Well the fridge is now restocked, the washing machine is working overtime and 700+ photos have been downloaded for editing so here is the long awaited review of JY's first trip to Burma. I am not going to write a day by day account for several reasons. This tour is so packed with activity such a review will crash the website, I might forget to mention something and also because this is the first tour the itinerary is sure to change. Our own was tweaked a couple of times, things moved around and added in as local knowledge clarified some of the visits.
This review is for the main tour only, some of the group opted for the add on at the coast and I am sure this will be reviewed when they get back plus other group members are sure to have things to add to my review.
The first thing to say is that this tour is FULL ON - we got a first hint when our excellent tour rep Suzanne Brown told us on arrival at Yangon that the hotel rooms were not ready and we were going straight out on the city tour. Not what we wanted to hear after our long flight from Kuala Lumpur so when local guide Naing then said that they were and we could have two hours to shower & change he became our hero. Be warned, there is very little downtime on this tour, there are very early starts and some late evenings but all are worth it to see this beautiful, fascinating country. Of course you are always at liberty to take time out but you will miss some memorable sights and experiences.
It is almost impossible to pick out any highlights as every day the tour seemed to produce a better day than the previous and everyone on the tour will have their own. However sunset at the U Bein bridge has to be one of them as was Naings' demonstration of 50 ways to use a longyri, the temples at Bagan, our gala dinner, visits to local craft producers and the day on Inle Lake not forgetting the visit to the Schwedagon Pagoda at sunset on our last day and Scotts Market which is a cornucopia of delights for the shopper.
Top tips. Despite having a visa you will have to fill in an immigration card. Pick up at KL airport and fill in on flight. Cost of living - rough exchange rate is 2,000 Kyat (pronounced chat) to £1. A 600 ml bottle of local beer averages from 2000 to 4000 chat but at Bagan the hotel charged 7,000. Meals - a good meal can be had for 5,000 - 6,000 chat but if you order a western dish don't expect it to be the same as at home!! Hotels generally price in dollars and will convert to chat but local restaurants/ markets all deal in chat only. I took 300 USD and would say about half went on drinks/tips/meals and half on souvenirs. Take lots of wet wipes. The reason for the alternative title Barefoot in Burma is that you will spend a huge amount of time being just that. Public loos are few and far between mainly at temple sites where you will be charged 200 - 300 chat. Western style are sometimes found but not often and a few times we had to call on local peoples hospitality and there was plenty of that to be had. The people are happy, charming and welcoming and we were lucky enough to see how daily life is for them on several occasions. Suzanne and Naing worked so hard to make sure we had the best out of every day. For the trip on Inle Lake, a hat and long sleeves/scarf/cover up is essential. Generally, short sleeved tops and knee length shorts/skirts are acceptable in the pagodas and take shoes you can slip off easily and are washable as many streets/roads are beaten earth and therefore dusty. Crop trousers are good for ladies especially for negotiating eastern style WC's! Finally credit cards are not generally accepted and ATM's are infrequent.
So I hope this will help anyone going on the next tour or thinking of doing this trip and if you are go for it. The country is only just emerging, some of the hotels still have a lot to learn but you will have the privilege of seeing a country steeped in history and religion as it opens up more fully to the western world and before tourism
changes its face.
flight.
Highlights - every day was ahiglight and we could not believe
