tsunami damage to myanmar and its reefs

we are planning on visiting myanmar and also diving its waters via thailand (rangon) departure in April. Has anyone heard about damage to the country or its reefs from the tsunami?

tsunami damage to myanmar and its reefs

Currently the government are reporting little bar the 90 odd dead but news is leaking out about battered coastlines %26amp; possiblilties of a greater death toll. The governemnt is currently monitoring all emails out of Myanmar so information is restricted, aid offered by the Chinese has been turned down.

Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake

This resort is absolutely heaven on earth. The service is impeccable and the staff is very friendly. Spacious, luxurious bungalows on stilts and a main building with a great bar and restaurant. Managed by Burmese woman and her French husband. Hotel is one of three owned by her father. They are in process of building a new spa facility and rumor has it they are negotiating an affiliation with Aman Resorts chain. The lake is magical. Boat trips to villages around the 20+ mile long lake are amazing. Vistas are spectacular. Hard to get to location, but it is definitely worth it. Jane Fonda and Mick Jagger are some of their recent guests.

Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake

Hello, Do you have a few digital pictures that you could e-mail me of this resort? I am going to Myanmar the first part of May on a mission trip for 2 weeks. On my way home I would like to visit this resort.

Thank you for your time,

Randy in Ohio

Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake

Sorry for the slow response, but tripadvisor didn%26#39;t notify me there was a reply to my posting. I have several pics of the resort. Leave me your email address and I can send them to you.

structuretoptr

Invitation to travel Myanmar (Burma)

http://www.7courier.com is one of the best Myanmar Travel Guide website I think.

You can find the best nature and culure exploration. Burma Myanmar Travel Guide and Burma Myanmar Travel Information Web Site include all Myanmar Informatoin.

Travel to Myanmar Burma,

Myanmar Travel Guide,

Burma Travel Guide,

Myanmar Travel Tips,

Myanmar Maps,

Myanmar Travel Directory,

Myanmar Online Travel News,

Myanmar Travel Agent List,

Myanmar Hotel List,

Myanmar Tourists Attraction,

Myanmar Tourists Guide,

Travel Myanmar,

Travel burma,

Trekking,

Yangon,

Bagan,

Inle,

Mraukoo and many other resourcses..

Invitation to travel Myanmar (Burma)

But their English is awful....I know that it%26#39;s newly developed one. I am opinionated of ';something is better than nothing.

Visa

(1) How do I get a VISA for Myanmar?

(2) I hear that they are doing Electronic Visas?

(3) Can anyone recommend a company that I can

get a Visa from online?

(4) Any other info on getting a Visa for Myanmar would be greatly appreciated!

With thanks

Visa

If you want to handle the details yourself, go to

www.mewashingtondc.com/visas_passports.htm

for a printable copy of the application form and details on how to apply.

There are a number of companies that will do this for you, for a fee. Do a search under visas for Myanmar.

Visa

I just got my visa. No need to pay extra for a company to do it for you. Go to www.visastogoabroad.com, download the application, attach the required photos and send it to the embassy in DC. I sent mine by priority mail and enclosed an express mail return envelope and I got it back within 6 days!

I am pretty late in replying. But to answer for the others who has got similar questions on Myanmar (BURMA) Visa, hopefully this is helpful.

1) Myanmar Visa can be obtained on respective Myanmar Embassies in the ';Country where you apply visa'; or NEXT to your Country where Myanmar Embassy exits.

2) Yes, go directly to http://www.visa.gov.mm. NOTE: the information is based on the source from www.peacehousetravel.com/faq.html#visa.

1) in respective Myanmar Embassies where you apply/live or A Country NEXT to your Country where hold Myanmar Embassy.

2) Go directly to http://www.visa.gov.mm

Read the link : http://www.peacehousetravel.com/faq.html#visa

makeup

Flights within Myanmar

I am planning a trip to Myanmar but can%26#39;t find a convenient way to make reservations for the internal flights . The only method I have found is by e mail with travel agencies in Myanmar. Is there any agent in the US that you can talk to on the phone and book reservations?

Flights within Myanmar

Hi, I have tried the same thing myself but have been advised that the only way to get flights is to turn up at Bangkok %26amp; book from there - or wait til you are in Myanmar %26amp; then book - if you find a different way let me know I am trying the same thing but from UK.

Flights within Myanmar

The reasons for the difficulty are that credit cards are not accepted in Myanmar and visitors need to have a visa ahead of time. I recommend you contact Diethelm Travel%26#39;s office in Bangkok and see if they can help you. They have a website with contact info. We were on a tour that used them as the Thai/Myanmar local agency. They booked us within Myanmar on Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways, and between Bangkok and Yangon on Thai Airlines.

I%26#39;m sorry that my info will be a bit old, and I will have to look up the name of the contact agency in Bankok....I think it is Irawaddy Travel. The couple tht ran this agency were from Myranmar (or Burma as I like to think of it before it became a military h unta run country)...and they put together a wonderful package for my traveling there back in l998.

If you can%26#39;t find anyone who will book this trip in or from the US...if you have the time frame for that part of your trip %26#39;alotted%26#39; in your other travel plans, once you get to Bankok, you can arrange your trip from there. You will have to spend some time in Bankok however....we managed to do it with just one day in Bankok, but I would suggest that you plan on at least 3 days in Thailand for all the arrangements to be made.

It is an incredibly beutiful country as are its people. I regret that we only had a 4 night package. I will never forget a sunset from the top of one of the stuppas (sp?) in the archeological site.

Good luck!

Colorado Belle

Everyone

We are a reliable travel agency in Bangkok with very good connections in Burma. We can arrange air, rail and boat travel as well as hotels and private tours with good English speaking guides. We send a couple of dozen people every year with good reports. We are UK owned and operated agency with 10 years experience in SE Asia travel. Feel free to email with questions to info@dtctravel.com and we%26#39;ll get back to you with good, current information.

Regards

Will

DTC

Twante and Bago

We have two days at the end of our trip. How interesting are Twante and Bago -- or should we go back and use the extra time inf Bangkok?

Twante and Bago

Dear Souri,

For Twante, you can see hand made pot factory and ways of life. These pots are very very cheap lower than US$50 for one pot but in europe that pot is above US$2000 for one pot. You can see the ways of life.

For Bago, you can see the second biggest reclining Buddah image, Shwemaedaw pagoda which is 3 meters higher than Shwedagon pagoda that is built by 16 tons of gold plates and 98 meter high. And also you can see the Mon enthic village and hand weaving . And then you can see the stream engine train since second world war.

If you like to know any informatins , please contact to me.

regards,

wintours

Twante and Bago

In comparism, Twante is a bit difficult to access than Bago. Bago is a city of 15 Century and Twante is a pottery town.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Twante : http://peacehousetravel.com/twante.html#top

Bago : http://peacehousetravel.com/bago.html#top

kyat rate

Doesnt anyone know the exchangerate dollar for kyat ???

kyat rate

last week in yangon we received 1300kyat for dollar but in Bagan the rate was a bit less 1100-1200

kyat rate

It%26#39;s a bit changing in daily basis. It should be around 1100~1200 KS per dollor. But I never experienced of 1300 KS/1 USD in these three years.

But there is a certain condition you must have a big note, 100 USD with no exception will be done for better price. No dragged, no ink or nothing on it and no BC sereies.

Hope this helps you.

The rate I got is 1275ks / US$ on 24.Sep.2005

ie hosted control

Day trips of out Yangon

Can anyone suggest day trips out of Yangon. We are on the four day Road to Mandalay cruise, and Inle Lake in late October. We have two full days in Yangon, plus an additional afternoon waiting for our flight to Bangkok. Id like to see as much of the country as possible. How do we go about hiring a driver/guide and how much should we pay. Thanks

Day trips of out Yangon

Dear wideworld,

I like to suggest you to go Golden Rock ( Kyaikhyiyo ) for day trip. That place is 120 miles from Yangon and it will take 4 hours drive. The rock round shaped is situated and balancing on the cliff one square feet area . If they got earthquake seriously, you have no chance to see that position again and it will disappear. This is the only amazing view in the world. For that trip, you have to pay for the guide fee is US$ 20 and car is US$ 130 for day trip for Ygn - Bago - Ktyo - Ygn. If you like to know other detail informatins , please contact to me.

Best regards,

wintours

Day trips of out Yangon

I hope the Golden Rock staffs by the other party would probably interest you. With No doubt, you will enjoy the trip to Golden Rock but depands on your health fit. The walk up to Rock takes about 45 minute and back same basis. I suggest hereunder the day returns;-

1) Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) it%26#39;s a bit hard for you. Something like you must do in the same day within 12/14 hours. Safe drive takes 5 hours without stop on the way (it means you must spend 10 hours to and from). But the 5 hour drive will just take you to a place called Kimpun, Base camp. From there, you must take a truck which goes up and down in rotation taking 45 minute (it means you must spend 1 and a half hour). Then truck will drop you in the middle camp and you must walk about 30/45 minute to the top. Take it into your consideration. It%26#39;s suggestable to overnight on the hill.

2) Bago : it%26#39;s more suitable for day return chancing to see WWII cementry by Common Welath Countries, Village of Pottery, Big Monestry of Bago dewlled by hundreds of monk and other buddhist monumnets that you can see in any guide books.

If you have different outlook of travelling, pls reply to me so that I can try to get you a right ones.

Adroit River thro Yangon

Thanks for your advice. It does seem like the rock may be stretching it for a day.

I may try Bago - there is a cemetery there?

Dear wideworld,

There is no cemetery in Bago. But on the way to Bago, you can see the second war war 2 cemetery in Htauk Kyant which is 27miles away from Yangon. In Bago, you have to see some pagodas. Regarding to your trip, you will visit Bagan and you will see thousands of pagoda in up country. When you arrive back in Yangon, some pagodas can not make attractions for your mind.

I like to suggest you one place, we called Pan Ta Pwint Hill which is situated in Mawbi township and it is 36 miles away from Yangon. In that place, you can see imazing monestic education high school. This school is organized by Pan Ta Pwint Hill chief monk. There are about 150 students in that school. Most of the students are orphans and some are sons and daughers of poor parents who can not send their children to the school. The chief monk provide with books, pencils, uniforms, medicine, teachers and including lunch as free of charge for all studends and visitors everyday. If you like to go there, please contact wintours@myanmar.com.mm. At the moment , the chief monk is planning to built the new building for the students and asking some donors. Most of the visitors including me when we arrive there, we donate some money as we can to the chief monk. If you are interesting that place, we will invite you and provide with A/c deluxe car to go there, and you have to pay only for just 7 gallons of gasoline for that trip.

Best regards,

Zaw

Dear wideworld,

Min-galar-bar from Myanmar !

First,allow me to introduce my self.I%26#39;m Simpatico from Yangon.Regarding your e-mail,I understand what you need.For your information,two days in Yangon visit including guide,transportation with good driver,you have to pay 199 USD per pax.It is based on per person to/from the Golden Rock Trip.

If you%26#39;d like to visit only in Yangon S/S and Thanlyin (Eastern part of Yangon),tour price will be lower than that rate.It cost only 94 USD.

If you%26#39;d tell me the exact date and how many person in your group,I%26#39;m sure to say that the price be the most reasonable and affordable for you.

Should you need further helps and information on your trip,please do not hesitate.I%26#39;ll be near you to serve for your satisfaction.

All the best,

Simpatico

Messages and ads are overwhelming, WW. I rather stop it. HuHh.... You may try Bago en route visiting some villages.

Adroit River Thro%26#39; Yangon

avoiding planes

Hi i%26#39;m going to visit myanmar in November, bought my plane ticket to yangon.

How can i reach mandalay avoiding planes (train, boat...), and how long will it take?

Is it that difficult to travel by any other mean than plane in myanmar?

avoiding planes

i am also going in november and plan to take the train up the 1930 to arrive mandalay 0717 next morning.I will also take boat express from mandalay to Bagan and overland from Mount Popa to Thazi for the train to Inle lake.I too want to avoid to many planes

have fun

alex

Travel to Myanmar

My husband and I are planning a trip to Myanmar in November we are old hands at travelling to Asia but it is our first trip to Myanmar. We will enter the country from Thailand does anyone have any suggestions on what Airline to use or not use I hear the Government Airline is a bit suspect. What is the approximate return costs of flights from Thailand, can we fly out of Chang Mai or does it have to be from Bangkok and any other travel tips of interest the usual do%26#39;s and dont%26#39;s would be a great help. We hope to have one week in Yangon and one week in Mandaly before returning to Thailand for our trip home to Australia.

Travel to Myanmar

My wife and I just returned from a week in Myanmar. We flew Thai Airways from Bangkok to Yangon. It costs a bit more (around $230 round trip), but is a safe, comfortable, reliable airline. Although Yangon is an interesting city, I would strongly recommend spending some of your time in other areas such as Bagan and Inle Lake. Both were beautiful and worth visiting. Air travel within the country is safe and easy and allows you to fit in more adventures. I can provide more info, pictures, guide advice if you like.

Travel to Myanmar

If you%26#39;re travelling from Bangkok, there are flights on Thai, Bangkok Air and Myanmar Air. Bangkok Air is about US$200 round trip including tax. From Chiang Mai, only Air Mandalay flies . . . sporadically. If you need help with your trip -- we are a UK owned travel agency in Bangkok with very good Burma connections and would be happy to assist.

Hello .......... Greetings from Myanmar !

I live in Yangon . Most of my friends come to see me in yangon from bangkok by Bangkok Airways. They said the airline price is fair %26amp; their services are confortable.

Yes, you can come from bangkok to yangon ........ and go to mandalay %26amp; then fly to chaing mai.

Yangon %26amp; Mandalay are the main tourist attraction in myanmar, also Bagan %26amp; Inle Lake.

If I have a chance, welcome to meet you in yangon.

Regards/ whitelotus

We are travelling to Bangkok from UK in February 2006 and from there with Thai Airways to Yangon, we are spending 8 days in Burma and will fly to Mandalay. We are using a company called Audley Travel and their Burma specialist is Kate Dicks, try them they will help you, they have been brilliant in organising our trip for us as we are also visiting Kuala Lumpur. Hope you have a good time. JW

FOR those of you who have said you are willing to be contacted about your experiences/recomendations-would you please show your email address?

I am planning on traveling to Myanmar this fall and have lots of questions about logistics...

Hi,

You might want to consider going to Bagan and the Inle Lake as well. A week in Yangon is quite long, unless you plan to get out of the city.....

Dear dragon,

To enter Myanmar , Thai airways TG 303/305 is convenient for the clients. For Yangon - Chang Mai, there is only two times in a week Yangon - Chang Mai by air mandalay flight owned by private company. The flight charge about US$75 for Ygn - Chang Mai. Do you have any agents in Myanmar? If you have no agents, please contact to me.

Best regards,

wintours

I hope it%26#39;s NOT a late information for you as I came here in the trip advisor once a while.

Flight connection: Yes, you have now way but Bangkok and Chaing Mai from Thailand to Myanmar. There are Thai Airways (TG), Bangkok Airways (PG) new airline renowed for its services, Phuket Airline (which is recognized as not a good one but cheap) and Myanmar Airways International (MAI). Try to browse and surf around in the web or pls reply to me for further information.

County Access: You can also access Myanmar by border-cross from Mai Sai (Thai Land) to Tacheleik (Myanmar). The only thing you have to do is just get Myanmar Visa which is valid for 27 days. You can then across Tacheleik border. Tips: Don%26#39;t spend much time there, take a taxi to Kyaing Tong (Keng Tung) taking about 3 hours nice drive. You can spend about at least 2/3 days there and fly to Yangon or Mandalay or Heho (INLE LAKE) by Air Bagan / Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways; all private airlines in Myanmar. You will need advanced booking for that by the way.

You can spend about at least 3 days in Yangon (IN/OUT/SIGHTSEEING) and for the rest of days you can roam around Yangon such as Bago and Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) which is also worth visiting and adventure sort.

Mandalay can be done in the same way. There are also some interesting day return places from Mandalay such as Pyin Oo Lwin (May Myo), Mo Nyin Than Boddhay. It means that you can spend days as long as you can find your interest.

An modle of Myanmar program standardized for 14 days can be learned @ URL tour.peacehousetravel.com/colourful.html .

Truly,

the Adroit River

Hi

I am going to Burma too and have booked a flight through an agency in Bangkok info@viengtravel.com a guy called Mats .I go into Burma 20 November and stay 20 days.I have studied the guide book and spoken to people and decided only a few things to actually see in Yangon and see and buy things in the market which is supposed to be the best in the counrty? Will go to Bago,Kyaikhtiyo(1 night)Mandalay(3 days),Bagan(3 days)Mount Popa(1 day)Inle lake(4-5 days)as I like wildlife,local markets,nature and will chill there!and then back to Yangon for last minute shopping.It would be very sad to miss the other places by spending so much time in the 2 cities.Since you do not have so much time you can fly or take some overnight train say from yangon to Mandalay .Roads are bad and overland transport -bus very slow-better to not do too many of those unless it is a very scenic road like from Thazi to Inle Lake.My email is a.killwick@cts.uk.com if you want to contact me

makeup

Quick Bangkok - Rangon trip

Planning a 2 night trip to Yangon mid November. Want to see main wats %26amp; historical sites. Anyone with recommendations for a good value package from Bangkok, with or without air fare? Or a good value flight only + best way to get from airport to hotel?

Quick Bangkok - Rangon trip

bangkok air flys bkk-rangoon.

Check out their discovery air pass option. You have to buy 3 ';legs'; (flights). Even if you only use the 2 to/from Rangoon, it might be good deal for you.

how to email other posters

I read on this and other forums words like';if you want more information please email me';. how do I do this pse?

how to email other posters

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!!

If they don%26#39;t leave their email address, then address the sticky to them, like what I did here:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294226-i7220-k246鈥?/a>

Good luck!

cs files

gems show

I%26#39;ve been looking into the Myanmar Gems show in Yangon next to the Kaba Aya Paya. Is this event open only to merchants, or can anyone attend? Do you have to buy in lots or can you purchase single items? We were not originally planning a trip to Burma, but will be in Thailand for a month. I was considering applying for a Burma visa to attend this show if I am able. Any info anyone can pass along would be appreciated.

gems show

You can just come to Yangon as a tourist and you can get your visa on arrival at www.myanmarvisa.com. I read in the Lonelyplanet that they have a secure system and many travelers have been processed thru it.

Then you can pay a visit to Myanmar Gems show or any other places of your choice. Cheers.

Happy New Year!

gems show

do you know WHEN the biannual Gem show is?

Bringing souviners home

According to the state dept. It is illegal to bring anything from Myanmar into the U.S..Is this true or inforced?

Bringing souviners home

It is true.

It likely would be enforced if customs officials determined that you were bringing back goods from Myanmar, however it has never been an issue for me, and I have visited Myanmar many, many times.

Tour Companies

We are a family of 6 traveling to Myanmar for the first time. For convenience%26#39;s sake, we have decided to use a tour company within Myanmar. However, we are told that we must send payment in cash -- no credit card, no traveler%26#39;s checks. Obviously, we are nervous about doing that. Can anyone write about their experiences with using tour companies from Myanmar? Has anyone had experience with Yangon Tours or Asia Roads Tours specifically?

Thanks!

Tour Companies

Earlier this year we visited Myanmar using KST Tours. http://www.ksttours.com.

They were extremely helpful and we paid them in full cash when we arrived. Our trip was up the West Coast visiting Mrauk U and beach relaxation time at Ngpali Beach. Can recommend both areas.

Tour Companies

Hello,

Mingalarbar! Greetings from Myanmar!

I live in Yangon %26amp; working in tourism field as I love travelling. I give travel consultation to who want to travel to my country.

We, Myanmar Expedition Tours, are a unique group of young active people which providing tourism services in Myanmar.Especially we are offering personalized caring for all the time while you are traveling.

please contact to travels@myanmar.com.mm by my name ei.

will give the wonderful travel packages with a fair price for you.

No pre payment required if you used normal hotel %26amp; flight.

Sometime asked for prepaid as they need to pay hotel also.

regards/ eithwe

eithwe@myanmar.com.mm

Just took a group to Myanmar, and yes everything there is on a cash basis, but try Asian Trails out of Bangkok, you can go thru them, bank transfers only but very reputable company.

Yes, Asia Trails is definitely reputable. I personally prefer a non-choreographed guide. As far as paying for everything in cash - you%26#39;ll just have to get used to it. The amount of crime in Myanmar is extremely low, almost nonexistent against foreigners.

bpfungles - I strongly advise you NOT to use any Yangon based agencies. Many of them are not independent and you may well discover that your $$$ are going to people and places that are less than savory.

Thousand Lights Festival

If you happened to travel to Myanmar during the month of Feb, I would strongly recommend you to visit Kyaithiyo.

Thousand Light Festival is their annual event and probably the biggest celebration in Kyaithiyo. This special celebration draws thousand of locals from

all over Myanmar to rush to Kyaithiyo and very rare the outside world knows about it. So, be the lucky one to witness this special event.

I do have some tips and photos from my trip to Kyaithiyo, Myanmar, visit my web page below;

members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/77272/#TL

Thousand Lights Festival

when exactly is the thousand lights festival? And where is Kyatihiyo and how far is it from rangoon?

Thousand Lights Festival

The last thousand lights festival was held on the 5th Feb last year.And the kyaithiyo area was very, very crowded with the locals and some foreigners.

Kyaithiyo is located in the south of Yangon and it%26#39;s about few hours away from Yangon by bus/coach. Thanks.

Thanks, Vuzu. Am still trying to get a travel package from my travel agent here, so I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ll be able to make it in time for the Thousand Lights. But Thanks for the information.

Kyaikthiyo is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Burma, a wonderful experience festival or not, you can find it in any guidebook, but they are weak on practicalities. It is a long road journey from Rangoon (5 - 6 hours) and that is only to the %26#39;base camp%26#39;. From there you must either transfer to a local bus, and then walk about an hour up a pretty steep hill, or be carried by palanquin. Another 2 hours in total from base camp.

A much better project is to do the traditional walk from base camp, which is very beautiful but 7 miles and 3000 feet vertical, it takes about 5 hours. You can then enjoy the sunset and sunrise, and walk back the long way, or walk down for the bus. You will need to start early (6 a.m. suggested) for the walk up as it gets very warm.

The temple itself has a village attached. Many of the Burmese visitors (of which there are literally thousands every day in season) sleep out on the platform near the temple, but there are some Western style hotels. Mountain Top or Kyaikto are OK.

You can get a taxi to take you there and back for about $20/$25. I think the best option is to stay a night at Sane Lei Tin hotel about 12 miles short of base camp (Yangon number +951 651263), clean, cheap (10$) and with a swimming pool and an excellent restaurant. Get up early the next morning for the walk.

makeup

telephone links

hallo everybody.

Will be going to Myanmar soon. Last time we were there carrying own cellphone was not allowed. Can anyone bring me uptodate and tell me if things have changed?

After all they have suppressed the 200 USD downpurchase at the customs.

Thankyou all.

telephone links

you can bring your cellularphone but it wont work in myanmar. it is very expensive to own a cellularphone in myanmar but it is cheaper to use it.

telephone links

Hi Tipitina-

No, officially there has not been a relaxation on cell phones in the country. You can bring your cell in your carry on, but it will be useless. Just don%26#39;t declare it on your customs form.

fish

visit

what is a good time weather-wise to visit? Is it safe to drive yourself? Thankyou

visit

We just arrived back from Myanmar (12days trip) on Sunday. We had the most wonderful experiences in Myanmar. We loved the sights, the people and the food. Regarding your question about driving yourself. I would not or could not suggest that you drive yourself. It is not that the traffic is so bad/mad as in other parts of Asia rather that if you had a problem and needed to deal with any officals you may find yourself in trouble. It is not expensive to hire a car and driver and this would be the more sensible approach. It would also give you the chance to look out the window and not miss any of the sights. The roads are also very bumpy off the beaten track and even on the beaten track and if your car breaks down you would have problems with communication. Will you carry a mobile phone, there are no telephone booths around. It just doesn%26#39;t seem practical to me.

Myanmar, family friendly?

Hello all-

Just wanted some opinions on traveling with small children, ages 5 and 2, to Myanmar. Is it family friendly and safe? Planning a trip in March or April %26#39;06. Brought the kids all over Thailand in Dec and we all had a great time...is it similar in kid friendly attractions? Which are some family friendly hotels with great pools? Is transportation easily accessable? Should I book with a tour co, or can I plan it just as simply as my Thailand trip?

Any and all suggestions would be happily received.

Myanmar, family friendly?

Hello,

I have two children (now teenagers) who I have dragged all over the world from 6 weeks of age. We have just arrived back Sunday 26th from our 12 days Myanmar trip so I%26#39;ll try and give you my impressions on Myanmar as a family holiday.

The good hotels are fantastic and have great swimming pools. The country is one of the cleanest asian countries I%26#39;ve visited (lived all over asai for 5 years). The food was fantastic the sights amazing! I%26#39;m normally an independent traveler but Myanmar is not the place to be independent. Not because it%26#39;s dangerous but because it is antiquated and not a huge tourist hub, this adds to the beauty of the place, not crowded with tourists but tourisim is in it%26#39;s infancy in Myanmar compared to Thailand. We used a fantastice private tour company. Our guide Mr Zaw, a director of the company had two children of his own (6 and 8) so he would know how to entertain children. Having said all that I don%26#39;t know that your children would be interested in seeing temples and monestries or countryside and if you don%26#39;t like that Myanmar doesn%26#39;t have much to offer. They do have a beach resort area which our friends visited and said it was truly wonderful. I guess it depends on what you want to do or what you want out of your holiday but the Burmese people are in my opinion as friendly as the Thai people and would go out of there way to help you with the children. Do use an independent tour company not a government one and look at their web sight to see what you would to do and see in Myanmar. I%26#39;m happy to give you the e-mail of the tour company we used. Myanmar has to be my favourite asian experience so far and I%26#39;ve lived all over Indonesia, own a place in Bali just taken a trip all over India. Seen a great amount of Thailand, Singapore, Brunie and Malaysia. If you need specific questions answered I%26#39;d be happy to do so.

Myanmar: trip Bagan - Inle lake

In april 2006 we are in Myanmar and we want to make a trip from Bagan via Kalaw (1 night) to Inle lake. We thought to do this with a car+driver. Can someone inform us about a reliable agency and the present prices for such trips?