Archive-name: travel/myanmar-guide/part1
Posting-Frequency: monthly

                              MYANMAR (BURMA)

                         The Internet Travel Guide

                              Peter M. Geiser


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Contents
 
 Introduction
 Copyright (c) 1995, 1996

 1. General Overview
 1.1 Geographical Information
 1.2 Climate
 1.3 People
 1.4 Politics
 1.5 Events
 1.6 Visa
 1.7 Embassies
 1.8 Border Crossing
 1.9 Travel Permits
 1.10 Money
 1.11 Postal Services
 1.12 Accommodation
 1.13 Food
 1.14 Health

 2. Transportation
 2.1 Flying
 2.2 Train
 2.3 Boat
 2.4 Bus
 2.5 Car

 3. Places
     Yangon
     Kyaik-Tiyo
     Bagan
     Kalaw
     Taunggyi
     Inle Lake
     Mandalay
     Sagaing
     Lashio

 4. Literature
 4.1 Guidebooks
 4.2 Travellers Tales
 4.3 Reports
 4.4 Historical/Political Books
 4.5 Cultural
 4.6 Novels
 4.7 Movies
 4.8 Internet
 4.9 Organisations

 A. Contributors

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The Internet Travel Guide
http://www-students.unisg.ch/~pgeiser/itg.htm
Copyright (c) 1995, 1996 Peter M. Geiser
Peter.Geiser@student.unisg.ch

Last change 7. June 1996.
Updates: FAQ: monthly, HTML: more often

Currently available in the series of the Internet Travel Guides:
Cambodia
China
Laos
Myanmar (Burma)
Sumatra
Switzerland
Tibet
Vietnam

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INTRODUCTION

The main objective of this FAQ is to provide the reader with the newest
travel information available, like what is the current situation on visa,
where to stay and what prices are reasonable, etc. It is not a guide to
the Burmese culture or history (although I started to include some
information about those subjects as well), for these non-changing facts
are much more pleasantly presented in many good books (see the list in
section 4 in this FAQ). It is also not intended to be a political pamphlet
since politics is often a very opinionated subject. However, I started to
include some political facts where I felt it was appropriate.

Remember: Things change very fast, so by the time you get to Myanmar the
information in this FAQ may be outdated. If you encounter this, please
bear with me. Instead of being upset, rather share your experiences with
other people on the net. The next tourist will thank you if he or she can
rely on your new information. Also, if you find time during your travels
to write a postcard or a letter to me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Some paragraphs are led by the name of the author in brackets. This
doesn't mean that these are their only contributions, but rather that in
that case I chose to leave the words as the author wrote them, adding a
more personal note to the FAQ.


Answering questions

There are many people who send mail to ask me some questions. As much as
I like to answer as many questions as possible, my time is limited. I do
this work in my spare time, so I frequently answer the questions only
after a couple of days (or even weeks if I'm away for a while.) It also
happens that I cannot return an e-mail due to an invalid e-mail address.
Please be careful to include a valid e-mail address, or then ask me to
post the answer in rec.travel.asia.

This guide lives by being up-to-date. Since I cannot travel all the time,
I am glad to receive suggestions, contributions and comments. Any addition
is useful, regardless of the size.

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

In accordance with the Bern convention, this document is copyrighted
worldwide. The information provided within this document is the property
of the original authors. The author especially reserves the right to the
exclusive use of the term "The Internet Travel Guide".

This document or parts thereof may NOT be sold for profit or included in
any commercial documents (e. g. books, esp. guide books, magazines,
CD-ROMs, WWW-pages, the Microsoft Network or any other form) without the
prior written permission of the copyright holder. This permission is valid
exactly for the agreed version (or if no version was stated at the
published version on the date of the agreement) at the time the permission
was granted; it does not cover future or any other versions. However,
following the common practice of the Internet, this document may be freely
redistributed without any modification whatsoever, including this
copyright notice.

If you as the reader has paid to get this document, please let me know. As
much as I would like I cannot give you back your money, but I can try to
put an end to the illegal stealing of other people's work.

**************************************************************************

The Internet Travel Guide
Copyright (c) 1995, 1996
http://www-students.unisg.ch/~pgeiser/itg.htm

Peter M. Geiser
Seeblickstr. 10
9010 St.Gallen
Switzerland

Peter.Geiser@student.unisg.ch

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1. GENERAL OVERVIEW

1.1 GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Area          678'500 km2
Capital       Yangon
Borders       Bangladesh (193 km), India (1463 km), China (2185 km), Laos
                 (235 km), Thailand (1080 km)
                 coastline 1930 km
Highest point Hkakabo Razi, 5881 m

Time          GMT plus 6.5 hours

Measures      pyi: 1.5 kg, viss: 2.2kg
Electricity   230 V, 50 Hz

In the Web-version of the Internet Travel Guide at
http://www-students.unisg.ch/~pgeiser there would be a map right here.

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1.2 CLIMATE

Myanmar has three seasons. The winter is cool and dry and lasts from
November to February. After that is the hot summer until May, resulting
in teperatures in the 30s. In May the rainy monsoon season starts and
lasts until October.

The best time to visit is during the winter, from October to February.
It is pleasantly cool and the sky mostly cloudless.

Yangon

 Month       Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec

 Air    C     29   31   34   35   33   32   31   31   31   31   31   29
        F     83   87   93   95   91   89   88   88   88   87   87   83

 Water  C     28   28   29   30   29   30   29   29   28   28   28   27
        F     82   82   84   86   84   86   84   84   82   82   82   81

 h sun/day     8    8    8   10    8    6    5    5    5    6    7    8

 days rain     0    0    0    2   15   25   27   26   21   11    3    1


Clothes

Thin cotton is the best clothing. During the cool season it is advisable
to bring a light jacket or a warm sweater.

The best bet during the rainy season is an umbrella. A plastic poncho is
too warm for most of the year. You'll sweat enough to get as wet as if
you'd not wear one.

Sandals are convenient. All foot wear must be taken off when entering
pagodas or monasteries. Shorts and briefs are not allowed.

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1.3 PEOPLE

Population      44.3 mio (annual growth rate 1.86%) est. 1994
                68% Burmese, 9% Shan, 7% Karen, 4% Rakhine and Chin,
                Kachin, Mon, Chinese, Indian and Assamese minorities
Language        Burmese, also Karen, Chin, Shan and Kachin dialects,
                some English in the cities
Religion        87% Theravada Buddhist, 5% Christian, 4% Muslim,
                3% animist, 1% Hindu

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1.4 POLITICS

The Union of Myanmar (Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw) is in effect under
the dictatorship of SLORC (State Law and Order Restauration Council.) This
military junta assumed power on 18 September 1988 contrary to the will of
the people. In 1990 elections were held by SLORC. The democratic movement
won 457 of 490 seats, but SLORC refused to let them govern.

Executive branch
Chief of state, head of government and Chairman of SLORC General Than Shwe
(since 23 April 1992).

Legislative branch
In theory the People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw), last held 27 May 1990,
but they never assemble. It effectively was dissolved after the SLORC coup
of 1988.

Judical branch
None! The Council of People's Justices was abolished after the SLORC coup
of 1988.


Political parties and leaders
USDA  (Union Solidarity and Development Association), leader na
NUP   (National Unity Party, pro regime), leader Tha Kyaw
NLD   (National League for Democracy), leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This
       party won in the elections of 1990 a stunning victory of 457 out of
       490 seats! Unfortunately, SLORC has refused to transfer power to
       the elected party.
NCGUB (National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma), leader
       Sein Win (who is elected prime minister, but not recognised by the
       military government.) The group, consisting of individuals that
       have been legitimately elected to Parliament, had to flee to a
       border area where they formed a parallel government in Dec 1990.
KIA   (Kachin Independence Army)
UWSA  (United Wa State Army)
KNU   (Karen National Union)
MTA   (Mong Tai Army)
ABSDF (All Burma Student Democratic Front)


Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, founder and leader of the National League for
Democracy, was put under house arrest. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace
price. On 10 July 1995 she was finally released from house arrest, but
SLORC still refuses to relinquish power.

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1.5 EVENTS

January      4      Independence Day
February    12      Union Day
March        2      Peasant's Day
March        *      Full Moon Day of Tabaung
March       27      Armed Forces Day
April        *      Thingyan (Water Festival and Myanmar New Year)
May          1      May Day (Workers Day)
May          *      Full moon Day of Kason
July         *      Beginning of Buddhist Lent
July        19      Martyrs' Day
October      *      End of Buddhist Lent(Light Festival)
November     *      Tazaungdaing (Light Festival)
November     *      National Day
Dec/Jan      *      Kayin New Year
December    25      Christmas Day
            **      Idul Athwaha
            **      Dewali

* The date varies according to myanmar calendar year.
** The date is notified separately.


PAGODA FESTIVALS

A report by Vicky Bowman

Pagoda festivals are a central part of life for Buddhists in Burma. For
the people in the towns, they are a good excuse to take a few days off
work, club together with friends to rent a car, and see the rest of the
country while gaining merit in the process. For the paddy farmer they are a
well earned rest after getting the harvest in in Dec/Jan. For basket
weavers and  blacksmiths they are a chance to sell their wares. For the
bands of travelling actors and musicians, they are a constant source of
bookings. Pagoda festivals have given rise to a sub-economy, peopled by
"twelve festival traders" or seh-hniq-pwe-thee, who move each month to a
different festival. They include artisans and fortune-tellers, people who
set up tea-houses, beauty parlours and rest-houses for festival goers, and
pickpockets and assorted hangers-on.

The majority of pagoda festivals coincide with full moons (Burma operates a
lunar calendar). They may last a week or a fortnight, or even several
months. Some of the major "gazetted" festivals and full moon days in 1995
are listed below (1996 dates will of course be different, according to the
moon). Waxing days (la-san) means days leading up to a full moon, waning
days (la-souq or la-pye-kyaw) means days following a full moon. (NB every
third year there is a "second Waso" to fit the lunar calendar to the
climatic one)

Nat or spirit festivals (nat-pwes), while not a part of mainstream
Buddhism, are equally central to Burmese life. The majority of festivals
take place in central Burma during the months of December (Burmese month of
Nattaw), March (Tabaung) and during Buddhist Lent, July-September
(Waso/Wagaung/Tawthalin). They usually either start or finish on the full
moon day. They have numerous common features: the ablution of the nats (the
festival usually honours a particular nat); offerings and dances; merchants
and hawkers; pilgrims arriving by bullock cart; music blaring from
loudspeakers and liberal use of perfume and alcohol.


CALENDAR OF MAJOR NAT AND PAGODA FESTIVALS IN BURMA

The following represents only a selection of the festivals which take place
in Burma every year.  The length and exact timing of the festival may vary.
Check locally for confirmation and exact details of timing.


PYATHO - 15 January Full moon

Ananda Pagoda Festival, Pagan


TABODWE - 14 February Full moon

Kyaikkasan, Kyaikkalo and Kyaikwaing pagoda festivals, Rangoon: all take
place in the month of Tabodwe.

Mawdinsoun Pagoda festival, SW tip of Burma (boat trip from Bassein) (also
Tabaung). The pagoda is on a beach.

Zee-daw Nat festival for Ye Yin Kadaw (cross Chindwin river at Monywa and
travel 22km along Yemabin road.  Held at Zeedaw and Maungdon on 8th day of
waning moon to new moon,and 1st to 7th days of waxing moon of Tabaung.

Pakkhan Nat festival (Pakkhan is on west bank of the lower Chindwin river,
between Pakokku and Pandawbyin), held from 1st to 16th days of waxing moon
of Tabaung  in honour of U Min Kyaw.

Ahlone Nat festival for Ma Ngwe Daung (12 km north of Monywa on the Shwebo
road): 7th day of waning moon to new moon of Tabaung.

Ava Nat festival, for Thon Ban Hla: 10th day of waxing moon to full moon
of Tabaung.

Taunbyone Nat Festival (NB not the main one) held on 10th and 11th days of
waxing moon of Tabaung, to celebrate the return of the Taungbyone
brothers.

Mingun Nat festival (north-west of Mandalay, 1 hour by boat) 5th to 10th
days of waxing moon of Tabaung, for the Brother and Sister of the Teak
Tree.

Sameikkon Nat festival  (east bank of Irrawaddy, due north of Myingyan) to
honour Shin Nemi, held from 10th day of waxing to full moon of Tabaung.

Bawgyo Pagoda festival, 17 miles from Kyaukme, 5 miles to Hsipaw, Shan
States - the main festival in Shan states, and the most revered pagoda in
Northern Shan States (the Paung-daw-oo at Inle Lake being the most revered
in the South). Held from the 10th waxing day of Tabaung to the first
waning day.


TABAUNG - 15 March Full Moon

Manuha Pagoda festival, Pagan

Maymyo Nat festival - 1st to 5th days of waning moon of Tabaung, for Ko
Myo Shin.

Shwesettaw Pagoda festival, west bank of Irrawaddy, opposite Prome
(continues until Tagu)

Aungban (near Kalaw, Shan States) Shwe-Ohn-Hmin Pagoda festival

Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon - ceremony to celebrate enshrinement of Sacred
Hair Relic

Shwenattaung Pagoda Festival, Prome

13-17 April 1995 (varies from year to year) - Thingyan Water Festival for
the Burmese New Year

Like the Thai Songkran. Most fun in Mandalay and Rangoon.  But no fun at
all if you don't enjoy having cold dirty water poured down your neck
(Foreigners are a particular target  and you are expected to grin and bear
it).

Mount Popa Nat festival, held from the night of the 13th to noon of 14th
waxing moon of Tagu - to celebrate return of Taungbyone brothers from China


TAGU - 14 April Full moon

Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival, Pegu

Kutheinaryon Pagoda Festival, Salin (West Bank of Irrawaddy, SW of Pagan)
begins 8th/9th day of waxing moon of Kason, continues until 9th/10th
waning day.

Kyaukse Nat festival held on 14th day of waning moon to new moon of Tagu,
to honour Shwe Sagadaw (Kyaukse is on the main road between Meiktila and
Mandalay)


KASON - 13 May Full moon

Buddha was born, died and achieved enlightenment on the full moon day of
Kason (in different years)

Festival of offering water to sacred Bo (banyan) trees celebrated
throughout Burma

Alms-offering ceremony at Neikbeinda (monasteries three miles north of
Prome)


NAYON - 12 June Full Moon

Mahlaing (Pan-aing) Shwemudaw Pagoda festival held from 8th waxing day of
Nayon to 8th waning day of Nayo. Mahlaing is 23 miles from Meiktila on the
road to Myingyan. Pan-aing is 2 miles off the road. Typical up-country
pagoda festival. Festival market specialises in cotton, tobacco (both
locally grown) and toys.

Thihoshin festival, Pakokku (north of Pagan on west bank of Irrawaddy)
also held from 8th waxing day of Nayon to 8th waning day of Nayo, with
traditionalplays (although not, for the last few years, puppet shows).
Local specialities include thanakha logs, jaggery, longyis and checked
cotton and wool blankets. The pagoda is said to have been built by King
Alaunsitthu.


WASO - 11 July Full Moon  (Dhammakya Day)

Kyauk-yiq pagoda festival, south of Myaung, north of Myingyan, on West
bank of Irrawaddy (also Wagaung)

Kyaukse Nat Festival, 1st to 3rd day of waxing moon of Wagaung, in honour
of Shwe Sagadaw


WAGAUNG - 10 August - Full moon

Taungbyone nat (spirit) festival, 10 miles north of Mandalay (from 10th
day of waxing to full moon of Wagaung). Burma's most famous nat festival
which any nat-gadaw ('nat wife' or medium) worth his or her salt must
attend. Lasts six days. Very crowded and boisterous. Watch out for
pickpockets.

Amarapura (south of Mandalay) Nat festival - Irinaku/Yadanagu pwe, for
Popa Medaw, mother of the Taungbyone brothers. 7th day of waning moon of
Wagaung to new moon.

Myittha Nat festival (between Mandalay and Meiktila) - 8th day of waxing
moon until full moon of Tawthalin, in honour of the nat Shwe Nabe

Mount Popa Nat festival - from 9th to 13th days of waning moon of Wagaung
- to celebrate departure of Taungbyone brothers for China


TAWTHALIN - 8 September  Full Moon

Inle Lake leg-rowing festival and Paung-daw-oo Pagoda festival (held
between Tawthalin and Thadingyut). The pagoda festival is held on or
around the full moon of Thadingyut. The Buddha images are taken from
village to village around Inle Lake. The tour lasts about 19 days.


THADINGYUT - 8 October Full Moon

End of Lent, Buddha's descent from Tawatimsa Festival of lights throughout
Burma for about three days around the full moon day

Kyauktawgyi pagoda Festival, Mandalay

Myathalun Pagoda Festival, Magwe (east bank of Irrawaddy between Prome and
Pagan)


TAZAUNGMON - 6 November Full Moon

Continuation of the festival of lights on the full moon day

Particularly good in Shan state, including Taunggyi - people release hot
air balloons with candles or set miniature lighted boats afloat (also
Northern Thailand)

Kathina robe offering ceremonies, robe weaving at Shwedagon, "padetha
trees" seen throughout Burma - wooden frames decorated with money and
other offerings for the monks.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda festival (Pagoda on the Golden Rock) - continues through
until March


NATTAW - 6 December Full Moon

Mount Popa Nat Festival Full moon to 6th waning day - Mount Popa - for
Mahagiri

Full Moon to 5th waning day - Prome - for the Prome Brothers

Taungbyone Nat festival, 14th day of waxing until full moon, for the
Taungbyone brothers. The shrine is opened at the end of the afternoon and
on the following day, King Anawrahta's proclamation is read, originally
made after his departure to China in quest after the Buddha's tooth relic.

Other festivals which I do not have dates for:

Thihataw Pagoda festival near Shwebo
Shin-pin-sekkate pagoda fetsival, Minbu
Hniq-kyeiq-shiq-su Pagoda festival, Myingyan
Shwezigon Pagoda festival, Pagan

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1.6 VISA

Myanmar requires a visa. It is valid for one month starting from the day
you enter the country, and you have to enter the country at most three
months from the day of issue.

In Bangkok you should be able to get a visa to Myanmar within 24 hours,
but do not rely on that. It costs THB 250.

It is possible (Apr 95) to get a one day or a three day visa directly at
the border station of Mae Sai (northern Thailand). The one day visa was
USD 5.

In Kunming, the visa is CNY 85 and takes 10 minutes.

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1.7 EMBASSIES

MYANMAR EMBASSIES ABROAD

Australia
22 Arkana Street, Yarralumla, Canberra, A.C.T 2600, Tel 2733751,
2732811, Fax 2734357

Bangladesh
Chancery No. 89(B) Road No. 4, Banani, Dhaka-13, Tel 601461, 601915,
Fax 42 2 370646.

Canada
85 Range Road, Apartment No. 902903, The Sandringham, Ottawa, Ontario,
KIN 816, Tel (613) 232-6446

China
Embassy:   No. 6, Dongzhi Men Wa Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing,
           Tel 5321584, 53521425
Consulate: 3rd Floor, Building No. 3, Camellia Hotel, No. 154
           East Dong Feng Road, Kunming 650041, Yunnan, Tel 3176609,
           3176309

Egypt
No. 24, Mohamed Mazhar Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Tel 34041, 3412644,
Fax 202 3416793

France
60, Rue de Couwelles, 75008 Paris, Tel 4225 5695, Fax 4256 4941

Germany
Schumannstr. 112, 5300 Bonn 1, Tel (0228) 210091, (0228) 219316

Hong Kong
Myanmar Consulate General, Room 2424, Sun Hung Kai Center, 30 Harbour
Road, Wanchai, Fax (972) 3 5493866

India
3/50 F, Nyaya Marg, Chankyapuri, New Delhi-1 10021, Tel 600251, 600252,
Fax 327204

Israel
No. 12, Zalman Schneer Street, Ramat Hasharon, 47239 Tel Aviv,
Tel (03) 5400948

Italy
Via Vincenzo Bellino 20, Interno 1, 00198 Rome, Tel 8549374, 8416863,
Fax 8413167

Japan
8-26, 4-Chome, Kita Whinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140,
Tel (03) 3441-9291/5, Fax (03) 3447-7394

Laos
Sokphaluand Road, P.O.Box No. (1 1), Vientiane, Tel 312439, 314910

Malaysia
No. 5, Taman U Thant Satu, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Tel 03-24424085,
Fax (603) 2480049

Nepal
Chakupat, Patan Gate, Lalipur, Kathmandu, P.O.Box No. 2437, Tel 521788,
524788, Fax (01) 523402

Pakistan
No. 12/1, Street No. 13, Sector F-7/2 Islamabad, Tel 822460, 210620,
Fax 92 51 820123

Philippines
4th Floor, Basic Petroleum Building, 104 Carlos Palancajr Street,
Legaspi Village  Makati Metro, Manila, Tel 8172373, Fax 8175895, 6294169

Russia
41 Ul Gertsena, Moscow, Tel 291 0534, Fax 291 0163

Singapore
No. 15 St. Martin's Drive, Singapore 1025, Tel 2358763, 2358704,
Fax 2355963

South Korea
7323-1, 724-1, Hannam dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Tel 792-3341, 796-9858

Sri Lanka
17 Skelton Gardens, Colombo 5, Tel 587607, 587608, Fax 580460

Thailand
132 Sathorn Nua Road, Bangkok 10500, Tel 2337250, 234498, Fax 2366898

United Kingdom
19 A Charles Street, London W1X 8ER, Tel (071) 629 6966, Fax 796 5570

USA
2300 S Street, N.W. Washington DC 20008, Tel (202) 332-9044,
Fax (202) 332-9046

Vietnam
Building No. A-3, Ground Floor, VanPhuc, Diplomatic Quarter, Hanoi,
Tel 253369, Fax 252404

Yugoslavia
Kneza Milosa 72, Belgrade, Tel 645420, 645128, Fax 644845


FOREIGN EMBASSIES IN MYANMAR

Indonesia
100 Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, PO Box 1401, Rangoon, Tel 81174

Laos
NA1 Diplomatic Quarters, Fraser Road, Yangon (Rangoon)

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1.8 BORDER CROSSING

The main entry and exit point of Myanmar is the airport of Yangon.

The 'official' entry and exit procedures (as stated from the Ministry of
Tourism) are as listed below. In practice, this is not quite so tedious.

Entry Procedure (Airport)
1. To show your passport, entry-visa, disembarkation card and other
   relevant documents to the officers at the immigration counter
   (foreigners' section)
2. To exchange 300 USD for F.E.C. at the counter of Myanmar Foreign
   Trade Bank (MFTB)
3. To let customs officers examine your passport and declaration
   forms at the customs counter
4. To pick up your luggage taken in by the conveyor-belt
5. To declare, if any, electrical goods/camera/jewellery and
   foreign currencies at the customs counter
6. To settle custom duties, if required, through the red channel
7. To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage
8. To let immigration officers re-examine your passport

Departure Procedure (Airport)
1. To get your ticket confirmed at the airlines concerned
2. To pay the airport tax (6 USD in cash) at the airport
3. To show your passport and airport tax receipt at the counter of
   the airline concerned so as to receive your boarding-pass
4. To let the immigration officers examine your passport and
   embarkation card
5. To submit your passport and declaration form at the customs counter
6. To let the customs preventive officers inspect your luggare
7. To go through a body-search.

To point 4: you also have to give the examination card that you got during
check-in and the officer will stamp you passport.


Overland

It is should possible to cross overland from Yunnan province in China and
from Thailand, also there are differing reports.

Valid entry points from Yunnan are Lwage, Namhkan, Muse, Kyukokand
Kun-lone.

There are differing reports on entering from Thailand. While some state
that it is possible to enter at Tachilek opposite Mae Sai and travel to
Kyaing Tong, others state that this border is closed. Mae Sot and Ronong
are also reported closed. Get the latest information once you are there
and be prepared to be turned around.

Day return cross-border traffic is also allowed at Ayeyawaddy,
Three-Pagoda Pass and Kawthaung.

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1.9 TRAVEL PERMITS

Following is a list of officialy accessible regions, published 26 April
1995 by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Do not take this list as
unchangable truth, officials might not have heard of it, or do not want to
follow it and still try to prevent you from going to some places.


Kachin State

   Package tours (PT) organizcd by operators are permitted in Hopeng,
   Mohnyin, Mogaung, Inndawgyi, Bhamo, Myintkyina and up to Putao.

   Foreign Independent  travelers (FIT) are allowed in Myintkyina and up
   to Putao.

   Travel by rail or air.


Shan State (North)

   Package Tours and FITs are allowed internally up to Lashio. Travel by
   air or rail.

   Arrivals from PRC by road via Muse. Namhkam, Kyukok and Kunlong entry
   point are allowed up to Lashio. 

   For travel to lashio, a border pass is necessary. 100 FEC units must be
   changed. 

   A visa is required for travel to Mandalay and Yangon via Lashio. 300
   FEC units must be changed. Travel by air or rail.


Shan State (South)

   Tourists travelling internally are allowed to go to Taunggyi, Innlay,
   Pindaya, Kalaw and lawksauk. Both PT and FIT allowed. Travel by air or
   rail or road. 

   Passage is allowed internally to Kengtung and Tachilek. Travel by air.

   Arrivals from China are allowed via Mongla to Kengtung and Tachilek.
   Exchange USD 100 for Kengtung and USD 200 for Tachilek. Border pass
   required. 

   Travel to the interior via Kengtung and Tachilek by air requires
   visa. Exchange USD 300.


Kayah State

   Travel is allowed by air, rail or road to Loikaw.

   Travel by road via Pinlaung.


Rakhine State

   Travel in Rakhine State is allowed internally to Sittway, Myauk-Oo,
   Ngapali, Thandwe, Gwa and Taunggup. Travel by air, road or sea.

   Travel is allowed by Ngathainggyaung-Gwa route and Pyay-Taunggup
   route. 

   Traders from Bangladesh are allowed to Buthidaung and Sittway. Exchange
   USD 300. Visa required.


Kayin State

   Tourists are allowed travel to Thamanya, Pha-an and Hlaingbwe. Travel
   by rail or road.


Mon State

   Tourists are allowed to travel to
   Kyaikhtiyo. Kyaikhto. Thalon. Kyaikmaraw. Mawlamyine. Thanbyuzayat and
   Kyaikkhami. Travel by rail or road.

   IT allowed to Bilugyun.


Tanintharyi Division

   Tourists are allowed to Myeik, Dawei, Maungmagan, Kawthoung, Lumpi
   Island, Zadetgyi Island (exclusive of Naval Base). Travel by air or
   sea.


Ayeyawady Division

   PTs are allowed to Pathein, Chaungtha, Myaungmya,  Ngathaingchaung and
   Bogalay. Travel by road/river. 


PTs are allowed to go to Alaungdaw Kassapa, Powun Taung, Monywa, Twin
Taung, Budalin, Kyaukka, Tinmabin and Yihlyantwin.


PTs and FITs are allowed in Yangon, Mandalay, Bago and Magway Divisions as
usual. 


Sagaing Division

   PTs are allowed to Kalay, Hkamti and Homalin.

   Travel by air or road or river.


Chin State

   PTs are allowed to Hakha, Falam and Tiddim.

   Travel by road.


Restricted Areas
Phakant, Mogok, Mongshu and Pearl Island require application for permit
through Ministry of Hotels and Tourism to Office of Chief of Staff
(Army).


Riverine Travel
ITs are allowed travel by boat on the Bhamo-Mandalay. Mandalay-Bagan-
Nyaung U, Mandalay-Yangon. Delta areas and Pha-an-Mawlamyine routes.
Travel will be arranged by the tour operators as per prescribed rules.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.10 MONEY

The currency is the Kyat (BUK) consisting 100 Pyas. There are FEC
(Foreign Exchange Certificates) for tourists.

Kyat notes are available in the following sizes: 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 45,
50, 90, 100, 200, 500. There is a 50 Pya note. Coins are 1, 5, 10, 25,
and 50 Pya, and 1 Kyat. Coins are very rarely used.

FECs are available in equivalents of USD 1, USD 5, and USD 10.

It is illegal to import or export Kyats.

People entering Myanmar will have to change USD 300 into FEC 300. These
FEC have about the same value (some 5 - 10 % less) as the USD. The FECs
are treated equally to USD within the country (i.e. prices listed in USD
can be paid with FEC.) Notice: with this money you are supporting the
governemnt of Myanmar.

The official rate for Kyats is 1 USD = 6.7 Kyats.

The exchange rate for the FEC is 1 FEC to 1 USD.

About half of the time you'll have to pay in FEC.

It is possible to change the FECs into Kyats on the black market at a rate
of about 1 FEC = 115 - 130 Kyats. While Burmese may hold FECs and there
are nowadays even authorised money changers, it is still strictly illegal
to exchange foreing currency in the black market. Change the FECs into
Kyats in the big towns of Yangon, Mandalay or Bagan.

The following traveller's cheques are accepted:
Master Card Traveller's Cheque
American Express Traveller's Cheque
Bank of Tokyo Traveller's Cheque
CITI Corp Traveller's Cheque
Visa Traveller's Cheque
Bank of America Traveller's Cheque
National Westminster Bank Ltd Traveller's Cheque
First National CITI Bank Traveller'sCheque
Swiss Bankers Traveller's Cheque
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Traveller's Cheque

Accepted credit cards are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners.
Of course, these credit cards are only accepted at up-scale places. And
they demant you to pay the usual 3 - 5 % charges.

Cash advances are not possible at the moment.

Opening hours for banks are 10 am to 2 pm.

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1.11 POSTAL SERVICES

Post offices are open Mo to Fr, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.


MAIL

Basic overseas postage is 4 Kyats to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan; and 5 Kyats to USA or UK. There are
special Air Letters for USD 3.50.

Letters to Europe take about 10 to 14 days.


TELEPHONE

Myanmars international telephone code is 95.

Overseas calls are possible through operators at a Central Telegraph
Office or at major hotels. Some hotels also have IDD, the prefix is 0.

Some rates for one minute:
Bangkok    USD  3.66
Australia  USD  8.50
Europe     USD 15.00


Some area codes (to dial you need the prefix 0):

Bassein              42
Magwe                63
Mandalay              2
Meiktila             64
Moulmein             32
Pegu                 52
Prome                53
Sittwe               43
Yangon                1

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1.12 ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is from about USD 2-5 for a room in a simple guest house to
over USD 50 in a luxury hotel.

While the official government hotels may offer more luxury than privately
run small hotels, you also support the government with the money you pay.
Consider staying in privately run accommodation instead.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.13 FOOD

The basic diet is rice and curry. There are numerous forms of fish paste
with salad. Soup is taken wogether with the rice and other dishes.

Food costs amount to about USD 6 per day. This amount soon increases to
about USD 10 to 20 if you drink a few beers.

A cheap dish (curry or fried rice) is about 70 to 100 Kyats.

Chinese food ranges from 200 to 500 Kyats per dish (you'll eat more than
one dish per meal.)

A bottle of the cheapest beer (Mandalay Beer) is about 120 - 180 Kyats.

A coke is about 65 to 85 Kyats, a Pepsi (locally made ?) 25 to 40 Kyats.

The most popular Myanmar dishes are 'Mohinga' (rice noodles with fish
gravy) for breakfast and 'Ohn-No Khaukswe' (noodles with coconut curry).

Desserts include Sanwin-Ma-Kin (sweet cakes made with semolina, sugar,
egg, butter and coconut), banana cakes, Kyaukchaw (sea weed jelly) and
jaggery.

Almost every town also boasts Chinese restaurants (mainly Cantonese and
Fukinese). Indian food like Kababs and Birani are also popular. European
food is only available at bigger hotels.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.14 HEALTH

Bring a lot of Imodium A-D with you. You are bound to get diarrhea.

The main threats in Myanmar are: Malaria, TB, tetanus, rabies, typhoid,
cholera, hepatitis and many other tropical diseases. There is nowadays
also the threat of AIDS, with as many as 400000 infected people, with
the number rising fast.

Don't drink water from the tap, it may be lethal. And be careful with
bottled water, since it is often taken directly from the tap. Check the
closing of the bottle.

There is only one doctor for every 12500 people.

Malaria
Malaria (from French 'mal air', bad air) is an infection of the blood
caused by the bite of mosquitoes (Anopheles). The decay of the red blood
cells causes fever and eventually a lack of oxygen which can, in case of a
malaria cerebral, cause brain damage. Depending on the type of malaria
these fever shocks appear every three (malaria tertiana) or four (malaria
quartana) days. Death rate of malaria is less than 1%.
There have been many discussions on how to best deal with it and even
the doctors have not yet agreed on a single opinion.
There are two possibilities for prohylaxis. For a short stay (less than
one month) in a malaria endangered region, prophylaxis with Lariam, as
described by doctors, is recommended. This gives nearly 100% protection.
For longer trips, Lariam should not be used, since there are too many side
effects (such as liver problems). If you want to use a prophylactic at
all, use one on Chloroquin (several different brands) basis. Although
protection is only about 50 - 70%, it still reduces the effects of an
actual infection. 
The most important thing about malaria is to recognize it as such. Every
little health center with a microscope can make a reliable diagnose. If
you feel sick, have a check done. In case of a negative result, and you
keep feeling sick, then have the check re-done every three days. Use your
own, clean blood-sampling needles.
A special danger causes a malaria that develops at the same time as a flue
or a pneumonia, since it is often recognized too late.
Carry a treatment package with you (e.g. Lariam or Halfon) and use it
according to the instructions on the package slip once malaria has been
diagnosed. Do visit a doctor! Local treatments (mainly Cloroquine) are
made for the local population which is semi-immunized. These treatments
are often too weak for Western people. Somebody taking Lariam treatment
should always be watched by another person, because of the side-effects
(especially mental problems, depressions, nightmares, and higher
photo-sensitivity of the skin. There is even a small danger of suicide!) 
However, the most effective way to prevent malaria are mosquito repellent
(possibly with at least 20% DEET, or citronella.) Since mosquitoes are
only active after sundown and before sunset, make sure you wear clothes
that cover the skin and use a good mosquito net.
Malaria can break out up to three month after leaving the endangered
region. Take this into account if you become sick within this time and
have a malaria test made.

The homepage of the Internet Travel Guides is at
http://www-students.unisg.ch/~pgeiser/itg.htm

Please send your comments, suggestions and contributions to the address
below. For questions, please see my note in the introduction.

e-mail:peter.geiser@student.unisg.ch

Peter M. Geiser
Seeblickstr. 10
9010 St. Gallen
Switzerland

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