Myanmar
Southeast Asian countries have a splendid view, they offers great local culture and customs, and the people are really nice. Thailand and Vietnam are perhaps the leaders in tourism in this area, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia who are trying hard to catch up. Myanmar is opening its border to foreigners and the country is worth of visit.
It was quite hard to find written pieces on this place on the internet. If you find something, somehow, the writings and reviews are around 2012. No idea why. Perhaps it was the time when all went open? And the most news was on how difficult to withdraw money and that some part was not safe.
I just back from my 2 weeks trip here. And I can only say that this country is amazing. I visited the big 4: Yangon, Lake Inle, Mandalay and Bagan and I am impressed.
What is not true about written reviews so far?
First of all, unlike all of the scary stories that said that you need to bring USD in cash here, ATM did work. Unlike ATM's in Thailand, withdrawing money was even free. The entry to the country was also smooth.
Sure, there is no bus directly from the airport and there was no special airport taxi, but it’s a minor problem. It is an experience to experience that no taxi looks the same in Yangon. The traffic was chaotic, more chaotic than in Bangkok or Jakarta. The people's discipline was not so good in traffic, no one was looking, gave direction, and in the one-way road you can expect traffic from another side. This is what you should be careful of. Even though, in smaller places (consider Mandalay as big) you can walk, bike or get around by scooters easily. People did honk a lot which can be quite enervating.
Most fascinating thing
I was really fascinated with the people. They are really respectful and smile a lot. Most of the people was neither rich nor English able speakers, yet you see that they don't suffer (unlike in some countries where people seems to dislike tourists). Even with broken English, they will try to help you. You can say no to the sellers, taxis driver, and they are not going to keep on trying until you get crazy like in India for example. Also, unlike several countries (like recently in Cuba), people talked to you not only because they consider you as a walking wallet. The people had self-respect and at the same time to keep polite. It is the challenge for the tourists themselves to keep this atmosphere. It came sometimes situation, for example in Shwesandon sunset pagoda in Bagan, that the children sellers asked you to buy their stuff and they were quite consistent. Just be cool, keep on talking and it is also traveling about, increasing the angriness threshold.
What is true about written reviews so far?
I need to mention that will mention that the price level of this country is a bit higher than surrounding countries such as Thailand and Laos. Yet, almost all prices are negotiable and sometimes when you are able to do, it is just good to pay because the prices are still lower compared to a West European standard. Furthermore, I believe and hope that it will contribute for the local people.
A bit of every cities
Yangon
The best thing to do in this city is observing and wandering around. Shwegadon pagoda is perhaps the real only things that you can visit followed by Sule pagoda. Around Sule and China Town you can wander around to look at how Myanmarese live. You can also takle circular train for 4 hours. It starts in Myanmar central station and it has west and east bound train. It costs yuu only 20 cents Euro or something. Yet. don’t make it too late since it will get dark and you can't see anything. The national museum is a bit old-fashioned but this is a good place to learn the culture, arts, and hisotry of Myanmar in short time.
Lake Inle
The port of entry to this area is Nyaung Shwe, a small city. It is good to wander around in this city but if you want to experience the lake, try the a bit more expensive resorts in villag3es such as Khaung Daing. It is relaxing here. You can get a boat for day trip for around 20.000 kyat.
Mandalay
Mandalay itself is so so, but outside you see a lot of things. The cities such as Amrapura, Ava and Sagaing could be visited in one day. These are old capital citis of Myanmarese kingdom. Sure, more days will make you enjoying and understand things better. The walk and view of U Bein bridge in Amrapura during the sunset was impressive
Bagan
Best place to see 4000 temples. Sunset and sundown view from Shwesandon and other smaller pagodas are impressive. I stayed in Nyaung U, which I think is better than in Old or New Bagan since the latters were too touristic (like Siem Reap), so many pizzeria,s motor rentals, etc. Yet, Nyaung U and the way to sunrise tempels without sunlight is dark, so.. bring a torch!
Transport
There are comfortable buses between bigger cities. I used JJ and OK. OK offers pick up and delivery services but the quality of the vans is more or less Myanmar standard. Not bad if you want to see and meet locals. JJ tries to make their bus like planes. A stewardess who gives long instruction in Myanmarees but a very short one in English. The coordination from JJ was sometimes chaotic but somehow all problem is solved. You can book the buses on the internet before, it is convenient, but they charge you about 2 USD extra.
JJ bus stops
- in Yangoon: far in the north close to airport (taxi 8000 kyat to downtown). The toilet facilities are not really good.
- In Bagan, the station is also quite far (taxi 5000 kyat to downtown ) but the toilet is clean. There are good local eating facilities around (yet be careful of spicy food before you are going to travel)
- In Mandalay the station is about 15 mins from the city (I paid 8000 kyat very early in the morning, but I believe 5000 will be the price)
- In Nyaung Shwe, it is in the city, the city is very small. You don’t have sit toilet.
After all
Myanmar is worth of visit. The people are full of smile despite their daily problem in live or they can not speak English. The criminality is low, but the traffic can be dangeorus though. It is a country that opening up, and it can change fast (like Cuba). Responsible tourism (not pointing camera with extreme long lens to the people) should be performed to answer the hospitality of the people.
