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We suggest that you pack a few necessities (a
change of underwear, toiletries, medications) in your carry-on
bag. It is also advisable to put your name and address inside
each piece of your luggage. If you use a photocopy of the
picture pages of your passport you will have an easy reference
in the event that your passport is misplaced during the trip
BUT PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP THE PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT
TOGETHER WITH THE PASSPORT IN YOUR WAIST BAG OR CARRY-ON BAG FOR
SAFEKEEPING YOUR PASSPORT INFORMATION.
Dehydration and fatigue contribute greatly to jet lag, and
there are some things that you can do to minimize the effects of
long flights: wear comfortable clothes, drink a lot of fluid
(water is the most important) and sleep as much as you can. It
also helps if you get up and walk about the cabin of the plane
from time to time.
As you know, common colds can spread quickly in a group and
in an aircraft. To minimize the risk of getting sick, start the
trip rested and healthy. Remember to pack a supply of vitamins
and medicines you take for common ailments such as colds,
allergies of stomach upsets. |
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CLIMATE:
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The best time to travel in Myanmar is between the months of
October and March, when rainfall is minimal and temperatures are
more moderate. High temperatures range between 88-95 degrees,
while lows are between 66 and 73 degrees. |
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CLOTHING:
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The primary consideration is comfort –
lightweight, smart casual clothing will be appropriate for all
excursions throughout the tour; formal dress will not be needed
at any point.
During the tour you can expect to encounter warm to hot
weather, often with a high degree of humidity. In general the
heat and humidity intensify as you head south. The weather can
be moderately humid (typically 70-85% at this time of year), and
periodic rain showers are common. For those travlelers who visit
during the period of May and October it’s essential to bring a
collapsible umbrella and lightweight raincoat or poncho.
Note that due to Burma’s conservative society, ladies should
plan to bring pants or longer skirts. For ladies, shorts are not
generally accepted: men might be able to wear them, as long as
they are knee length. In some places (outside hotels and some
restaurants) we will be encountering Eastern-style toilets,
which involve squatting. These are much easier for women wearing
skirts, as opposed to pants. It is also advisable to bring a
fanny pack or daypack to carry valuables; using a pack allows
you to tour with your hands free, a definite plus when climbing
into tour vehicles or taking off your shoes.
You may find that a walking stick or cane is helpful,
as walking surfaces are often uneven, and there are many stairs
and very few good handrails or ramps. Luggage shops or travel
catalogs have collapsible models with a pistol grip, which give
good and can fit in a suitcase when not in use. Please don’t
forget comfortable walking shoes and a travel alarm
clock.
At some of the temples that we visit during the trip, you
will need to remove your shoes and socks before entering. I
therefore suggest that you bring shoes that can easily be
removed, such as slip-on styles. As it’s rare to find places
to sit down while removing your shoes and socks, many find it
easiest to wear shoes without laces or buckles. You also need to
pack a pair of sneakers with good grip for some walking tour in
Inle area and else where. |
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^^Top^^ |
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HEALTH:
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It is a must to take Malarone or Doxycycline
for malaria in the country. I request you to consult with our
family doctor. You should also pack bug spray (DEET) and
sun screen in your carry-on. Bring the anti-diarrhea medication
in case you have upset stomach. |
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CURRENCY:
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Credit cards and travelers checks are not
accepted in Myanmar because of political issues. There are also
no cash machines in Burma. You will need to bring enough cash
(dollars) to pay for hotels (which can be paid ahead), and any
expenses incurred and any shopping that you do. Local currency
is called Kyat (MMK) and approximate currency exchange rate as
of the writing are: 1250 Kyats to 1 US Dollar. |
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TELEPHONE & E-MAIL SERVICES:
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Even though telephone services are usable in
hotels the charges are skyrocketing. Each minute called to any
city in the United States cost $7 and can even be higher.
Services of sending and receiving e-mails are available at a
couple of dollars for one e-mail address through hotel’s E-mail
address but checking your web mail box such as aol and
yahoo is impossible at hotels. Due to the government
monopoly on telecommunication mobile phones brought in by
clients are of no use in Myanmar. |
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ELECTRIC CURRENTS:
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The current is 220/230 Volts AC 50 cycles.
Adapters should be taken into Burma as some hotels have
inadequate supply. |
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VISA FOR BURMA:
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All visitors to Burma must have a valid visa to
enter the country. The validity for the Burmese visa is 28 days
and can be obtained through the Burmese Embassy in your home
country or through a visa service. Make sure you send your
passport at least 3 weeks prior to your departure to obtain visa
for the embassy needs a number of days for the process. |
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Please remember when planning your trip to our
country that your PASSPORT
must be:
*VALID FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER THE
DATE OF YOUR DEPARTURE FROM BURMA.
*HAVE ONE, FULL BLANK PAGE IN YOUR PASSPORT FOR THE BURMA VISA. |
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^^Top^^ |
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Suggested Reading
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- TWILIGHT OVER BURMA (MY LIFE AS A SHAN PRINCESS) by INGE
SARGENT - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS
- BEYOND THE LAST VILLAGE (A JOUNEY OF DISCOVERY IN ASIA'S
FORBIDDEN WILDERNESS) by ALAN ABINOWITZ ISLAND PRESS/
SHEARWATER BOOKS
- THE PIANO TUNER by DANIEL MASON - VINTAGE BOOKS
- THE TROUSER PEOPLE (A STORY OF BURMA IN THE SHADOW OF
EMPIRE) by ANDREW MARSHALL - COUNTERPOINT PRESS
- THE BURMA ROAD (THE EPIC STORY OF THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA
THEATER IN WORLD WAR 2) by DONOVAN WEBSTER FARRAR, STRAUS
AND GIROUX
- RUDYARD KIPLING: A LIFE by HARRY RICKETS-CARROLL & GRAF
- JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE UP THE IRRAWADDY TO MANDALAY AND
BHAMO by TALBOYS WHEELER
- BURMESE DAYS by GEORGE ORWELL
- THE VANISHING TRIBES OF BURMA BY RICHARD K.DIRAN WATSON
GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS
- THE GLASS PALACE by AMITAV GHOSH - RANDOM HOUSE
- FROM THE LAND OF GREEN GHOSTS: A BURMESE ODYSSEY by
PASCAL KHOO THWE - FLAMINGO
- INSIGHT GUIDE BURMA/MYANMAR
- BUILDING THE DEATH RAILWAY: THE ORDEAL OF AMERICAN POW’S
IN BURMA 1942-1945 by ROBERT S. LAFORTE AND RONALD MARCELO
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^^Top^^ |
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