CULTURETIPS Myanmar is a country deeply
respectful of their religious and
cultural traditions. Visitors will not
cause offense if they note a few things:
Remove
shoes and socks before entering
religious buildings and compounds. Some
monasteries allow foot- wear in the
compound but not inside the buildings,
start- ing with the lowest step! Better
make sure first. It is also polite to
remove shoes before entering a private
home but socks may be left on.
When
handing someone money or a gift use the
right hand or both hands, with the
exception of paying the bill in a
teashop or restaurant. Then it is a more
casual transaction.
Women
should not ride on the roof of buses or
boats; it is offensive to the men or
elderly sitting under- neath. Women
should not touch a monk's robes or body
of monk or nun. In most pagodas women
are not allowed to go up higher levels.
When you
wear Myanmar dress, which is sold ready
-to-wear, make sure you do not wear it
carelessly such as with knees showing or
unbuttoned or, in the case of women,
without underwear. Going braless is
definitely not done in Myanmar. Make
sure not to be wearing shorts or skimpy
tops when you visit pagodas. Even in the
streets skimpy clothing would be
considered insult- ing to the public.
TRAVEL nps
VIsa:
All
foreigners entering Myanmar must have a
valid visa issued by the Myanmar
Embassies and Consulates abroad. There
are two kinds of visas applicable to
tour- ists; (1) package tour visas and
(2)FIT visas. Package tour visas can be
obtained for persons arranging tours
through registered local tour operators
or their agents abroad. FIT visas are
for persons not making any arrangements
for sightseeing etc with local tour
operator but prefer to explore the
country on their own. All tourist visas
are valid for 28 days with an option for
extension. Visa on arrival can be
arranged prior to your arrival by your
travel agent but only for package tours.
AirportTax:
Airport tax
is US$10 per person on international
departure.
Currency:
Myanmar
currency is called Kyat, and comes in
notes of 1 000, 500, 200, 100,
90,50,45,20, 15, 10,5and 1 kyat.
October- December
2007
Credit
cards and Travellers' Cheques:
Currently
credit cards and travellers cheques
cannot be used in Myanmar. So please
make sure you bring enough United States
dollars In cash for your intended
purchases and avoid disappointments.
Climate:
Temperate and cool during the months of
Novem- ber to February and the best time
to come visiting. Warm to scorching from
March to May in the Dry Zone but
moderate on the Shan and Kachin States.
It is monsoon season from June to
October in Yangon and the coastal
regions, so plan to go to Bag.an and
Mandalay during this time. ,
1 I
Clothing:
Light
cotton clothing, slip-on shoes or
san~als, a sun hat, maybe a light jacket
for cooler evenings of hilly regions.
Comfort
and Care: Mosquito repellent and
sunscreen are a must. Try to avoid going
out in the midday sun when it's very
hot. Don't forget to bring medication
you would normally use in emergencies,
such as antibiotics etc. Most medicines
are available but maybe not the brand
you normally use.
Drink only
pre-boiled water such as green tea or
bottled water of reputable brands.
Better to avoid ice cubes in the street
stalls.
Avoid
eating shellfish in hot weather, if you
are not actually on the beach.
Shopping: You cannot post parcels home,
although some shops will do the shipping
for you. Ask first before you buy
anything bulky. You cannot take back
antiques. Better to avoid buying old-Iooking
Buddha images even if they were made a
week ago, as the Custom Officers may not
allow its export. Buy jewellary only
from authorised dealers and be sure to
get a receipt which must be shown at
Customs checkpoint at the airport.
Miscellaneous:
Crime rate
is low, so you are safer than in most
countries but prudence is never wrong.
Electricity: 230V; 50Hz.
Myanmar
Standard Time:
Myanmar is
6.30 hours ahead of G.M.T
