advice for seniors

Hi

We are Senior citizens but reasonably active, and are planning a trip to Chiang Mai Vientianne and Luang Pabang, and are now thinking of trying to add 4/5 nights in Yangon, as we will be in the general area.

I read somewhere that tourists who just wander around independently are frowned upon in Myanmar. Can anyone tell me if this is true. Is it essencial to have a guide all the time or can we just leave the hotel and wander around on our own.

I also read that if you take a lot of photographs of old buildings etc { this is my hobby since i retired ] you could find yourself in trouble, because a lot of them now contain Government or Military offices.

Has anyone had experience with the Central Hotel, From what i can gather it is next to Traders { good location ] and has most of the things that Traders has to offer at a fraction of the cost.

We would be looking to hire a Guide for a couple of 1 day and 1/2 day trips so any of you guides out there who would be interested you can contact me at gander@aussiemail,com.au with your rates and driver contact and rates if you do not drive yourselves

Thanks for any help

advice for seniors

While my travelling companion and I may not be as senior as yourself we are not spring chickens and I%26#39;d suggest that Myanmar is no better or no worse when it comes to travelling. Outside the build up areas the roads are not good, so flights between centres are going to save you time. You intended stay is very short?.. Do you really intend to just see Yangon on this trip....

If you are going to be in Chiang Mai you can fly from there to Mandalay on Mandalay Air (Thursday only) To and from Yangon you can get a cheap ticket from Bangkok.. About AUD 100 round trip (if you buy early enough on-line.

We spent just one day at Traders. On-line you can get a very good deal with the hotel direct and an even better price with www.hoteltravel.com or www.asiarooms.com

Don%26#39;t worry about taking pics.. just don%26#39;t snap army (of which you%26#39;ll see very little).. airports or bridges.. that kind of thing... I was very surprised about the few army or even police we saw. When people write about restricted areas, they are not talking about the areas that tourist ever get close to... It%26#39;s much more free than we imagine.. except if we were Burmese I suppose.

Feel free to send me a private message with any question you may have.. We were there last Christmas.

advice for seniors

Hi

We too are seniors (65+) and quite active. My husband has visited Myanmar 3 times - first time with our son and 2nd and 3rd times with me. First time they picked up a taxi at the airport and drove North, but when I went we booked a hotel on line and when we arrived in Yangon went to Columbus Travels (recommended in Lonely Plant Guide) to book a trip North (Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake) with guide/driver. We returned again last October, prebooked with Columbus Travels by email (Yangon, Kyaikhtiyo-Bago, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Kyaing Tong (hill tribe trekking). Fantastic trip yet again. Our guide in Yangon told us not to take pictures of the old buildings on the waterfront, particularly the US embassy and others, but usually there didn%26#39;t seem to be any restrictions other than as mentioned above, Government or Military areas. Use your discretion. If you buy a copy of Lonely Planet Guide it will give you all the information you could possibly want. Basically it is a very safe place and we never felt threatened by anyone or anything. You can easily wander around. The country and the people are simply beautiful. We plan to return again this year.

It would be a pity if you didn%26#39;t venture outside of Yangon and see more of the country while you are there. Inle Lake is very special and well worth visiting. Most people fall in love with this place. Look it up on the internet.

Contact Columbus Travels if you want to arrange a guide or any other travel the are very efficient: 586 Srand Road, Ianmadaw Township, Yangon Myanmar. They will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel etc. We stayed at mid-range hotels

Tel: _95 1 229245 Fax: +95 1 229246

columbus @mptmail.net.mm or Ms Ohnmar -

columbus03@b aganmail.net.mm

www.travelmyanmar.com

Happy to answer any questions through PM.

Thanks folks, we will no doubt have a few more questions. The offers are greatly appreciated.

My first experience in Myanmar (3 yrs ago) followed a week in Luang Prabang. Enjoyed that immensely. We did a day%26#39;s hill tribe trek with two very nice young local men, one of whom had been born in a hill tribe village. A wonderful experience. Luang Prabang is a delightful town. We hired a boat from the river%26#39;s edge for a day, stopping off at various places along the way - saw silk weaving, paper making etc.

The boat hire sounds great but the trekking would be a bit much for a couple of 70 year olds. We are still pretty active though, and can wander around markets etc most of the day. We just like soaking up the culture, and taking lots of photos.

You will definitely enjoy Luang Prabang - perfect for wandering around - wonderful market in the main street at night selling great handicrafts. I used to get up early in the morning and walk along the road by the river, enjoying the activities of the people as they prepared for their day. A simply charming place.

The boat hire included the operator.

Get hear a lot and interesting,and I thank to all who talking about our country (Burma),

When we were young,we get had listen many story and we get imagine But depend on different thoughts,so like that that is depend on what do you want to see and want to look.

For me advise you,You should meet peoples and get talk about what you want to know.But you need a good guy and guide.

I can say that is our peoples (Burmese peoples ) are the most unique of the beings in the world.

Don%26#39;t you believe,that is just only one way,Come and see it then get it.

Thank you all of members who get discuss about Burma,and think to come and visit BURMA

WELCOME TO BURMA

If you are flying in from Australia, you will be arriving in Bangkok, yes? In that case, why not skip Vientiane and fly straight to Luang Prabang, via Bangkok Airlines? It will save you time, and it is more beautiful and intertesting. We loved Chaing Mai, also. Maybe they have a flight to Luong Prabang, also. We are planning our next trip...will skip Vientiane altogether and go to LP. Going to Laos and Myanmar. Will stay in Yangon. You can fly to Bagan, (not to be missed) , or Heho (to visit Inle Lake) directly from Yangon, as we will do. Can%26#39;t wait. I think to see as much of Myanmar as you can now is important. Things are bound to change, and will be gone forever. Already, the Junta is in the process of moving the Capitol, which will mean some changes in Yangon. But hopefully not to many before we get ther in Jan.%26#39;08 ! Good luck.

Quote: ';the Junta is in the process of moving the Capitol, which will mean some changes in Yangon. But hopefully not to many';...

Changes for the better I trust.. fewer of the wrong kind of people in Yangon, I%26#39;m sure:-)

Thanks, Mosegrisan- Good thought. I was just thinking that people might leave to follow business in the new capitol, and Yangon might become somehow less. But is it true that people will generally not be allowed in the new capital, meaning outsiders and tourists, maybe the common man, too? Will it just be a kind of isolated place from which the Junta can run the country?

gloss