Five must-follow Myanmar travel tips
Stroll past Yangon’s Bogyoke market and it’s impossible not to detect the fast-paced change that is sweeping through Myanmar (Burma).
Government-backed banks on the market’s fringes are finally selling
Kyat at a market rate, while hawkers openly tout Aung San Suu Kyi
T-shirts and National League for Democracy (NLD) mugs.
Yet
for all this, and the cautiously welcomed decision by the government to
allow wider press freedom, Myanmar is still a very different place to
travel than its Southeast Asian neighbours, lacking the widespread
infrastructure and western comforts found over the border in Thailand.
However, follow these tips and you’ll be certain to get the very best
out of this stunning destination.
1. Pack noise-cancelling headphones
Before
you leave for Myanmar, be sure to spend any extra cash on a decent pair
of noise-cancelling headphones, essential for cutting out the booming,
distorted sound of the TV on long-distance bus rides. Buses are by far
the cheapest way to travel in Myanmar, meaning 52-seat coaches are chock
full of locals looking to be entertained. The Burmese are fanatical
about music videos starring perfectly coiffed but unlucky-in-love boys,
soaps centring on love triangles at street corner tea stands, and
lengthy clips of Buddhist chanting. All bases are covered, at
ear-splitting volume, whether on a short hop from Yangon to Bago or on
the epic ten-hour west-east route from Bagan to Inle Lake. On overnight
buses, the TV can be left on until as late as 1am.
2. Go veggie
Burmese
food can be every bit as delicious as its Thai and Vietnamese cousins.
But eating meat here can be a chastening experience. According to one
Bagan cafe owner, chickens can be kept for as long as 15 years before
being slaughtered when they finally stop laying eggs. We don’t need to
tell you that the meat is hardly succulent and tender. Similarly, a
short walk through Nyaungshwe market’s meat stalls is fascinating, but
won’t leave you hungry for beef. Instead, go veggie. Thanks to the huge
Buddhist population, options are plentiful. The ethnic Shan food is
especially good for non-meat eaters, with hearty noodle broths
supplemented with super-fresh greens, many grown on the floating fields
around Inle Lake.
3. Wear shoes at all times
All
Asian cities can feel grubby in rainy season. But Yangon suffers
especially during the wet months of June to September. Wearing shoes is
vital at this time. Not only will it stop your feet from getting soaked,
you’ll also avoid any nasty stubbed toes on the uneven pavements, of
which there are many. The city has largely been left to its own devices
by the government since the capital was moved to Nay Pyi Taw in 2005.
Rubbish goes uncollected, many sidewalks are simply muddy paths and rats
scavenge openly in side streets. Sandals are not a smart idea if you’re
even slightly squeamish about what you might tread in. Ditch them and
you’ll be able to stride fearlessly through this delightful, crumbling
colonial city.
4. Check your cab has got a handle to hold on to
Owing
to economic sanctions imposed by the West since the military crackdown
of 1988, taxis in Myanmar are by and large ageing white Toyota Celica
estates. Car imports are heavily restricted and only the very richest
manage to get hold of swanky new 4x4s. While the engines of these old
motors still purr thanks to Burmese mechanical nous, they’re obviously
well behind the safety-focused cars of today. Seat belts on back seats
are notable by their absence, so before you slide in and get driven off
into the chaos of Yangon’s roads, be sure to check your cab at least has
a handle for you to grab hold of when flying round corners or
overtaking colonial-era trucks on single lane highways.
5. Never sit down on hired bikes
Hiring
bikes is one of the best ways to see rural Myanmar, giving a great
insight into areas well away from the major cities of Yangon and
Mandalay. But if you want to enjoy sitting down for a meal after a long
day’s ride, then be sure to stand on the pedals as often as you can
while you’re out sightseeing. This is especially true on the rutted
roads around Nyaungshwe, a truly bone-shaking experience that’ll be made
all the more uncomfortable if you use the saddle. It might seem more
awkward, but you’ll be skipping some of the harshest saddle sore
imaginable come the evening.
Source: lonelyplanet.com
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HUONG VIET TRAVEL – MEMBER OF PATA, ASTA, IATA
Add: 20 Nguyen Truong To Str, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel : (84-4) 37162149 Fax: (84-4) 37161738
E–mail address: sales@huongviettravel.com
Website: www.huongviettravel.com | http://www.aseantravelandtours.com | http://www.visavietnamonline.com | http://www.huongvietjsc.com
Vietnam Travel Packages | Vietnam Visa | Cambodia Tours | Myanmar Tours | Laos Tours | China Tours
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