PASSPORTS & VISAS

HEALTH

Health risks in Myanmar include: cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, rabies and typhoid. We strongly recommend you visit either your personal physician or a travel health clinic, four to eight weeks before your departure. Up-to-date professional advice should be sought before deciding how to proceed with vaccinations, as medical opinion is divided over the effectiveness. The risk of malaria exists all year round throughout the country, except in bigger towns such as Yangon and Mandalay. Medical facilities comparable with western standards are very limited in Myanmar and can only really be found in Yangon and Mandalay. Many doctors have been educated in Europe (especially in the UK) but have limited access to modern medicines or up to date information. All travellers visiting Myanmar with Exploration Travel must show proof of health insurance upon arrival in the country. This way, if there is an emergency, we can assist and make sure you will receive the necessary medical attention in Myanmar, or in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, where the best medical facilities are available.

As in the whole world there might be special Covid-19 related requirements on arrival in Myanmar, please do follow the latest news on this before travelling to Myanmar.

FOOD & DRINKS

All tap water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, or making ice should have first been boiled or sterilized. Bottled water is safe to drink and is available throughout the country. Avoid dairy products that are likely to contain unpasteurized milk. Only eat well-cooked meats and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Myanmar food is traditionally eaten with steamed rice using either the fingers or spoon and fork, while chopsticks are often used for Chinese food or noodles. In the countryside, people will eat as a family; sitting on the floor and sharing the various dishes. Traditional Myanmar food consists of one or two curries, not very spicy, a lot of steamed rice and some pickles or salad, as well as fish paste. The traditional food of central Myanmar can be a bit greasy. Make sure you also try the dishes of all the different states, including from Shan and Rakhine states, as well as Chinese, Indian and Thai food.

TIPPING & TAXIS

Tipping in Myanmar is not customary. Fares are often rounded off due to lack of small currency denominations, or you are given a candy, a tissue or even a cigarette as ‘change’. However, in a relatively poor country like Myanmar, tipping is highly appreciated.

In more upscale restaurants a tip of between 5-10 percent is recommended. In other places, leaving small change, or 1 USD is enough. Taxi and trishaw drivers usually don’t expect any tip at all.

Guides and drivers of privately rented vehicles do expect to be tipped. For guides a tip of between 3-5 USD per person per day is customary, while for drivers it is between 1-2 USD per day. Of course, tipping is always related to the quality of service rendered.

CULTURE DIFFERENCES

Every culture has its unique set of unwritten rules, as does Myanmar. When you visit Myanmar, try to adapt to the culture. Here are some examples of rules visitors should try to follow:

• In Myanmar, feet convey messages. Do not point with your feet. Pointing with your feet is disrespectful.

• Also, don’t stretch out your legs when you’re sitting – tuck your feet away or sit cross-legged. Your feet should certainly never face a Buddha image or statue.

• Beckoning someone with your finger is considered an aggressive challenge and not very polite. However, if you beckon someone with all your fingers and your palm faced toward the ground, it is not considered impolite.

• Never pat a monk on the back or touch his robe. Monks are very revered in Myanmar and they observe many rules, study the dharma, practice meditation, and are highly respected in Myanmar society.

• Giving money to children is not advisable, as it helps to create a dependency on tourism. We recommend that you purchase items such as books and writing materials, to give away as gifts or to donate. This will also help support Myanmar’s local economy.

• When in Myanmar, don’t touch or pat anyone on the head. The head is considered to be the most esteemed part of the body. Touching someone on the head is considered an aggressive gesture.

For more good cultural tips about how to behave in Myanmar when traveling and to understand some cultural differences, have a look at: www.dosanddontsfortourists.com

Covid 19

At the time of writing (August 2020) Myanmar handled the Covid-19 crisis very well with less than 10 casualties and less than a thousand people being infected. Hand-wash basins, popped up all over the country, a campaign to inform people about hygiene was very successful and people wear facemasks, keep social distance and any busy events were cancelled. The international airports were closed (except for relief flights) and people arriving in the country were put in quarantine centres for 3 weeks and treated in case they had Covid-190. Of course this section is likely to be outdated so please follow media or send us an email to get up to date information on the Covid-19 situation.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

River of Lost Footsteps: Thant Myint U – written by the grandson of the former UN secretary general U Thant,

a balanced version of recent Myanmar history.

Lonely Planet Myanmar – this iconic guidebook is almost a must when traveling in Myanmar.

Burmese Design & Architecture, published by Periplus. com – a beautiful coffee table book about Burmese arts and a good introduction to the culture.

My life as a Shan Princess by Inge Sargent – written by an Austrian lady who became a Shan princess living in Hsipaw, an interesting insight into Shan royal history.

Burmese Days by George Orwell is a classic on Myanmar. Written during the colonial times, it provides excellent insight into Myanmar psychology, thinking and the behavior of its people.

The Gentleman in the Parlour by William

Somerset-Maugham, one of Britain’s greatest authors, who made a trip to Southeast Asia in the late twenties. Burma was one of the countries Somerset-Maugham visited.

Burma, Art and Archaeology, edited by Alexandra Green and T. Richard Burton, is a very interesting collection of articles on different subjects from wooden monasteries and bronze sculpture to court dress in Shan State.

Splendour in Wood: The Buddhist Monasteries of Burma by Sylvia Fraser-Lu – a beautiful book with very detailed drawings and pictures.

Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Ma Thanegi, or as she calls it, “my prison book”, about the three years she spent in Insein Jail as a political prisoner.

Myanmar: Burma in Style: An Illustrated History and Guide by Caroline Courtauld. This is a great illustrated account of the history, politics and culture of the people and the country.

Children of the Revolution by Feroze Dada – a true story about a Burmese freedom fighter, a monk and 600 abandoned children.

Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig – a poignant story of a family during the most violent and turbulent years of world history.

A Burmese Heart by YMV Han and Tinsa Maw-Naing, about the history after WWII – mainly set in Yangon and focusing on those people that brought Myanmar into the modern era.