The main reason why trips are still cumbersome is the visa.
All would be so easy if they issue visa on arrival as most other ASEAN countries do. Actually there is a typical reason why they don't do it. All embassies are run by the money they make from visa fees, when they cant get it they are dry because the government tells they have no money for that.
With some good will they can do it they just are not willing to do some creative thinking.
Arriving at the airport >
At the three pagoda pass >
Just imagine tourists enter the country via land border crossing and the government still take the visa fee there and split it with the embassies. Probably the best effect would be that the tourists money will trickle down to the people directly. Just imagine what a lot of wealth people throughout the country would get with this little organizational change.
Journey by bus.
If you like road travel use the bus, you could also hire a car with driver or rent a car. The last option is not advisable since outside the big cities sign posts are in local language only. On top of it there are almost no patrol stations usually it needs to search for people who sell the stuff by bottle that's no easy.
Since the roads are usually very bad, except a few such as to Naypyidaw having a problem is possible if you are alone you are lost. in every bigger city buses are available to everywhere, the main problem is most are quite rotten but some on the long distance such as between Yangon and Mandalay they have some good coaches usually made in China or Japan.
When searching for transportation visit a travel agent and ask, although there are bus terminals in every big city this business is very fragmented one is here, another there and cooperation is minimal.
Using a motorbike.
There are some rentals try through a travel agent or your hotel but be aware that in Yangon bikes are banned already since decades (this is not a yoke) since the military were afraid of attacks. The actual reason now probably is they have no hospitals which are capable to handle the avalanche of accidents which will come up.
Taking the train.
Just visit the main train station in the center of Yangon and check for the destination you want. Trains are slow and rotten and not advisable to use, there haven't been any improvements since the British left.
With the ship.
Same story, since the British left there is no regular river vessel service e.g. Yangon to Mandalay etc. Some cruises are available in the delta e.g. from Yangon to Pathein on the west cost near the two main beaches at Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung. Some steamer service are to the south such as Dawai, Myeik and Kawthaung and to the north it's Sittwe and some other coastal town.
On this subject again contact a agent, a good one is "Vegas Travel" in the Central Hotel in downtown although they are more oriented to airline ticketing they can tell you were to go. Since there is nothing really organized you need to search a little this companies come up and vanish every day.
Airlines, check them here.
Accommodation, Hotels and Resorts.
There have been great improvements in the lodge business in the last decade throughout the country. In some destinations where there was nothing before the government had some hotels built such as in Sittwe. The main difference is there are the real hotels and the family run guesthouses which are in the budget price range but off center which always needs a taxi. For the current situation just use the hotel booking icon at the left side.The best is use one of the internet booking portals to handle this. If you are touring in the country somewhere in a remote destination and cant find a place to stay ask for the next monastery, most supply a place to sleep with very early morning wake up and early sleeping time, don't forget a donation when you leave.
No comments:
Post a Comment