|
MYANMAR > FACTS ABOUT THE VISITORS
GETTING THERE
Myanmar is served internationally by: Myanmar
Airways International, Thai Airways International,
Silk Air, Air China, All Nippon Airlines, Biman
Bangladesh Airlines, Indian Airlines, Pakistan
Airlines, Eva Air, Mandarin Airlines and Malaysian
Airlines. Air Mandalay Links Yangon and Mandalay
with Chiang mai, Thailand.
PLANNING
Myanmar is a year round destination, but the ideal
time to visit is during the cool season. Casual
and light clothing is recommended all year round,
a light sweater or jacket is advisable during
the cool season or when travelling in northern
areas. An umbrella for sun or rain is suggested.
Sandals that are easy to remove are recommended
for visits to monasteries and temples, as all
footwear must be removed before entering religious
buildings or homes. Mini skirts, shorts, and revealing
clothes are prohibited when visiting temples and
pagodas.
TOURIST OFFICES
Yangon (Myanmar Travel & Tours) : 275328;
Yangon Airport : 662652; Mandalay : 22540; Pagan
: 89001; Taunggyi : 21601, 21227.
VISA AND DOCUMENTS
A valid passport with a Myanmar entry visa is
required. A tourist visa can be obtained from
any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate worldwide. Visas
are valid for 28 days’ stay and can be issued
on the same day that they are applied for. Pre-arranged
visa (visa on arrival) is only granted with prior
arrangement and can be done through travel agents
or major hotels.
Two types of visa are available: a) The FIT Visa
holders are required to purchase US$200 worth
of foreign exchange certificates (FEC) upon arrival
in Myanmar.
b) If travelling on a ‘Package Tour Visa’
no FEC purchase is required. However a confirmation
letter of your booking through a tour operator
is required when applying for your visa at any
Myanmar Embassy or Consulate.
CUSTOMS
Customs regulations are restrictive and strictly
enforced. It is illegal to take many items, including
antiques, out of Myanmar. Foreigners have been
detained, searched and imprisoned for attempting
to take Burmese gems out of the country. The military
government restricts access to outside information.
Newspapers are censored for articles unfavorable
to the military government, and Internet access
is illegal. Travelers have reported that their
luggage is closely searched upon arrival and departure
by immigration authorities. On arrival at Yangon
airport, after having your customs declaration
stamped and if you have no goods to declare, you
can pass through the "Green Channel".
If you have any doubt, use the Red Channel. Tourists
are allowed a duty-free import of limited quantities
of tobacco-400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 8ounces
of pipe tobacco as well as two liters of alcoholic
beverage. Be careful, if you bring a mobile phone,
customs will keep this until departure. As of
September 2000, Internet connections are illegal
except to the government and a few businesses.
It is illegal to own an unregistered modem in
Burma, and tourists have had their laptop computers
taken and held at the airport until their departure.
MONEY
Myanmar currency is the ‘Kyat’ (pronounced
'chat'). Currency notes are issued in denominations
of Ks 1000, 500, 200, 100, 90, 50, 45, 20, 15,
10, 5, 1. Foreign exchange certificates (FEC)
are accepted at most hotels, airlines, international
restaurants and shops. FEC are available in US
dollar denomination. Licensed moneychangers will
exchange US dollars and FECs into local kyats.
Major hotels and a few restaurants will accept
credit cards. Traveller’s cheques are not
normally accepted and are difficult to transact.
The banks are usually open from Monday through
Friday (except on holidays) from 10 am to 2 pm.
POST AND COMMUNICATIONS
Visitors should use Central Post Offices for sending
letters and cards, Post offices are open Monday
to Friday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. IDD telephone and
fax facilities are available at some hotels but
ttelephone services are poor in Yangon and other
major cities and non-existent in some other areas.
E-mail is available at some large hotels. All
e-mails are read by military intelligence. It
is very expensive to send photographs via e-mail.
One foreign visitor was presented a bill for $2,000
(U.S.) after transmitting one photograph via a
major hotel’s e-mail system.
BOOKS
In Rangoon or Bagan, look out for ‘A pictorial
Guide to Pagan’. You will find this book
to be an invaluable introduction and guide to
the many temples, pagodas and ruins. Rangoon has
quite a few bookshops opposite the Bogyoke market
where you can find some really interesting books.
Literature of Myanmar: Since the Burmese language
uses one-syllable consonants for the beginning
and ending of words, with a vowel in the middle,
it makes the writing of poetry or satirical puns
interesting. This is due to the fact that the
middle vowel can carry four different tones which
enables the meaning of a word to possibly be altered
entirely. At one end of the "literature"
spectrum are satirical puns which are fairly common
and easily accomplished by simply changing the
vowel of a word. On the other end is classical
Myanmar literature which consists of prose with
an intricate rhyme scheme and four lines with
four syllables.
NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
In recent times, the military has severely restricted
what is allowed in print media, although some
short stories are still printed in popular magazines.
The only English language newspaper available
is ‘Working People’s Daily’.
Recent issues of international magazines are occasionally
available in the larger hotels. Bring a few popular
(but not politically sensitive) paperback books
or recent magazines to give to Burmese people.
Books and magazines are often expensive or hard
to find in cash-poor Myanmar, and this simple
act will be much appreciated.
RADIO & TV
All legal radio and television broadcasts are
state controlled. Myanmar TV broadcasts every
night for two and a half hours, and Myanmar Radio
(Voice of Myanmar) also only broadcasts for two
and a half hours per day.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
The people of Myanmar don’t seem to mind
having their photos taken, but you should always
ask first. Make sure that you bring a sufficient
film supply with you. Taking photographs of people
in uniform or any military installation is discouraged
by Burmese authorities, and it could lead to arrest
or the confiscation of cameras and film.
TIME AND ELECTRICITY
Local time is GMT+6.5. The electrical outlets
are rated at 230 Volts, 50 Cycles (220-240V, 50Hz).
However black out and low voltage are not uncommon
even in the cities.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Pyi: 1.5 kg, Viss: 2.2kg
LAUNDRY
Most hotels offer a laundry service or can at
least arrange for someone to launder your clothes
for you. Please remember that you should normally
wash your own undergarments. In the rainy season,
clothes may take longer to dry.
HEALTH
There are no formal requirements for immunisations
unless you have recently traveled in a yellow
fever affected area. Immunisation is recommended
against Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus,
and Polio, and immunisation against Tuberculosis
and Japanese B Encephalitis is recommended for
longer term travelers. Malaria and Dengue fever
can be a problem in some areas. However, with
caution, they can easily be avoided. Please consult
your doctor for anti malarial medication. There
is no protection against dengue fever. We suggest
that you take the following action in addition
to taking anti malarial prophylactics. Don't forget,
the best prevention is not to get bitten. Sleep
with a mosquito net outside built up areas, wear
long sleeves and trousers around dusk use plenty
of strong insect repellant - some brands can be
applied directly on clothing.
DANGERS AND ANNOYANCE
According to United Nations statistics, Myanmar
has one of the world’s lowest crime rates
in terms of personal safety. However, the Myanmar
regime, the state law and order restoration council,
is widely condemned for its human rights record,
and there is no freedom of speech. The main areas
of dissident activity and military operations
are along the eastern border with China and the
southern border with Laos and Thailand. Tourism
is new to Myanmar, the infrastructure of the country
has not yet been developed, don’t expect
the efficiency and high standard of service that
you would find in western countries.
BUSINESS HOURS
09.30-16.30 Monday-Fridays
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 4 Independence Day; national holiday in
memory of gaining independence from the British
colonial reign. The celebrations last for a full
week.
February 12 Day of the Burmese Union; national
holiday including parades in Yangon and dances
performed by hill tribes in traditional dress.
March 2 Peasants Day; national holiday with parades
in memory of General Ne Win seizing power on the
same day in 1962.
March 10 Dry Season Celebration; national holiday.
March 27 Day of the Army; national holiday with
parades.
April Thingyan; traditional Burmese New Year celebration
equaling the Songkran celebration in Thailand;
during the festivities people douse each other
liberally with water; in Mandalay the celebrations
are the most exuberant. The festival is celebrated
according to the moon calendar and therefore occurs
on variable dates.
May 1 Labor Day
May Kason; mobile national holiday in remembrance
of the birth and the first sermon of the Buddha.
July beginning of the Buddhist Lent; the exact
date depends on the moon calendar. This date is
preferred by Burmese and Buddhist men of the neighboring
countries, who intend to enter monkhood.
July 19 Martyrs Day; national holiday in memory
of the murder of Aung San on the same day of 1947.
October End of the Buddhist Lent; the date of
the finale celebration of the Buddhist Lent depends
on the moon calendar, as well.
November 11 National Holiday
November Tazaungmon; mobile celebration day, as
it has to coincide with a full moon night; in
that night there are competitions of unmarried
young women in weaving cloth.
December numerous minor festivals in honor of
various spirits.
December 25 Christmas Day
WORK
Government approval is required.
FOOD
The basic Myanmar food is mainly rice and curry.
Some of the curries are spicy and often served
with salad, vegetable soup and fish paste cooked
in various ways. Among the favorite food, is mohinga
(rice noodles with fish gravy) which is eaten
at any time of the day and is popular for breakfast.
Another popular dish is ohn-no- khaukswe, consisting
of noodles cooked in coconut chicken curry. Seafood
is available almost everywhere in the country.
Widely eaten desserts include sanwin-ma-kin (Myanmar
sweet cakes made of semolina, sugar, egg, butter
and coconut), Myanmar-style banana cakes, and
kyaukchaw (sea weed jelly). Chinese restaurants
can be easily found in towns, they serve Cantonese
and Fukienese style Chinese food. Indian food
such as kebabs and birani are also popular. European
food is available only at restaurant in the hotels.
Chettyar food is also popular among the Myanmars.
Most restaurants close by 10pm although some tea
and coffee shops will stay open later.
ENTERTAINMENT
Popular entertainment for those in the cities
or towns is going to movies, especially to see
foreign films. The traditional performing arts
in Myanmar are a form of folk opera called pwe.
THINGS TO BUY
Myanmar is renowned for its precious stones, in
particular rubies. Many different arts, crafts
and antiques are available, together with handcrafted
laquerware, embroidered cottons and woodcarvings.
|
