Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hogwonguy1979]

thinking of going there this summer. Any advice on things? I know about the politics and the debate on if you should go. LP says go, also i've heard its an interesting place that you got to see

Has anyone flown domestically there? I heard that the 14 hour bus ride to Mandalay is hell

[Matt_22]

when i was staying in thailand i went on a visa run there once. granted, i didn't go to the nicest place in burma, but what i saw was definitely sketchy. a guy in my group got robbed at knifepoint, and he was only gone 10 minutes looking for an ATM. another friend of mine did the same visa run a week earlier, with the highlight being a dead body floating in the river next to the immigration office (we had to take a longboat to get there). i'll just say it's definitely not a place you want to bring your girlfriend or anything of value.

[jajdude]

Never been, but sounds interesting. Only met one person who went there, a Korean girl. She liked it.

[crazylemongirl]

I met some ex-hippies who went up there at the start of the year. They really enjoyed mandaly.

[While Away]

I worked there for 2 years and have been back maybe 20 times. It is a fascinating country with remarkably kind people. Yes, the government is deplorable, but the people are enthusiastic to meet foreigners and talk about the outside world.
The local airlines are all fine: Yangon air, Air Mandalay, and the new one, Air Bagan. I think Air Bagan is the best, and they seem to be trying to make customer service a priority. Just don't go on Myanma Air domestic; they really don't want you taking a chance on their plane anyway.
The international Myanmar Airways is also fine, run by Singaporeans.
The bus from Yangon to Mandalay is indeed terrible. A good idea is to fly in from Chaing Mai to Mandalay directly on Air Mandalay. Then work your way down to Yangon, and fly out to Bangkok from Yangon.
It's best to go in the Winter, if you have a choice.

[Tiger Beer]

Is there enough in and around Yangon to make it a solo city visit? Or does most everyone do the mandatory Mandalay as well?

[While Away]

Sure, you could go to Yangon, then add on the nearby city of Bago (not Bagan, far away) as an easy one night trip. Bago is only about 2 hours from Yangon. Bago was the capital about 3 or 4 hundred years ago when Myanmar was trouncing the Thais. It is the site of that last big Thai (evil Myanmar type) movie out about 4 months ago. Not too much historical there now, but makes an easy trip out of Yangon.
If time is short, I would say Mandalay should be the first one omitted if choosing from Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle lake. When you go is also a concern. The rains hit Yangon really hard; wouldn't go anywhere near the rainy season, maybe not even now. Mandalay and Bagan are much drier, (Inle lake also wet).

[hogwonguy1979]

anybody recently taken the train from yangon to mandalay? heard it switched from an overnight to a day trip leaving at like 5am

also what are internal airfares like now between yangon and mandalay etc?

[While Away]

I also heard it switched to a day trip, because no trains can go through the new capital in the night time.
I think the air fare Yangon to Mandalay is about 90 dollars or so. Plus or minus 10. Check Yangon Air, Air Mandalay, or the new "service first" company, Bagan Air. Bagan air actually uses jets.

[Tiger Beer]

Are there flights or anyway to go from say Mandalay to Luang Prabang?

[hogwonguy1979]

[desultude]

[Tiger Beer]

[hogwonguy1979]

I was talking to a couple of folks who have been there and they Mandalay stinks. Looks like a decent place plus arent the mustache brothers supposed to be pretty good?

Inle Lake doesnt sound that good, somebody convince me I should go there.

[Tiger Beer]

How much is a visa for Myanmar for Americans?