books at the border

we will be flying into Yangon next week for a short stay (holiday). Would anyone anticipate problems if I had 3 books with me set in Burma- George Orwell%26#39;s ';Burmese Days';, ';Secret histories-Finding Geore Orwell in Burma'; by Emma Larkin and ';The Lizard cage'; by Karen Connelly. None are %26#39;political%26#39; boks but are not necessarily sympathetic to the current regime.

Thanks

books at the border

Hi April005,

George Orwell%26#39;s Burma days in widely known amongst the educated/literary circles and possibly the ';Secret Histories - finding George Orwell in Burma';. Normally unless you are known to have been quite an active supporter of the opposition - eg. actively involved in campaigns such as the ';Burma Campaign'; worldwide, you wouldn%26#39;t generally be searched - i.e. they wouldn%26#39;t go through your hand luggage. However, depending on how they - the authorities feel, if they are nervous about something they might just have a quick look. Burma Days and the Secret Histories might just be waived through - But if it is a nervous customs officer, may retain them (Burma Days is more likely to get through in that case, than the Secret Histories: ';Secret Histories'; might just unnerve them.)

Now, Lizard Cage is a different story altogether!! It is contemporary and is likely to be well known to the authorities. It is political as far as the Myanmar authorities are concerned!! And I wouldn%26#39;t be surprised if it is listed high in the NOT ALLOWED or worse, UNACCEPTABLE category. I would strongly advise you NOT to take that with you unless you are willing to give time explaining why you want to read it in Burma.

My advice: Get something like ';The Glass Palace - Amitav Gosh'; or the ';History of Burma';

Remember: Travelling to Myanmar/Burma is totally different experience and environment and totally unconventional in the sense that one needs to be careful of things taken totally for granted or accepted in countries generally elsewhere.

Khayeethe

books at the border

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed to know. I will save ';The Lizard Cage'; to read when I get home....

I have visited Myanmar 10 times and have never had my bags searched or been asked about anything I was bringing into the country. But ... I am always careful not to bring any books that would be considered controversial. I don%26#39;t want to create problems for my Burmese friends or myself. But I broke my own rule earlier this year: a monk in Mandalay ask me to bring him a copy of ';The Lizard Cage.'; I had read the book and knew the potent political angle of the story, so I debated whether to risk bringing him the book or not. I eventually did bring him the book, but I removed the dust cover (it was a hardcover copy) so that it wouldn%26#39;t be so obvious if someone were to glance at it.