ekkk.. so jealous!! damm nice!!

anyway i'm going there for 12days.. so can't visit some places u visit like Hsipaw so probably just concentrate on the big 4 (yangon > mandalay > bagan > inle).. do u know the night bus schedules between these places?

I went for 16D15N. My itinerary was Yangon - Bagan & Mt Popa - Mandalay, Sagaing, & Amarapura - Hsipaw - Mandalay - Inle Lake - Yangon

Bus schedule depends... Night buses would save you on accommodation. Bus fares between cities are between 8,000 - 14,000 kyats.

Anyone of you actually entered Myanmar using visa on arrival? Just wondering how reliable is their visa on arrival.

I saw the VOA stand at the airport. If you wanna take the risk, then go ahead. Most people apply at the embassies in their own countries, so I'd say better follow the majority.

If you can apply for visa here better do so. From my experience using VOA (in other countries, not Myanmar), main prob is the queue. The process can be slow, so if crowd is large, you gotta wait. And check the process -- forms to fill up, mugshots to be attached, etc. Something not right, more waiting.

Latest Update, apply VISA in KL. And the price has increased from RM80 to RM110. And it takes 2 days. Meanning Monday submit , Wednesday can take.

Document to submit
1)2 passport size photo with white background
2) Confirm air tix
3) PAssport & photocopy x 1
4) Application Form

Nov/Dec/Jan /Feb - PEAK SEASON. Hotel increase price A LOT. This year there has been an increased cos more n more tourist.

You may check out hotels here

http://myanmar-tourism.blogspot.com/
http://www.trekthailand.net/directory-myan...ngon/index.html
http://www.tourismtransparency.org/find-a-business

However do read Hotel review at Tripadvisor

tq for info.
regarding peak season, lucky i bought tiket for march

Awesomely long trip you had there!! How was Hsipaw and Inle? Was backpacking Myanmar last month but had to miss these 2 spots as time was tight, what mode of transportation did you use to get to Inle? Bus? How was it?

Hsipaw and Inle were a bit drizzly, but overall I had pleasant stays there.

Took the Gokteik Viaduct railway too - effin' fantastic ride!!! (look it up!)

And yes, went to Inle by bus (similar to our Konsortium 4-seat a row air-con buses).

Just got back from my 6days/5 nights trip covered Yangon & Bagan only

MONEY CHANGER

Change your USD at the airport not outside USD1 = 846kyat (that is for USD100 rate).Change it after u have stamped yr passport .Just head straight u will see a money changer before u exit the arrival hall. There's one at the arrival hall however rate is a bit lower. Is ok if your note is folded in half however make sure it looks & feel new

Outside hotel exchange rate USD1- 836 kyat. And if you change USD50 u will only get 830 kyat
* rates above is at early Dec 2012

HANDPHONE NETWORK
Good news to those who has Celcom network.It works for you.You can roam there. Rates can be extremely expensive.

Other network --- sorry lar

Myanmar Prepaid SIM card - 20,000 kyat (RM72). calls are expensive for international USD0.09. Once you finish means finish...no top up.U got to buy another sim card

Hotel international call - USD3.00
local call - 300 kyat

Public phone in yangon - 500 kyat per local call. Someone will look after the public phone and pay to them. Is not a coin phone like ours.

So make sure u book yourself in a hotel that provide free wifi so that u can whatsapp,viber or skpe.

Hotels is extremely hard to get during Dec. Was not raining however weather is super HOT too. The sun was bright n sunny. Bagan is cold in the morning and at night late morning n afternoon is super hot.

Stayed at Crystal Palace hotel, Yangon (cant find those cheap one like Ocean Pearl or Motherland which will provide you free transfer fr airport).Airport transfer to this hotel is 6000kyat with air cond .Room Price USD36 per night wz B'fast (all hotels price increased during Dec). Nothing great abt the hotel but owner is nice . Is a 1 star rated hotel. Very dated room. Aircond is old n loud noise. Can be difficult to Zzzz if u r sensitive. Bathroom - can see some dark dark stuff. )well just wear slipper n take yr shower).Room's floor is also old and dated.Not carpeted which is good cos they dun have vacuum cleaner. They sweep.They have carpet along the corridor Just bring along a inroom shoes. Floor mat like never wash. Bedsheet is clean.Blanket is fleece but like never wash however they do have a layer clean sheet covering it.matress is extremely soft like u squeeze a sponge...so me dont like it. Prefer a firm matress

Breakfast you may choose western breakfast ( 2 sunny sideup/1 sausage), toast, coffee or tea,jam & margerine, orange cordial .Or Myanmar B'fast (dried noodle) or Mohinga Bfast (pls dun choose this...hard to swallow...but if you wanna try go ahead)

The hotel I stayed is very near Shwedagon Pagoda so is just within walking distance. And there's an another Hotel called http://www.hotelshwegonedaing.com/home.htm. (room rate - from USD60...yup extremely high.Is for foreigners' price).You can go there for massage @ 3rd Floor. Traditional massage @ 10,000 kyat (RM36) & foot massage @ 7000kyat. Dont pay in USD cos it will cost more.

May Shan hotel is near Sule Pagoda. Traders (high end) hotel is near Bogyoke Market

Anywhere you go just flag a taxi...their taxi can be extremely old. And some are like about to send to kereta potong. So if you are heading there during low season ...I guess is raining or could be hot...I suggest always ask for taxi with aircond. Just pay a bit more. And you dont wanna inhale dust too but if you dont mind, you may go ahead without aircond taxi

Taxi From the hotel - railway station - 2000kyat no aircond
- bus station - 6000 kyat aircond (1 hr )
- return from bus station 8000 kyat cos it was 3.00am
- Chinatown @ 2000 kyat aircond

Entrance Fee to Shwedagon (go at night cos they light up - very beautiful) - USD5 or 4500 kyat. (here pay in USD r more worth it but depending what you get after conversion)

Circular Train - 3hrs ride to see rural areas. However, if you dont have much time can go for 1/2 ride. All cost USD1 per person. 1st service starts at 6.10am & last service is at 2.25pm. Perhaps take the 8.20am cos not so hot. 10am onwards extremely hot even though is Dec. Just go to Platform 7 buy ticket from the ticket officer. Show yr passport. If you want half ride also get from Platform 7 but the train is at Platform 5. sit near window at least u get the breeze. Open your eyes & see. Open your mind and heart too.This is like their daily LRT service. However d train is like set in the 30s ..wont say much but experience it yourself.


Chinatown is not like Bangkok chinatown. The chinese here can speak Hokkien, Cantonese & Toi san (which is hard to understand). Can find chinese food here ...very glad...dunno why but happy to see porridge & noodles. Cost abt 800 - 1000 kyats. There's an alley near a Kuan Yin temple sells lot's of food.Tried the porridge & noodles there.

We had myanmar economy rice near Shwedagon Pagoda & opp Uni of Yangon. Cost 5 of us 5500 - 6500 kyats. Got lot of dishes..dishes are in a separate plate


BAGAN

Took bus (flight is also available - Air Bagan)- 9 hrs. depart at 7pm
Fare - 15000 kyat per way
Bus Company - Shwe Mandalar (there could be more than 1 bus company travel there). Ask hotel to buy
Their bus service is good & clean. They provide fleece, small pillow, a bottle of water, tooth brush & paste and a wet towel (better than AA flight :-) ). They made 2 stops on d highway.Very clean R & R and modern. As good as our R & R

Hotel - Aung Mingalar. Walking distance from where the bus drop us. Booked thru Agoda @ USD40 nett with bfast. Convenient location. When we reached there it was very dark (4am) & cold. Luckily hotel very near. And Shwedagon is right in front the hotel. Matress soft like sponge also. Aircond OK. Hot water not really working. TV sometimes OK....ESPN,HBO & chinese channel By the way, take a look at the mini bar what they have inside n snap a picture.They claimed we drank a coke n ask us to pay which we didnt. No floor mat . This place has lot's trees around however very dusty.Lobby like never mob. Wifi have to pay....very kedekut

Drop our bag at the hotel when we reached. Then rent a bycycle @ 2000 kyat/2500 per day (depending on what type of bicycle)to catch the sunrise at 6.00am. make sure your bicycle's break is working, tyre got air and seat is comfortable. Dunno where we are heading to but a lot of ppl r cycling, so we just follow. Or just ask ppl around who woke up early. It was awesome as the sunrise. see it for yourself. We are actually heading old Bagan. Is a good exercise to cycle. And after the sunrise visit the rest of the ruins & temples. Must take off shoes if you are going to climb the pagoda to take photos

Or you may rent a horse cart @ 15000 kyat - 18000 kyat..per day. 2 - 3 pax per cart.


The bus actually drop us at Nyaung U - is near the market also.so u can cycle there to take a peek. Nothing much on shopping.

Nyaung -U ...is a bit dirty & dusty. Food can be very oily.My advise eat in a bit expensive restaurant. Dont eat roadside food. Mohinga food is very famous here.You may want to try but becareful...choose clean place to eat.Try to drink lassi also.

You may choose to go back Yangon by early bus also should there be nothing much to see. Or continue your journey to mandalay or Inle Lake

Other hotels you may look into May Khar lar Guest house (budget), thiri marlar hotel (better & comfortable). Eden Motel, NewPark Hotel...Read their review at TripAdvisor.

MINGALABAR!

^

The August rate was 867 kyats per dollar. Seems to have dropped.

Any latest info on Myanmar?
Going this Saturday
Bagan - heho - Yangon

Has anyone flown from Yangon to Nyaung U? What is the approximate airfare?

From the Air Bagan and Asian Wings Airway, it seems like most of the flights depart at 0600 or 0630, which are kinda early...

OK, I just read that all airlines in Myanmar have connections with the military. I'll just ride the night bus...

Yangon to Bagan airfare is abt USD120. Stayed at New Park Hotel, good & pro customer service as recommended by LP.

Im going to Yangon next month.Do i need visa? Anything interesting to visit in Yangon.Thanks.

I went there 2 weeks ago.
Yes. You need a visa.RM110. You may seek your tour agent to assist you on the visa.
There are lotsa of Pagoda u may visit in Yangon.

How much will travel agent charge for getting the visa for us?
I could go to Myanmar embassy, but am reluctant to take annual leaves...

They charged me extra Rm30 for labor charges. So total RM140. Within 2-3 days u can get it.