Myanmar Stories and Tips

Quote: Yangon offers a far better rate of exchange than Bagan and far more choices which isn’t saying much. Prices of little things are so much more costly, stock up in Yangon if you didn’t bring enough into the country.At the tourist sites water is…

Quote: Thingyan or Spring Festival is the largest and most important holiday in Myanmar. It occurs in April and last for about 4 days depending on what a seer/monk tells the government. It is the only holiday the entire government really recognizes and closes…

Quote: The money games played should definitely be a consideration to suppress tourism until the country is ready. Although I came to educate people in English, I did venture out of my hotel during the two months there.Dual pricing extended far and wide and could…

Quote: Having the pleasure of visiting many Buddhist temples and monasteries, I was disappointed that I had merely paused at two Hindu temples. There always seemed to be a fortress wall around them so I could only take distant photos that I might later be able…

Quote: Having lived in Thailand, I knew women weren't to touch a monk or give anything directly to them. Furthermore, they didn't smile much less laugh. Bowing your head as monk walked by was expected. Therefore, this day's events were odd indeed. Heading into town in…

Quote: I was on an overpass when I noticed down below was very nice looking mosque. I marveled at the building and tried to find a place where that would encompass the most of it in a photograph.. While taking pictures, a man called…

Quote: Over the Thai BorderWhile visiting northern Thailand we decided to venture over the border to Mynamar.We crossed over with a guide and had no problems at all. From Chaing Rai the nearest physical border is also Thailand's most Northerly point, Mae Sai. Here Burma, Union…

Quote: Burmese PeopleMyanmar is an ethnically diverse country, much more so than neighbor Thailand. More than a hundred ethnic groups and languages exist there; but Kawthaung is within the Tanintharyi Division and near the Mon State, thus, most of its population is Bamar with a significant…

Quote: After flying from one place to another we were finally able to go overland from Heho to Pindaya and from Pindaya to Nyaung Shwe on the shores of Inlé Lake then back to Heho. As you might guess, traveling by road is a great…

Quote: Pindaya is a small quiet town perched on the bank of the placid Botoloke Lake. It also contains at least two large monastery compounds with numerous pagodas and stupas, all in different stages of preservation or dilapidation, depending on your view of things. It is…