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& BURMA

NB: If trying to email to Myanmar you may find your mail will be returned as the junta has stopped all ISP services & do not want the rest of the world to know what is happening inside Myanmar. 

Burma (Myanmar) is a slow developing country ruled by a military regime.  Tourist facilities in Rangoon, Bagan, Taunggyi and Mandalay are OK but are  limited in most of the rest of the country. The country's political situation is relatively volatile as the military government suppresses expression of opposition to its rule with brute force. Yangon lnternational Airport is located 20 km from downtown Yangon.

VISAS: Travel in Burma is strictly controlled by the Government of Burma. A passport and visa are required. Tourist visas are issued for package/group tours as well as to foreign individual tourists ("FITS") for stays of up to four weeks. "FITS" must exchange a minimum of U.S. dollars 300 for dollar-denominated foreign exchange certificates (FEC) upon arrival. The military government rarely issues journalist visas inquiries may be made at the nearest embassy or consulate of Burma (Myanmar).The airport tax is US $10 for international passengers, payable in FEC (Foreign Exchange Certificates). There is no airport tax on domestic flights.

You can travel to the main tourist areas of Pagan, Inle Lake and  Mandalay. Travel to nearly all other parts of Burma is permitted, although transportation is difficult. Those planning to travel to more remote areas should contact the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon and/or Burmese authorities to ensure that they can travel to their intended destination. The Thai-Burmese border area in Southern Shan, Mon, Karen, Karenni, Chin and Rakhine states have been the scene of a lot of fighting between government forces and various insurgent groups. The Junta is trying to replace the Shan people with the pro junta Red Wa who come from the Southern China area & Northern Myanmar. It is envisaged that the Military Junta want to repatriate some 500,000 Wa people who control the drug trafficking and replace the Shan people in Shan state, who incidentally are no longer growing drugs. This has been achieved by the Burmese Army or SLORC forcibly making the Shan leave their villages, destroying their cattle and confiscating their belongings, burning villages, raping & using their people for human mules to carry munitions & pillaging wherever they can. There has been not one Shan village that has been untouched by the brutality of the military. Added to this is the lack of pay for the soldiers who then take it out on the Shan people who are innocent. It is estimated by the Thai authorities & the US Embassy in Thailand that the Wa and Junta now work together to undermine the Thai people by supplying Thailand with amphetamines in the millions & heroin in bulk quantities.

Mae Sai & Mae Sot borders are open: The MTT office in Tachilek has the authority to grant you a through passage, for $10 USD of course. Nothing is free in Burma. A 1 day visa fee is still $US5  or 250 baht. Overnight or up to 2 weeks visa is up from $US18 to $US20. Travel to Burma/Myanmar:  be aware that there is a blacklist of people not welcome in Burma or those that they might be looking for for whatever reasons.  If you think that you are blacklisted, I would suggest not crossing the border.  They mean business.  Otherwise, if you are just a friendly tourist they welcome you with open arms.  Things not to talk about in public or with anyone, is politics, rebels, drugs, or Aung San Suyi.  If one remembers the Briton jailed for anti-government propaganda, last I heard he was surviving time in Keng Tung Prison, 17 year sentence.  And, not his first offence!  Some never learn. IMPRISONMENT: Warning if you are buying cigarettes from unlicensed dealers on the Tachelik side of the Burmese border then don't.A tourist was jailed for a night because he had no tax receipt from the cigarette vendor. Vendors sell cigarettes on the streets but be warned. This also applies to liquour so buy at the duty free shops and obtain a receipt. Remember Burma or Myanmar is the cheapest place to buy Johnnie Walker Blue & Gold label--the best whiskey. Who wants to spend a  night in the Burmese lockup!!!!!!Fines for cigarettes  range from 200 baht per packet (not carton of 10)= 2000 baht or they might put you in the can for a night. 

N.B. WHEN OPEN Myanmar border crossings if there is an incident in Thailand the border will close regardless of whether you are still in Tachelik. This will mean you will be stuck. The Myanmar Border Office now keeps your passport & issues you with a voucher!! Unfortunately some foreigners take it upon themselves to distribute subversive pamphlets in Tachelik and you may find you cannot leave. The border has a hot list of people they do not want.

Travel by Sea - Cruise Ships go toYangon Port with Visa on Arrival being granted on prior arrangement.  

Travel Overland - Overland entry with a Border Pass is permitted at the following Border Check Points: Kyukoke, Namkhan and Muse on the Myanmar-Yunnan (China) border; and Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung on the Myanmar-Thai border.  Tour to Kyaing Tong & Mong La = entry permit fee per person = US20. Travellers going to Kyaing Tong must chage a min US$100. Travel to Mong La= US$120. Car Entry Fee= 4 seter = $US30; 5-7 seater =$US50; Above 8 seater =$US100. Documents required: 3 passport photos 1 x 1/2". Passport copy; entry permission is valid for 13 nights/ 14 days only. Tourists must be accompanied by package tour or authorized agents.

Travel by Air - Myanmar is served internationally by: Air China, Air Mandalay, All Nippon Airways (ANA) Bhutan Airlines, Biman, Indian Airlines, Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Pakistan International, Royal Brunei, Silk Air and Thai Airways International (TG).Yangon has direct air-links with Bangkok, Bhutan, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong Calcutta, Chiang Mai, Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, London, Osaka and Singapore. Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Thai Airways International (TG), Silk Air, Biman, PIA, Indian Airlines, Royal Brunei, Air China, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Bhutan Airlines operate regular flights to Yangon. Air Mandalay operates Yangon-Chiangmai - Yangon flights. 

DOS & DON'TS:                            

Hotels and guest houses must give information about the identities and activities of their foreign guests. Burmese who interact with foreigners may be compelled to report on those interactions to the Burmese government.

Telephone services are poor in Rangoon and other major cities and non-existent in some other areas. U.S. Embassy officials are not allowed to travel outside Rangoon without the permission of the Burmese Government. It may, therefore, be difficult to assist U.S. citizens quickly should an emergency arise. The junta have made this country a model of intimidation & virtual slavery using guns as their way of enforcing their reign.

CRIME INFORMATION: Security in tourist areas is generally good. The level of violent crime and crime against property is low. There are occasional reports of pick pocketing. Tourist information is available at the Arrival Hall of Yangon International Airport; Head Office in downtown Yangon at 77-91 Sule Pagoda Road (Tel: 95-1-252859); Bagan Office (Tel:95062-70217); Mandalay Office(Tel: 95-2-22540) at Mandalay Swan Hotel; Taunggyi Office (Tel: 95-081-21611, 95-081-21302) at Taunggyi Hotel; Kawthaung Office; Tachileik Office and Muse Office.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Hospital and medical services are available in Rangoon; elsewhere, medical care is limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid. Take out medical insurance.

ROADS & TRANSPORT: Rangoon’s main roads are generally good. Traffic in the capital is increasing.  There are few good highways connecting Burma’s major cities; most in-country travel must be accomplished by air. Travel between Mandalay and Rangoon is possible by land, but roads are bad.  Trains aren't that much better and not  punctual.There are 12 Highway Bus services running between Yangon and Mandalay using air-conditioned coaches. Travelling time is about 14 hours with brief stop- overs at Taungoo and Pyinmana.Limousine taxis and mini-buses are available in Yangon for sightseeing and up country tours.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS Customs regulations are restrictive and strictly enforced. Photographing people in uniform or any military installation could lead to arrest or the confiscation of cameras and film.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the West. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs in Burma are strict and convicted offenders can expect stiff jail terms, fines and even the death penalty.

CURRENCY: Not all major credit cards can be used in Burma, and generally only large international hotels in Rangoon and Mandalay accept any. There are no automatic cash machines in the country to access currency from overseas and it is not possible to cash a personal check drawn on a foreign bank.

You can change dollars into Burmese Kyat at the market rate, it is illegal to exchange currency except at authorized locations such as the airport, banks and government stores.

Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC) are required by foreigners for the payment of plane tickets, train tickets and most hotels. Burmese Kyat are accepted for most other transactions. It is possible to purchase FEC with some credit cards at the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank in Rangoon or any place that exchanges foreign currency.

Postal Service -  Yangon Central Post Office,  39, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm., Monday to Friday. Major hotels provide mail boxes; and postage stamps are available at the Reception Counters.

Telephone - International phone calls can be made by International Direct Dialing (IDD) phone or most major hotels. 

The main tourist centres are located at a distance from Yangon, and it is convenient for visitors to travel by domestic flights. Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways operate flights ot major tourist sites including Mandalay, Bagan, Heho, Thandwe, Myitkyina, Tachileik and Kawthaung.

Yangon-Mandalay is tke main rail link with four express trains running daily between Yangon and Mandalay. Furnisked coaches (Cherry and Padauk) for a group of 4 or 8 persons are available. From Thazi on the Yangon-Mandalay line, a branch line runs to Skwenyaung (the nearest station to Inlay Lake) and to Taunggyi.From Mandalay, there are rail services to Pyin Oo Lwin, Lashio, Monywa and Bagan. There is also a rail service from Yangon to Bagan which operate on alternate days.                   Dagon-man 01-277503    Station Enquiry 01-274027    Malikha-Mandalar 02-21385        San Thaw Tar 01-221460            (GOODS TRAIN) 01-222700

OTHER INTERESTING MYANMAR SITES:LINKS

http://www.osinga.com/myanmar 

http://www.shanworld.com 

Inland Waterways

Myanmar has many rivers and a large delta where the Inland Water Transport operates a huge fleet of double and triple-decker boats.There is a regular service between Bhamaw and Mandalay and between Mandalay and Pyay(Prome) via Bagan."The Road to Mandalay", a luxury boat operated by E & Q Services, sails from Mandalay to Bagan during the open season. Irrawaddy Princess,a catamaran, operates between Mandalay and Bagan and is also available for charter to Bhamaw and Pyay (Prome). The north and western part of tke country are very rugged and mountainous. Three parallel chains of mountain ranges run from north to south.They begin from the eastern extremity of the Himalaya to Hka-kabo Razi (5881 meters), the highest peak in South-East Asia. The mountain chains separate the country into three river systems the Ayeyarwaddy, Sittaung and Than-Lwin

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