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Infos:
Those who intend travelling around "Union of Myanmar"should be prepared, travelling within
a country which has very poor infrastructure, and is totally isolated from the rest of the world.
The majorreligion is the buddhism religion (87 %),other religions like christions,muslims,hindus
dont play an important role.
Unfortunately, these days the only way to enter the country is by aircraft to yangon, the capital of myanmar with the required visa you have to apply for in advance.
Presently it is used for foreigners to change 200USD minimum into foreignexchange certificates(FECs),as soon as you have passed the immigration section.
The exchangeratio is 1:1 for 200USD you obtain 200FECs.
Cashpayments within the country are accepted in USD,FECs,and the myanmese khyat. Hotels,traintickets,(gouvernmenttrains)entrancefares are accepted to pay in USD,FECs only. Food,drinks bustickets (publicbusses), servicecharges and articles for all days applications On markets or shops or similar payments are used to be payed in khyats. The best value for your USD in case of exchangeaffairs you`ll get in your hotel,shops,or the Free market in the streets. Ask other travellers for the present exchangerate. My first impression, travelling around the city of yangon,consisting of 4 mio inhabitants was by circletrain,which operates twice a day,and is an excellent opportunety to get an idea about the dimension of the city. Departure and arrival is the centralstation,only two blocks north of the sulepagoda and the fare is, these days, one USD,FEC for the 3 hours lasting trip. The most comfortable way travelling around the city is by taxi.Be aware to negotiate persistantly regarding the fare like everywhere in asian cities. The highlight of your sightseeingtrip within yangon is definitely the impressive huge Shwedagonpagoda,where to go there is recommended most in the early morning. It is hard to understand for foreign persons,on one hand the huge golden building,as a symbol for the country, and on the other hand the everywhere in the country existing poverty. "The strandhotel"which is located close to the yangonriveris is worth visiting as well,regarding the charming athmosphere and the old architecture,specially during the existing happyhour. It is not a remarkable difference travelling around myanmar by bus, train or taxi,everything is in very poor condition. Long parts of the streets are tracks,and "at a walking pace" means topspeed. Brakedowns of vehicles are widespread and normal. Affordable traintickets(for foreign passengers only)in swaying trains which are not created for humans with weak nervs,and endless hours spending on woodseats ,are a challenge for your backside and your physical health. On the other hand you obtain your feedback regarding the kind and openess of the local humans.
I travelled from yangon via bago(2 hours by bus) passed the meanwhile very touristic inlelake destination mandalay up north(14 Std,11 USD) by train. Nearly one million inhabitants live in the second biggest city of myanmar.The orientation within "Mandalay" is similar easy like "Yangon",because the streets are numbered consecutively. All styles of handycraftfactories and shops have been worth visiting. Mandalayhill is the topspot for the most spectacular view over the city. Daytrips in the areas like "Mingun" which is a former emperorcity are easy to arrange and worth seeing not only because of the location of the second biggest bell in the world. Interesting buildings, and a home for old humans, are open for visitors. 2.5 more hours spending in a pickup car travelling to "Pin U Lwin" located in the mountains north of mandalay was not been a pleasure ,but a relaxed place regarding the climate and the easygoinglifestyle of the humans up there.
More up north direction to "Lashio",half the distance in the area around "Hsipaw" what my destin. was,the train had to pass the second largest railwaybridge in the world,the " Gokteikviadukt" at a walking past.The viadukt is the produkt of the pennsylvania steelcompany and is more than 100years old. Intersesting shanmarkets of the tribalhumans and chinese buddhatemples have been worth visiting, and are typical for this area because of the close distance to southchinas provinces. Back in mandalay a couple of days later,crossing by bus beautiful landscapes after a rogh ride with plenty of spectecular views. One more relaxday in mandalay ,and 9 hours later next day in a supremly uncomfortable bus,I have arrived "Bagan" as a startingspot for discovering the archelogical area of "Oldbagan" Dozens and dozens of ruines,stupas,temples some more than 2000 years old ,making the visitor believe beeing on an other planet,specially during sunset time. After a 3 days lasting sightseeingtrip by horsecar within the archelogical area of bagan ,I travelled back nonstop to "Yangon" ,19 hours by bus. I could not wait travelling back to the civilisation of thailand after travelling myanmar on the rough ride.
Travellingconditions in the country have been very hard ,but unforgetable,the feedback of the humans was more than positiv, though the humans are part of a country with the lowest lifestandards in asia, or even in the world. For ticketreservations it requires at least 3 days time to make your reservation in advance,so be fast and ask also for seat no. A culture consisting from more than 120 ethnic groups of humans is worth,but neverending To report about the variety of food (Myanmese,Thai/Shan,indian,chinese) Liquor and beer is available everywhere,tastes very well and is reasonable cheap. The borderareas of the neighbourcountries should be avoided to enter because of the unsteady situation and smugglingactivities all sorts of. For visainfo click "Passport and visabutton on the startpage"
Special thanks to Mrs. Helle Snell / Schwerdtfeger (+1), the danish anthropologist, and my travellcompanion , i ve travelled together within myanmar, for all the backgroundinformation.