMAR (Burma) - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide
-
-
- Myanmar is also known as Burma. The country has a long and varied
- history, from kingdom to outpost of the British Empire to independent
- country (see also the book below).
-
- The main tourist spots are Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay, Inle Lake,
- and of course the huge temple area of Bagan (Pagan).
-
-
- Places
- Bagan
- Bago
- Inle Lake
- Kalaw
- Kekku
- Kyaik-Tiyo
- Lashio
- Mandalay
- Sagaing
- Taunggyi
- Yangon
-
-
- General Information
- Geographical Information
- Climate
- People
- Politics
- Events
- Visa
- Embassies
- Border Crossing
- Travel Permits
- Money
- http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet?user=pmgitgExchange Rates and Currency Cheat Sheet
- Mail
- Telephone
- Internet
- Hotels
- Food
- Health
-
-
- Transportation
- Flying
- Trains
- Boat
- Bus
- Car
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- MYANMAR (Burma) - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide
-
- Copyright (c) 1995 - 2004, Peter M. Geiser
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch
- http://www.pmgeiser.com
- http://www.mineralwaters.org
- http://www.dussy.ch
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- BOOKS
-
- For books, please have a look at the online version at
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- VISA
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/visa.htm
-
-
- Myanmar requires a visa. It is valid for one month starting from the
- day you enter the country, and you have to enter the country at most
- three months from the day of issue.
-
- It is possible (Apr 95) to get a one day or a three day visa directly
- at the border station of Mae Sai (northern Thailand). The one day visa
- was USD 5.
-
- For details on how to get a visa in specific countries, have a look at
- the embassy section.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- EMBASSIES
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/_embassy.htm
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- BORDER CROSSING
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/border.htm
-
-
- The main entry and exit point of Myanmar is the airport of Yangon.
-
-
- Official Entry and Exit Procedures
-
- The 'official' entry and exit procedures (as stated from the Ministry
- of Tourism) are as listed below. In practice, they are not quite so
- strictly enforced.
-
- Entry Procedure (Airport)
- 1. To show your passport, entry-visa, disembarkation card and other
- relevant documents to the officers at the immigration counter
- (foreigners' section)
- 2. To exchange 300 USD for F.E.C. at the counter of Myanmar Foreign
- Trade Bank (MFTB)
- 3. To let customs officers examine your passport and declaration
- forms at the customs counter
- 4. To pick up your luggage taken in by the conveyor-belt
- 5. To declare, if any, electrical goods/camera/jewellery and
- foreign currencies at the customs counter
- 6. To settle custom duties, if required, through the red channel
- 7. To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage
- 8. To let immigration officers re-examine your passport
-
- Departure Procedure (Airport)
- 1. To get your ticket confirmed at the airlines concerned
- 2. To pay the airport tax (6 USD in cash) at the airport
- 3. To show your passport and airport tax receipt at the counter of
- the airline concerned so as to receive your boarding-pass
- 4. To let the immigration officers examine your passport and
- embarkation card
- 5. To submit your passport and declaration form at the customs counter
- 6. To let the customs preventive officers inspect your luggare
- 7. To go through a body-search.
-
- To point 4: you also have to give the examination card that you got
- during check-in and the officer will stamp you passport.
-
-
- Overland
-
- It is should possible to cross overland from Yunnan province in China
- and from Thailand, also there are differing reports.
-
- Valid entry points from Yunnan are Lwage, Namhkan, Muse, Kyukokand
- Kun-lone.
-
- There are differing reports on entering from Thailand. While some
- state that it is possible to enter at Tachilek opposite Mae Sai and
- travel to Kyaing Tong, others state that this border is closed. Mae
- Sot and Ronong are also reported closed. Get the latest information
- once you are there and be prepared to be turned around.
-
- Day return cross-border traffic is also allowed at Ayeyawaddy,
- Three-Pagoda Pass and Kawthaung.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- TRAVEL PERMITS
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/permits.htm
-
-
- Following is a list of officialy accessible regions, published in
- April 1995 by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Do not take this
- list as unchangable truth, officials might not have heard of it, or do
- not want to follow it and still try to prevent you from going to some
- places.
-
-
- Kachin State
-
- Package tours (PT) organizcd by operators are permitted in Hopeng,
- Mohnyin, Mogaung, Inndawgyi, Bhamo, Myintkyina and up to Putao.
-
- Foreign Independent travelers (FIT) are allowed in Myintkyina and up
- to Putao.
-
- Travel by rail or air.
-
-
- Shan State (North)
-
- Package Tours and FITs are allowed internally up to Lashio. Travel by
- air or rail.
-
- Arrivals from PRC by road via Muse. Namhkam, Kyukok and Kunlong entry
- point are allowed up to Lashio.
-
- For travel to lashio, a border pass is necessary. 100 FEC units must be
- changed.
-
- A visa is required for travel to Mandalay and Yangon via Lashio. 300
- FEC units must be changed. Travel by air or rail.
-
-
- Shan State (South)
-
- Tourists travelling internally are allowed to go to Taunggyi, Innlay,
- Pindaya, Kalaw and lawksauk. Both PT and FIT allowed. Travel by air or
- rail or road.
-
- Passage is allowed internally to Kengtung and Tachilek. Travel by air.
-
- Arrivals from China are allowed via Mongla to Kengtung and Tachilek.
- Exchange USD 100 for Kengtung and USD 200 for Tachilek. Border pass
- required.
-
- Travel to the interior via Kengtung and Tachilek by air requires
- visa. Exchange USD 300.
-
-
- Kayah State
-
- Travel is allowed by air, rail or road to Loikaw.
-
- Travel by road via Pinlaung.
-
-
- Rakhine State
-
- Travel in Rakhine State is allowed internally to Sittway, Myauk-Oo,
- Ngapali, Thandwe, Gwa and Taunggup. Travel by air, road or sea.
-
- Travel is allowed by Ngathainggyaung-Gwa route and Pyay-Taunggup
- route.
-
- Traders from Bangladesh are allowed to Buthidaung and Sittway. Exchange
- USD 300. Visa required.
-
-
- Kayin State
-
- Tourists are allowed travel to Thamanya, Pha-an and Hlaingbwe. Travel
- by rail or road.
-
-
- Mon State
-
- Tourists are allowed to travel to
- Kyaikhtiyo. Kyaikhto. Thalon. Kyaikmaraw. Mawlamyine. Thanbyuzayat and
- Kyaikkhami. Travel by rail or road.
-
- IT allowed to Bilugyun.
-
-
- Tanintharyi Division
-
- Tourists are allowed to Myeik, Dawei, Maungmagan, Kawthoung, Lumpi
- Island, Zadetgyi Island (exclusive of Naval Base). Travel by air or
- sea.
-
-
- Ayeyawady Division
-
- PTs are allowed to Pathein, Chaungtha, Myaungmya, Ngathaingchaung and
- Bogalay. Travel by road/river.
-
-
- PTs are allowed to go to Alaungdaw Kassapa, Powun Taung, Monywa, Twin
- Taung, Budalin, Kyaukka, Tinmabin and Yihlyantwin.
-
-
- PTs and FITs are allowed in Yangon, Mandalay, Bago and Magway Divisions as
- usual.
-
-
- Sagaing Division
-
- PTs are allowed to Kalay, Hkamti and Homalin.
-
- Travel by air or road or river.
-
-
- Chin State
-
- PTs are allowed to Hakha, Falam and Tiddim.
-
- Travel by road.
-
-
- Restricted Areas
- Phakant, Mogok, Mongshu and Pearl Island require application for permit
- through Ministry of Hotels and Tourism to Office of Chief of Staff
- (Army).
-
-
- Riverine Travel
- ITs are allowed travel by boat on the Bhamo-Mandalay. Mandalay-Bagan-
- Nyaung U, Mandalay-Yangon. Delta areas and Pha-an-Mawlamyine routes.
- Travel will be arranged by the tour operators as per prescribed rules.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- MONEY
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/money.htm
-
-
- The currency is the Kyat (MMK) consisting 100 Pyas. There are FEC
- (Foreign Exchange Certificates) for tourists. FECs are available in
- equivalents of USD 1, USD 5, and USD 10.
-
- Kyat notes are available in the following sizes: 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 35,
- 45, 50, 75, 90, 100, 200, 500. There is a 50 Pya note. Coins are 1, 5,
- 10, 25, and 50 Pya, and 1 Kyat. Coins are very rarely used. The 35 and
- 75 Kyat notes are uncommon and no longer issued, but still valid.
- The notes should be signed "Bank of Myanmar". There are other
- notes that are signed with "Bank of Burma", but it is difficult to pay
- with them.
-
- It is illegal to import or export Kyats.
-
- People entering Myanmar will have to change USD 200 into FEC 200.
- This amount has been reduced from USD 300 due to the high value of the
- USD (and probably also because of increasing pressure). These FEC have
- about the same value (some 5 - 10 % less) as the USD. The FECs are
- treated equally to USD within the country (i.e. prices listed in USD
- can be paid with FEC.) Notice: with this money you are supporting the
- governemnt of Myanmar.
- If you are on a guided tour and have a EVT visa, you will not have to
- change these USD 200.
- If you change more than the required USD 200, you can convert the
- unused FEC back, but you have to have all the receipts.
-
- It is possible to "reduce" these 200 FEC by paying admissions to
- museums, in the post office etc. by using large notes. Often the
- clerks do not have enough change in FEC, so they will have to return
- USD. Some hotels and guest houses change back FEC to USD for a
- commission of about 10%.
-
- The rate for Kyats is 1 USD = 6.27 MMK (Jan 2003) , but this rate is
- used only for official government transaction that a tourist hardly
- gets involved in.
- Historical development: 6.6 (Dec 2001), 3.34 (Jan 2000), 6.25 (Sep
- 1997 until Nov 1999), 5.88 (Oct 1996).
-
- To get a nice small conversion table that you can put in you pocket,
- look at the Currency Cheat Sheet at
- http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet?user=pmgitg.
-
- Make sure you always have small change, since there are many places
- that simply do not have the money to change big notes.
-
- It is recommended to carry cash. The Buremese are honest, so there is
- not much chance to get robbed. Besides, it is not quite easy to change
- money.
-
- USD, CHF, FRF, DEM, GBP, JPY are the only acceptable currencies.
-
- The following traveller's cheques are accepted, but only by very few
- outlets:
- Master Card Traveller's Cheque
- American Express Traveller's Cheque
- Bank of Tokyo Traveller's Cheque
- CITI Corp Traveller's Cheque
- Visa Traveller's Cheque
- Bank of America Traveller's Cheque
- National Westminster Bank Ltd Traveller's Cheque
- First National CITI Bank Traveller'sCheque
- Swiss Bankers Traveller's Cheque
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia Traveller's Cheque
-
-
-
- Accepted credit cards are Visa, American Express and
- Diners. It is possible that you will be charged an additional
- commision of 3 - 5%.
-
- Cash advances are not possible at the moment.
-
- Opening hours for banks are 10 am to 2 pm.
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- MAIL
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/mail.htm
-
-
- Post offices are open Mo to Fr, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.
-
- Basic overseas postage is MMK 4 to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
- Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan; and MMK 5 to USA or UK. There are
- special Air Letters for USD 3.50.
-
- Letters to Europe take about 10 to 14 days.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- TELEPHONE
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/telephone.htm
-
-
- Myanmars international telephone code is 95.
-
- Overseas calls are possible through operators at a Central Telegraph
- Office or at major hotels. Some hotels also have IDD, the prefix is
- 0.
-
- Some rates for one minute:
- Bangkok USD 3.66
- Australia USD 8.50
- Europe USD 15.00
-
-
- Some area codes (to dial you need the prefix 0):
-
- Bassein 42
- Magwe 63
- Mandalay 2
- Meiktila 64
- Moulmein 32
- Pegu 52
- Prome 53
- Sittwe 43
- Yangon 1
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- HOTELS
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/hotels.htm
-
-
- Accommodation is from about USD 2-5 for a room in a simple guest house
- to over USD 50 in a luxury hotel.
-
- Guest houses in Yangon start at about FEC 7, in other cities from
- FEC 3.
-
- While the official government hotels may offer more luxury than
- privately run small hotels, you also support the government with the
- money you pay. Consider staying in privately run accommodation
- instead.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- FOOD
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/general/food.htm
-
-
- The basic diet is rice and curry. There are numerous forms of fish
- paste with salad. Soup is taken wogether with the rice and other
- dishes.
-
- Food costs amount to about USD 6 per day. This amount soon increases
- to about USD 10 to 20 if you drink a few beers.
-
- A cheap dish (curry or fried rice) is about MMK 70 to 100.
-
- A good Burmese meal is about MMK 200 to 350 (without drinks).
-
- Chinese food ranges from MMK 200 to 500 per dish (you'll eat more than
- one dish per meal.)
-
- A bottle of Mandalay Beer is about MMK 240 (market) to MMK 350
- (restaurant).
-
- The most popular Myanmar dishes are 'Mohinga' (rice noodles with fish
- gravy) for breakfast and 'Ohn-No Khaukswe' (noodles with coconut
- curry).
-
- Desserts include Sanwin-Ma-Kin (sweet cakes made with semolina, sugar,
- egg, butter and coconut), banana cakes, Kyaukchaw (sea weed jelly) and
- jaggery.
-
- Almost every town also boasts Chinese restaurants (mainly Cantonese
- and Fukinese). Indian food like Kababs and Birani are also popular.
- European food is only available at bigger hotels.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- HEALTH
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/general/health.htm
-
-
- This section intends to give some advice on health issues in South
- East Asia. It does not cover all possibilities and in case of problems
- you certainly still should visit a qualified medical doctor. This is
- especially true for vaccinations.
-
- Depending on the country you are travelling, medical facilities may
- not be widely available. This is true especially for Cambodia, Laos
- and Myanmar. China and Vietnam does have a wide variety of medicines,
- but you may not be familiar with them. In case of serious troubles
- consider leaving the country and going to a place with good facilites
- (e.g. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.)
-
- Chinese people are very aware of health problems. The Chinese medicine
- is world famous and obtainable even in the smallest villages and also
- many of the surrounding countries (e.g. Vietnam). However, Western
- medicine is not very widely available.
-
- Doctors and hospitals normally expect immediate cash payment.
-
- If you regularly need some medicine, bring enough of it with you since
- chances are that you will not get the same or a replacement for it. It
- is also recommended to bring one or two clean needles in case of an
- emergency.
-
- Be carful not to drink water directly from the tap. Although it is not
- a problem anymore in big cities like Shanghai, depending on your
- resistance it is better to be safe than sorry. Especially in China,
- even the smallest guest houses in the remotest villages there are
- thermos bottles with boiled water. It is used to drink tea. However,
- if you follow the rule of "cook it , boil it, peel it, or forget it",
- you can eat and drink from any restaurant or street stall and
- ridiculous things (at least for people with an average stomach) like
- bringing your own chopsticks is really not necessary.
-
-
- AIDS
-
- AIDS is a serious threat in many countries.
-
- According to recent figures by UNAIDS, the United Nations program,
- about half of Cambodia's prostitutes are HIV positive. The total
- figure of the population with the disease is estimated at 120'000,
- with the most explosive growth in Asia. Aids iis also increasing
- rapidly in other countries.
-
-
- Malaria
-
- The four essential steps when dealing with malaria are:
- Awareness: know about the risk of malaria.
- Bites by mosquitoes: prevent or avoid.
- Compliance with appropriate chemoprophylaxis.
- Diagnose breakthrough malaria swiftly and obtain treatment promptly.
-
- Malaria (from Italian 'mala aira', bad air) is a life-threatening
- disease and a major health risk for travelers visiting tropical
- countries. It occurs when small parasites are passed from one person
- to another by the bites of certain mosquitoes (Anopheles). The
- parasites use red blood cells to breed and finally cause their
- decay. This decay causes fever and eventually a lack of oxygen which
- can, in case of a malaria cerebral, cause brain damage. Depending on
- the type of malaria these fever shocks appear every three (malaria
- tertiana) or four (malaria quartana) days. Death rate of malaria can
- be up to 2%.
-
- There have been many discussions on how to best deal with it and even
- the doctors have not yet agreed on a single opinion.
-
- Probably the best paper describing malaria and its prevention and cure
- is from the PHLS Malaria Reference Laboratory of the London School of
- Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and can be found at:
- http://www.phls.co.uk/publications/CDRreview/cdrr1097.pdf
-
- Dr. Arlene Goldman published an excellent guide to the various drugs
- used in malaria treatment and lists region with malaria resistance.
- The URL is
- http://www.publinet.it/pol/malaria.htm
-
-
- Bilharzia
-
- The parasitic infection bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is caught by
- contact with river water. You do not have to drink the water or swim
- in the river, just getting wet may be enough. The microscopic
- parasites in the water burrow into your skin and cause a damage to the
- liver and other organs. It is a chronic debilitation disease. The most
- dangerous region is in south Laos (south of Pakse) and in Cambodia.
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- FLYING
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/transport/plane.htm
-
-
- Maynmar has five international airports, Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan,
- Nyaung-O, and Heho.
-
- There are direct flights between Yangon and Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur,
- Singapore, Jakarta, Dhaka, Kunming, Moscow and Vientiane.
-
-
- The airlines serving Yangon are Myanmar Airways International, Thai
- Airwais International, Silk Air, Biman, CAAC and Aeroflot.
-
- Some addresses of airlines in Yangon:
- Aeroflot Airline, 182 (B), Dhamma Zedi Road.
- Air France, 69, Sule Pagoda Road.
- Biman Airline, 106, Pansodan St.
- China Airline, 104, Strand Road.
- KLM, 104, Strand Road.
- Myanma Airways International, 123, Sule Pagoda Road. Tel 89772,
- 89773, 89774.
- Myanma Airways, 104, Strand Road.
- Nepal Airlines, 104, Strand Road.
- North West Orient Airlines, 36, Shwebontha St.
- Silk Air, 537, Merchant St.
- Thai Airways International, 441/445, Maha Bandoola St.
-
- There are two domestic airlines, Air Mandalay Ltd. and Yangon
- Airlines.
-
- Myanmar Airwais International now has Boeing 737-400 machines and are
- quite nice.
-
- It seems to be a hassle to get tickets, so it might be wise to pay a
- tout USD 2 to buy the tickets for you.
-
- Between Yangon and Bangkok are two flights each day, one in the
- morning and one in the afternoon. The return ticket should cost you
- about USD 170 or FEC 98 for a single with Myanmar Airways
- International and USD 250 with Thai Airwais International.
-
- Air Mandalay operates two flights per week between Yangon and Chiang
- Mai.
-
- Since 12 February 2000 there is a direct flight between Mandalay and
- Bangkok. It is operated by Angel Air.
-
- There are flights by Bangkok Airways between Chinag Mai and Mandalay.
- Upon arrival at Mandalay you have to pay a USD 24 visa fee and a
- USD 71 "service charge for landing".
-
- There is a direct flight between Hong Kong and Yangon twice a week.
- UB238 Hong Kong - Yangon dep 17:40, arr 19:25
- UB237 Yangon - Hong Kong dep 12:00, arr 16:40
-
- The departure tax in Yangon is USD 6.
-
-
- Flight Schedule
-
- The schedule was effective from 7 Dec 94 to 31 March 95, and has now
- been greatly expanded. Make sure you check for latest timetables.
- Aircraft: ATR 72-210 QC: 80 Seats
-
- Days Flight Dep Arr Meals
- From Yangon (RGN) To
- Bagan NYU 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6T 001 07:45 09:00 Breakfast
- Mandalay MDL 1 3 6 6T 003 12:10 13:40 Lunch
-
- From Mandalay (MDL) To
- Heho HEH 1 3 6 6T 002 09:20 14:45 Lunch
- Yangon RGN 1 3 6 6T 004 10:15 11:45 Lunch
- Yangon RGN 4 7 6T 006 10:15 11:45 Lunch
- Yangon 2 5 6T 008 13:40 15:10 Light Meal
-
- From Bagan (NYU) To
- Mandalay MDL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6T 001 09:20 09:50 Refreshment
-
- From Heho (HEH) To
- Yangon RGN 1 6 6T 002 14:55 16:10 Light Meal
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- TRAINS
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/transport/train.htm
-
-
- Some distances of railways between major cities:
-
- Yangon to Myitkyina 1'162 km (722 miles)
- Yangon to Mandalay 620 km (385 miles)
- Yangon to Lashio 901 km (560 miles)
- Yangon to Mawlamyine 287 km (178 miles)
- Yangon to Pyay 259 km (161 miles)
-
-
- There are three trains between Yangon and Mandalay every day, at 5 pm,
- at 6:30 pm and at 7 pm. A one way ticket in the upper class cost about
- USD 32 to 38, depending on the train. The newest report states that
- there are four trains, all costing USD 32:
-
- Dep. 6:00 17:00 18:30 19:30
- Arr. 21:10 7:00 8:30 10:35
-
-
- The trains from Mandalay to Yangon leave daily:
-
- Dep. 6:00 15:15 17:30 18:30
- Arr. 21:30 5:20 7:30 10:00
-
-
- There is a train to Molmeyn.
-
- From Mandalay to Bagan, there is a daily overnight train service.
-
- The train between Mandalay and Myitkina is USD 27 for upper class.
-
- There is a special counter for tourists in Yangon, Mandalay and Thazi.
- Of course, at this counter you have to buy the specially priced
- tickets.
-
- In smaller cities it is possible to buy tickets in ordinary class. The
- train between Myitkina and Mandalay is then only USD 1.
-
- The express trains between major tourist spots are very comfortable
- with new, reclining seats). The ordinary coaches look more like made
- for animal transport.
-
- Do not forget earplugs if you want to sleep during a night ride, since
- very loud Burmese music is played.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- BOAT
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/transport/boat.htm
-
-
- Myanmar has many rivers with lots of transportation.
-
- Ayeyarwady River 1'550 km (963 mi)
- Chindwin River 792 km (492 mi)
- Thanlwin River 89 km ( 55 mi)
- Kaladan River 177 km (110 mi)
- Saing Tin River 129 km ( 80 mi)
- Sittoung River current too strong
-
- There is a luxury cruise ship running between Mandalay and Bagan on
- the Ayeyarwady Princess. There are also numerous regular boats. The
- government boat is FEC 11, the privately run boats are FEC 17. The
- boats leave at 6 am (for one FEC, the hostel will provide for
- transport to the ferry terminal). The trip takes about 10 hours.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- BUS
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/transport/bus.htm
-
-
- Ordinary buses are old, cheap, convenient, uncomfortable, and
- extremely crowded. There are more expensive and comfortable express
- busses. Still, due to bad roads, the average speed is still below
- 50 km/h. If you would like to get some sleep, say during a night trip,
- don't forget earplugs; loud action movies will be shown.
-
- Express busses between Yangon and Mandalay cost about MMK 1000 one
- way.
-
- The Bagan Express leaves Yangon at 4 pm and costs MMK 1000.
-
- The Bagan Express to Mandalay leaves Bagan every day at 4, 6, and 9
- am. It costs MMK 400.
-
- The Bagan Express to Taunggyi leaves Bagan every 2 days at 5 and at
- 7 am. Price is MMK 700. There are Tiger Head pickup trucks. They
- charge MMK 1000 in front and MMK 500 in the back. They leave at 4 am.
-
- The are modern express busses between Yangon and Mandalay. Arrow, Leo
- and Trade Express have a bus at 5 pm daily, for MMK 1000. Asahi Yoko
- departs at 5:30 and costs MMK 950. All of them arrive around 7 to 8 am
- the next morning.
-
- An express bus from Taunggyi (Lake Inle) to Yangon costs MMK 1800. It
- leaves dayli at around noon and the ride takes 17 - 18 hours on bad
- roads.
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- CAR
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch/myanmar/transport/car.htm
-
-
- A minivan complete with driver and guide should be about USD 80 for a
- ten day trip from Mandalay to Rangon.
-
- Other quotes that have been reported: A large car for up to three
- persons is about USD 50 per day, a minivan for a maximum of 7 persons
- is USD 70 per day. This includes a driver and fuel.
-
- A 17 day trip in a Toyota LandCruiser for 8 people complete with
- driver costs USD 600 for 17 days.
-
-
- **************************************************************************
-
- MYANMAR (Burma) - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide
-
- Copyright (c) 1995 - 2004, Peter M. Geiser
-
- http://www.pmgeiser.ch
- http://www.pmgeiser.com
- http://www.mineralwaters.org
- http://www.dussy.ch
-
- **************************************************************************
-