Trip to Myanmar 2014

Filipinos are now allowed visa-free entry to Myanmar. It was implemented January 2014. And because of that, my friends and I immediately bought tickets to Myanmar. It was just a very short trip, but it was all worth it.

There's no direct flight from Manila to Yangon, so we opted for the one with a stopover in Singapore. The total flying time is about 7 hours plus about 3 hours stopover in Singapore. So, the total journey from Manila to Yangon is about 10 hours. It's a very long trip, fortunately, the plane was comfortable and the Changi airport has complete amenities.

We arrived at the Yangon International Airport in the afternoon, exchanged money at the arrival hall and went to the airport taxi counter. Taxi fare from airport to the city proper is about 9,000 kyats ($9). We then checked in at the May Shan Hotel.

Yangon has a similar vibe as other Southeast Asian cities. I thought that because of its recent history, the city would still be behind in terms of infrastructure. Though it's not a modern city, it's already developing quite fast. You'll see billboards and signs of many top Asian companies such as Samsung and LG. Coca Cola is one of the few western brands that is making presence in Burma. There were pocket traffic jams. Modern buildings share Yangon's skyline with colonial buildings and majestic pagodas. It's like a time machine, where you see this modern tower then just a few walks away, you'll see old British-inspired buildings.

Like many Southeast Asian countries, the people of Burma are also very hospitable. We never encountered major issues with them. Many of them could speak English (or at least understand common words).

Here are some things you should know:
1. Taxi- there is no taxi meter. You'll have to set a price with the driver and haggle. What we did, before riding a taxi, we would ask a local (waiter, sales person or hotel receptionist) how much it would cost from point A to point B. They'll give an estimate price so we'll have an idea. Don't worry, most taxi drivers we encountered gave the amount almost the same as our 'sources'.

2. Bus- We only rode it once, and it's a good experience to try it, if you are an adventurer. There are no signs in English where the bus goes. Better ask someone. And if you are sure what bus to take, expect the bus to be really crowded. If you are standing up, expect someone, who is sitting down, to get your bag from you. He will carry your bag. If he leaves, he will then pass your bag to his seatmate. It's always best to check your bag from time to time. We paid 3,000 kyats each for a bus ride from the outskirts of Yangon to the city proper. The trip took almost an hour.

3. Slippers- Though it would be more comfortable to wear closed shoes especially if you are touring the city, it's a good idea to just wear a pair of slippers or sandals. This is helpful if you plan to visit many pagodas. It would be easier to remove your slippers every time you enter a pagoda. Plus you can also put the slippers in your bag easily, so you don't have to store it in the shoe counter and will be "forced" to give a donation.

4. Money- As you've probably read in other blogs, better bring the new, crispy U.S. dollars. They might not accept U.S. money with markings on it. Credit cards are not yet that widely used. There are many foreign exchange stalls at the public market, particularly at the Bogyoke Market. Be ready to accept many paper bills, since 1,000 kyats is worth only $1.

5. Internet- If you are the type who always checks your social media accounts, consider wifi as the priority when choosing a hotel. There is very limited wifi in all of the city. We were lucky we had fast free wifi at the hotel. So we posted our Instagram photos only at night before sleeping. We didn't try the mobile data service (we're not sure if there is such a service).

Here are some photos of Yangon, Myanmar.

Apartment buildings in Yangon

Normal sight in Yangon

Barbed wire fences at the park

Colonial buildings in Yangon

For more information about Myanmar, read my other blog posts on the topic.
Part 1: Trip to Myanmar 2014
Part 2: Myanmar on a Budget
Part 3: Amazing Journey to the Ancient City of Bagan