Excuse my silly questions if they may be. We are seasoned travellers having been to many developing countries including Peru, Colombia, and middle part of Africa over the past decade.
We are a group of 10 from a local travel club and are considering a trip to Burma next Feburary by ourselves without joining any tour companies. Our itinerary will include visiting 3-4 major tourist cities and also taking bus from Yangon to Mandalay.
1. Hows travel safely in general?
2. I am a retired film director and always carry my video camera wherever I travel(semi-professional model - http://www.dreamcraftmedia.co.uk/default_files/sony%2520vid%2520cam%2520adjusted.jpg). Some other members are professional photographers and intend to bring their higher end cameras. Are these equipment allowed to enter the country? Is there any special permit to obtain from the Burma Embassy here in London (we feel safer if these are ';approved'; prior to departure)? Further more would the immigration confiscate our equipment at the point of entry? We intend to fly via Bangkok.
3. There are serveral travel warning on the current British Foreign Office website. Does normal travel insurance policy cover Burma? Anyone had problem on obtaining proper travel insurance cover?
Security Issue Travelling in Myanmar
We just got back from 2 1/2 weeks and Myanmar and it seems to be the safest country we%26#39;ve visited in years. We carried a large amount of Kyats , dollars and equipment and never worried that it would be stolen. Amazing! Other than internal flight issues it was a great trip. Go before everyone else does.
Security Issue Travelling in Myanmar
1. We believe that for tourists Myanmar is one of safest places in the world to visit.
We have never had the slightest concerns for our selves or our possessions.
You will need an Agency to make some of your local arrangements and there are many recommendations on this forum.
2.Things are much easier with customs now and I do not see you having problems with high value cameras as many travellers take in laptops,ipods,blackberrys etc (although the latter is useless as there is no signal in Myanmar).
I had a query a couple of years ago %26amp; wrote/faxed the London Embassy of Myanmar and they phoned me 24 hours later confirming I would not have a problem taking in an item.
Why not contact them?
When we visit we always declare watches/cameras etc but customs seem very relaxed-they are more concerned with illegal gems being smuggled out without duty being paid, not stuff coming in.
However one warning-do not at any time mention if any of you work for newspapers or are a journalist or you will not get a Visa.
Co. Director is a good catchall.
There have been postings on photography on ThornTree Myanmar forum recently and a recent link on this TA forum has a photographers experience and photos of a recent trip.
http://jmprphotography.com
and another on photos in Burma
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa…
3.See this link to TT forum on this question- I do not believe that you will have travel insurance exclusions for Myanmar.
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa…
Last point- I assume that as a ';retired film director';you are not a spring chicken so I would think carefully before taking the overnight bus from Yangon to Mandalay (or even the train).
These are grueling journeys and although Peter Hitchens did it for The Mail on Sunday recently they can be long,uncomfortable and arduous.
If you want river photo opportunities then certainly take the Pandaw boat trip Mandalay/Bagan.
And as far as ';retired film directors'; are concerned the esteemed director (now food critic) Michael Winner is still waxing lyrical about his Burma experience.
Any other queries please message me.
Thank you for the replies. To clarify we intend to hire a mini-bus overland from Yangon to Mandalay as some members concern flight safety while others wish to take good photos along the way. I myself will probably flying to a nice beach resort for a week after Mandalay.
friz4 - you seem did not enjoy your domestic flight journey?
Some concerns from me, you should prearrange some matters in your plan such as air tickets, and hotels (to assure if you have favorite preferences). Domestic flights these days are pretty hard in the last minute. So do some small hotels of deluxe. Professional camera are subject to pay sometimes in some entrances.
Noting to do with the Travel Warning or offend, but those travel warning has been listed for more than a decade for reasons. However it hardly impacts to tourists in Burma. As long as you are a tourist, you are safe.
Been to Burma many times and loved it, returning again end month. If your are planning to hire a mini bus to go to Mandalay: best wishes and good luck on your journey. I myself would never do it. Have flown to Mandalay and Bagan several times, I am always reassured when I hear a British accent on the PA. Even when the Captain is Burmese, I have noted on several occassions that the First Officer is most likely from the UK.
The most fabulous experience of my life was hotair ballonning at Bagan! On the day that I went 6 ballons were inflated in synchronised motion and we floated between the temple spires at dawn. The ballonist was a real pro.We ended up being airbourne for longer than normal - an hour and a half. The ballonists and ballons are from Bath, England and they spend 6 months a year giving rides in Bagan.
Any flight issues I have concerned:
1. difficult to get domestic tickets a short notice
2.filthy departure lounge in Rangoon ( although nicer than Conakrey, Freetown,Bombay etc- ) Bagan and Mandalay were very nice.
3. disorganised baggage checkin procedures i Rangoon ( on par with many 3rd world countries)
4. hoards of touts and harassment at the arrival hall in Rangoon ( not an issue in Mandalay or Bagan).
5. filthy old buses to get you to the planes
As far as the flights were concerned, the a/c (ATR turboprops) appeared to be well maintained, the cabin was clean and there was rubber on the tires. The conduct of the Flight Attendants was professional and of a proper international standard. Liteyears ahead of that bastion of democracy in Asia: The Phillipines.
MartininLondon,
An excellent choice-I suspect that your trip to Burma will be one of your favorite destinations for a ';seasoned traveler'; as yourself.
Travel is safe in Burma-and while I certainly applaud your enthusiasm to travel without a tour group or company, as stated in another reply to your inquiry, arranging for flights can be difficult because the flight schedules seem to be always in a state of flux. It might be a good idea to consult with a tour company prior to your departure.
The drive to Mandaly will take 12-14 hours from Yangon. In Mandalay you must see Mingun (rent a boat exclusively for your group and enjoy the short excursion to this destination); Amarapura; the U Bein Bridge; and Saggaing. Also, you should definitely take an 2-night excursion (drive) from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin (aka Maymo). Once there visit the botanical gardens as well as take a train ride to the Goak Htake bridge-a most memorable endeavour (OK I spelled it the British style for your consumption). Also, Pyin Oo Lwin has a ';British'; history to the town and will offer a cool reprieve from Mandalay.
I know of no restrictions for your camera gear or equipment.
Personally, I have never obtained travel insurance-and I see no reason why a travel insurance company would preclude you from making a claim if you obtained travel insurance through a reputable travel insurance company.
And though I am feeling as though I am rambling, I just wrote a review of a hotel in Ngapali Beach-you mentioned a trip to the beach after Mandalay and no trip to Burma would be complete without a trip to Ngapali Beach! Good Luck!
Does anyone have a good way to carry all the kyats in Myanmar? Is there an organzier that you have found helpful?
As several other messages say, you need have no worries about safety, the Burmese are the most honest people in the world (although I%26#39;m married to one so not unbiased). I agree that taking a bus to Mandalay will be gruelling, the roads are just terrible. I have flown many times on domestic flights without the slightest problem, use Air Mandalay if possible, if not Air Bagan (though this is close to the government). Although it%26#39;s not hard to travel independently, with a group this size you would be ill advised not to use a good travel agent and have a guide. I have found Columbus very efficient and responsive.
**
Columbus Travels
586, Strand Road, lanmadaw Township
Yangon, Myanmar
Tel : + 95 1 229245
Fax : + 95 1 229246
Other e mail : columbus@mptmail.net.mm %26lt;mailto:columbus@mptmail.net.mm%26gt;
Website : www.travelmyanmar.com %26lt;http://www.travelmyanmar.com%26gt;
Taking video in Myanmar can be expensive.Look at the Myanmar Embassy website.They are quoting $US3000.00 totake videos around Bagan.
Have been to myanmar twice now
and will be going back feb 26 for approx 25days
you will have NO trouble with your safety at all
the burmese are totally honest and polite and friendly
whist i can see your point of going it alone and doing your own thing
you are perhaps like myself on our first visit,you think that you can organise it via the internet ,cutting out the travel agent?
we did this and printed various hotels and prices off the net
we turned up at the traders in rangoon clutching aprint out for one night at approx 70 dollars
only to be told 140 dollars!!
and the receptionist would not budge!!
you need to find a travel agent pref one rec on this web site
you will save money!!!
they will do everything for you and no hassle for you
i was lucky to meet such a person on our first trip and he arranged our second visit for us
yes the traders was approx 70 dollars this time!
we had a great trip
flew to mandalay for a few days then on a boat down the irrawaddy to bagan for a few days and then flew to ngapali {maybe the best beach in asia!}
for approx 10 days then back to rangoon
we stayed in fantastic hotels and whenever we moved on he would ring to make sure everythinG was ok
is name is casu and speaks exellent english he has a brother living in canada and i cannot speak too highly of him
the name of the company is
sweetcherry@myanmar.com.mm
if you have any questions please contacy
YOU WILL HAVE AN EXELLENT HOLIDAY
REGARDS TRUEY
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