Last-modified: 1995-09-30 MYANMAR The Internet Travel Guide ************************************************************************** COPYRIGHT NOTICE: 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". Following the common practice of the Internet, this document may be freely redistributed without any modification whatsoever. However, it may NOT be sold for profit or included in any commercial documents (e. g. books, esp. guide books,magazines, WWW-pages, or any other form) without the prior written permission of the copyright holders. This permission is only valid for the published version at the time the permission was granted; it does not extend into the future. Please direct questions, suggestions, comments and flames to geiser.peter@ch.swissbank.com Last change: 8. October 1995 ************************************************************************** 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 Myanmar's culture or history (although I started to include some information about those subjects as well), for these non-changing facts are much more pleasanlty presented in many good books (see the list in section 4 in this FAQ). Remember: Things change very fast, so by the time you get to Myanmar the information in this FAQ may be outdated.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 apreciate 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 I in that case I chose to leave the words as the author wrote them, adding a more personal note to the FAQ. ************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. GENERAL OVERVIEW 1.1 GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION 1.2 CLIMATE 1.3 PEOPLE 1.4 EVENTS 1.5 VISA 1.6 EMBASSIES 1.7 BORDER CROSSING 1.8 TRAVEL PERMITS 1.9 MONEY 1.10 POSTAL SERVICES 1.11 ACCOMMODATION 1.12 FOOD 1.13 HEALTH 2. TRANSPORTATION 2.1 FLYING 2.2 TRAIN 2.3 BOAT 2.4 BUS 2.5 CAR 3. PLACES YANGON KYAIK-TIYO BAGAN TAUNGGYI INLE LAKE MANDALAY SAGAING 4. LITERATURE 4.1 GUIDEBOOKS 4.2 TRAVELLERS TALES 4.3 REPORTS 4.4 HISTORICAL/ POLITICAL BOOKS 4.5 NOVELS 4.6 MOVIES 4.7 INTERNET A. CONTRIBUTORS ************************************************************************** 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 March the rainy monsoon season starts. The best time to visit is during the winter, from October to February. It is pleasantly cool and the sky mostly cloudless. 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.4 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.5 VISA A visa is valid from the day it is issued for one month exactly. So buy your vias at the latest possible moment. In Bangkok you can get a visa to Myanmar within 24 hours. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.6 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 Laos NA1 Diplomatic Quarters, Fraser Road, Yangon (Rangoon) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.7 BORDER CROSSING The main entry and exit point of Myanmar is the airport of Yangon. The 'official' entry and exit procedures are as follows: 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. Overland It is possible to cross overland from Yunnan province in China and from Thailand. 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. Day return cross-border traffic is also allowed at Ayeyawaddy, Three-Pagoda Pass and Kawthaung. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.8 TRAVEL PERMITS The list of officialy accessible regions, published 26 April 1995 by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, is: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.9 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. FECs are available in equivalents of USD 1, USD 5, and USD 10. It is illegal to import or export Kyats. People entering Mynamar are required to change USD 300 at the official rate of 5 kyats to the dollar. It is reportedly possible to circumvent this regulation. Any unspent FEC under USD 300 will not be reconverted and are thus lost (instead of returning them to the government, give them to the people. You can do it without endangering them when giving tips, or paying more than required, or simply 'losing' your money). FECs in excess of USD 300 are reconverted at the time of departure on presentation of the Foreign Exchange Certificated Voucher at the Exchange Counters. The official exchange rate for the FEC is 1 FEC to 1 USD. About half of the time you'll have to pay in FEC. The street rate is some 120 kyats for a FEC or for a dollar. Since this is not official, be very careful. The worst that could happen to you is that you get kicked out of the country, but for the person selling you Kyats it might mean death or long and torturous imprisonment. 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. Opening hours for baks are 10 am to 2 pm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.10 POSTAL SERVICES Post offices are open Mo to Fr, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. 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. Overseas calls are possible through operators at a Central Telegraph Office or at major hotels. Some hotels also have IDD. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.11 ACCOMMODATION Officially approved budget rooms are about USD 18. If you use free market money, this will drop to about USD 2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.12 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. 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.13 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. 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 moscitoes (Anopheles). The decay of the red blood cells causes fever. Depending on the type of malaria these fever shocks appear every three (malaria tertiana) or four (malaria quartana). 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 people who vote strongly in favour of using prophylactics such as Lariam. Apart from possible side-effects (like mental problems, nightmares, and a higher photo-sensitivity of the skin), these drugs do not prevent you getting malaria. You still have to go to a doctor and they make treatment more difficult. Another problem is that the strains of malaria get resistant after some time and another strain has developed for which a cure still has to be found and the native population is not yet resistant. Another possibility, recomendable especially for longer trips or for sensitive people is to carry an emergency package with you. If using Lariam, an example, you use three pills as soon as you feel malaria coming up, after twelve hours you take another two and after another twelve hours the last pill. You have to go to a doctor as soon aspossible. The most effective way. The most effective way to prevent malaria are mosquitoe repellant (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 mosquitoe net. ************************************************************************** 2. TRANSPORTATION 2.1 FLYING There are direct flights between Yangon and Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Dhaka, Kunming, Moscow and Vientiane. The airlines serving Yangon are Myanmar Airways, Thai Airwais International, Silk Air, Biman, CAAC and Aeroflot. The departure tax is USD 6. Flying within Myanmar is generally considered not to be safe. The address of Myanmar Airways International is 123 Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon, Tel 89772, 89773, 89774. There is another domestic airline, the Air Mandalay Ltd. Flight Schedule Effective: 7 Dec 94 to 31 March 95 Aircraft: ATR 72-210 QC: 66 Seats Days Flight Dep Arr Meals From Yangon (RGN) To Bagan NYU 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6T 001 07:45 09:00 Breakfast Mandalay MDL 1 3 6 6T 003 12:10 13:40 Lunch From Mandalay(MDL) To Heho HEH 1 3 6 6T 002 09:20 14:45 Lunch Yangon RGN 1 3 6 6T 004 10:15 11:45 Lunch Yangon RGN 4 7 6T 006 10:15 11:45 Lunch Yangon 2 5 6T 008 13:40 15:10 Light Meal From Bagan(NYU) To Mandalay MDL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6T 001 09:20 09:50 Refreshment From Heho(HEH) To Yangon RGN 1 6 6T 002 14:55 16:10 Light Meal -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2 TRAINS There is an express train between Yangon and Mandalay that runs every day. Other trains are slow and unreliable. There is a special counter for tourists in Yangon, Mandalay and Thazi. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3 BOAT Myanmar has many rivers with lots of transportation. There is a luxury cruise ship running between andalay and Bagan on the Ayeyarwady Princess. There are also numerous regular boats. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4 BUS Buses are old, cheap, convenient, uncomfortable, and extremely crowded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.5 CAR A minivan complete with driver and guide should be about USD 80 for a ten day trip from Mandalay to Rangon. ************************************************************************** 3. PLACES YANGON After King Alaungpaya (the founder of the Kon-Baung Dynasty) conquered the viallge Dagon in 1755, he renamed it to Yangon, meaning 'end of strife'. The village's strategic location in fact warranted a total victory over Lower Myanmar. In 1851 the town was annexed by the Britain and subsequently refounded. The new city was designed and constructed in a chequerboard fashion, with the roads running north-south and east-west. It's architect was the same Lieutenant Fraser that also designed Singapore. Nowaday it is a bustling city of some 5 million inhabitants, covering an area of over 570 sq km. It is the countries administrative and economical center. Swe Dagon Pagoda The main attraction in Yangon (Rangoon) is the 110 m high Swe Dagon Pagoda, looking down onto the city from a hill. Its surface is plaited with over 30 tons of gold, brought since hundreds of years by millions of pilgrims. It dates back 2500 years. According to the legend, it was built by two merchant brothers that have received eight hairs of Buddha. With the help of a number of heavenly creatures and the king they discovered the hill where in a small chamber the relics of other Buddhas have been enshrined. They added the new hairs and covered the chamber with a golden slab. Then they built succession of pagodas, starting with a golden pagoda followed by a silver pagoda, a tin pagoda, a copper pagoda, a leaden pagoda, a marble pagoda and finally an iron brick pagoda. Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda One of the largest in Myanmar, this reclining Buddha dates back to 1966. The original from 1907 has been demolished in 1957, after suffering heavily by the climate. It is located a short distance beyond the Swe Dagon Pagoda. Sule Pagoda In the center of Yangon is the over 2000 years old Sule Pagoda. Its said to enshrine a hair of Buddha, thus its Mon name Kyaik Athok, which means 'the Pagoda where a Sacred Hair is enshrined'. The octagonal shape makes the 46 m high structure an unusual sight. Botataung Pagoda In the legend the relics of the Buddha brought from India some 2000 years ago were acompanied by thousand military leaders (thus its name, composed from 'bo', leader and 'tahtaung', thousand). The hollow inside of the 40 m high spire has been turned into a museum displaying many ancient relics. National Museum On display are many old artifacts, among them the Lion Throne of the last king of Myanmar, Thibaw and the 19th century Royal Regalia. It is at 26 Pansodan St. Opening times are Mo. - Fr., 10 am - 3 pm, admission USD 4. Zoological Garden On weekend and public holiday there are elephant shows and snake dances. It is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, admission is 4 Kyat. Kaba Aye Pagoda The 'World Peace Pagoda' was built only in 1952 for the Sixth Buddhis Synod in 1954 - 1956. Located 11 km north of the city, both its diameter and its height are 34 m. Mahana Guha Near the Kaba Aye Pagoda is the 'great cave'. This completely manmade cave measures 139 by 113 m. Mai-Lamu Pagoda Situated in North Okkalapa some 20 minutes' drive from the city center, this pagoda is famous for its giant images showing the lives of Buddha. Hotel The most luxurious hotel is Strand, one of the legendary hotels of Asia. In the beautifully renovated new part you get a room for upwards of USD 200, and the not yet renovated, old annexe is USD 56. Even more expensive is the Best Inn. The Inya Lake Hotel is at Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Tel 62857, Fax 65719 A good place is the Pyin Oo Lwin Guest House. It is at 183 Mahabandoola Garden Street, Kyauktada Township, Tel 74005 Shopping Bogyoke Aung San Market -------------------------------------------------------------------------- KYAIK-TIYO Newly opened to foreigners, the Golden Rock of Kyaik-tiyo is the most-visited sight in Myanmars intra-tourism. It is a round rock, leaning for a part over the deep gorge. Legend has it that a hair of Buddha hold it in balance. You have to walk the 11 km long pilgrims way. There is an entrance fee of USD 6 and another fee of USD 6 if you want to take pictures. For the long walk you may hire a porter for USD 4 there and back. On the way there is a hotel with a bar for foreigners. ************************************************************************** BAGAN Located 193 km south of Mandalay, and covering 42 km2, Bagan is one of the richest archeological sites in Asia. Also known as the city of the four million pagodas, Bagan is one of the ancient capitals of Myanmar. There are more than 2000 pagodas built during the Bagan Dynasty founded by King Anawratha in 1044 AD. The main pagodas are: Ananda Pagoda, Damayangyi Pagoda, Hti-lo-min Pagoda, Shwegugyi Pagoda, and Shwesandaw Pagoda. Near the Ananda Pagoda is the Bagan Museum. It contains images and sculptures found in temples around Bagan. Entrance to the archeological zone is USD 10. For every extra day exceeding 2 days and 2 nights there is an additional fee of USD 3. Worthwile is also the market, close to the road. To get to Bagan, take a plane from Yangon. It takes about 1 hour. From Mandaly it is a 3 hour drive or an overnight cruise on a boat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAUNGGYI The capital of the Shan State is very popular for its cool climate. It is a good starting point for an excursion to the Inle Lake. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- INLE LAKE This lake, just 30 km south of Taunggyi is one of the most beautiful spots in Myanmar. It is 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide and about 900 m above sea level. There are many floating Inntha villages and colourful markets and festivals. Hotels The Inle Inn Country Guest House at the Yonegyi Road is a nice place. The host is very knowledgable about the area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- MANDALAY Mandalay was the last capital before the British colonialisation. Perhaps this accounts for its being the most typical city in Myanmar, retaining its old charm. Hotels The Sabai Phyu Guest House is at 58, 81st Street, Tel (02) 25377. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAGAING Located 21 km south-west of Mandalay on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, Sagaing was the capital of the independent Shan kingdom from 1315 to 1364, and later again from 1760 to 1764. Today it is mainly a meditation center. Near the Sagaing Hill are over 600 monasteries for both monks and nuns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. LITERATURE 4.1 GUIDEBOOKS MYANMAR - A Travel Survivel Kit, Lonely Planet Contains many good hints about travelling. Has always good lists of hotels, restaurants, etc. South-East Asia on a Shoestring, Lonely Planet Covers the whole region. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2 TRAVELLERS TALES Theroux, Paul. The Great Railway Bazaar. Part of the book covers the railway between Yangon, Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.3 REPORTS National Geographic, July 1995. The author, grown up in Burma, revisits the places of his childhood. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.4 HISTORICAL/ POLITICAL BOOKS Die Krallen der Tiger und Drachen. Wirtschaftsboom und Selbstbewusstsein in Asien. Sabine Stahl/ Ulrich Mihr (Hrsg.). Droemer Verlag 1995. An excellent book about the current political and economical developments in Asia. Donnison, F. S. V. Burma. An overview over the countries history up until the 1960s. Lintner, Bertil. Outrage: Burma's Struggle for Democracy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.5 NOVELS Lewis, Norman. Golden Earth. Orwell, George. Burmese Days. Set in the colonial times, this novel gives an interesting account of these times. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.6 MOVIES Beyond Rangoon. John Boorman. 1995 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.7 INTERNET There is an excellent site at http://www.unique.com/ FreeBurmaWWW http://sunsite.unc.edu/freeburma/freeburma.html Ethnologue Database (Myanmar) http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar Lonely Planet has a page on Myanmar: http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/dest/sea/myan.htm BurmaNet News is regularily posted in soc.culture.burma. To subscribe, send e-mail to majordomo@igc.apc.org with "subscribe burmanet-l" (without the quotation marks) in the body. An archive with many tips and a lot of stories is ftp://ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca/pub/rec-travel A. CONTRIBUTORS Apart from my own personal experiences I have been able to include a lot of information from other people and sources. Where it is necessary to do so, I put the author in front of the paragraph, mostly so when personal experiences/ feelings are important. Whenever possible I tried to contact the author of the information to get permission and I include his/ her e-mail address for reference. Coban Tun tun@macpsy.ucsf.EDU Paul D. Copeland ********************************************************************* Peter M. Geiser Seeblickstr. 10 9010 St. Gallen SWITZERLAND geiser.peter@ch.swissbank.com *********************************************************************