Be Your Own Expert

MYANMAR Be Your Own Expert

AN OVERVIEW

WORDS TO LEARN Burmese is spoken by two thirds of the population, while there are actually 100 language spoken in the country! English is the second language taught in schools. It is tonal and largely monosyllabic. •

Hello min-ga-la-ba • How Are You? k'amyà ne-kaùn-là? • Thank You cè-zù tin-ba-deh • What’s Your Name? k'amyà ne-meh beh-lo k'awlèh? • My Name Is… cǎnáw ... ló k'aw-ba-deh

DID YOU KNOW • • • •

Yangon is not the capital of Burma! The decade-old, purpose-built city of Naypyidaw is the official capital, with a population of only 1 million people. 89% of the country is Buddhist. Myanmar borders China, India, Laos, Bangladesh and Thailand and still has 1,903km of stunning coastline. Women, children and sometimes men wear Thanaka, a paste made from tree bark, on their faces as a cosmetic and sunscreen, with many different designs.

 November to February is the best time to visit, when the summer rains have subsided and temperatures are lower.

 The hottest months are March to May and the monsoon season is from mid-May to September.

WHEN TO GO

FESTIVALS TO ATTEND  Burmese New Year – Thingyan – falls in mid-April and is celebrated with a country-wide water fight, symbolising the cleansing of their sins.  The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is one of the largest Buddhist festivals of the year and takes place over 20 days in October.  Another spectacular and unique festival is the Taunggyi Balloon Festival in November.

ADVENTURE GUIDES

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Take a 5-day trek from the hill town of Kalaw to Inle Lake. Visit the lakeside villages of Inle Lake by bike. Get up high in a hot air balloon over the temples of Bagan. Cycle around the temples of Bagan and climb up to watch the sunset. Ride over the impressive Goteik Viaduct, the highest railway bridge in Myanmar. Hike through remote villages near Kengtung to meet Myanmar’s smaller ethnic communities.

FOR THE ECO ADVENTURER

Myanmar Adventure 12 days | 11 nights

| Yangon - Inle Lake - Heho - Ketung - Mandalay Amarapura - Bagan - Mt.Popa | Take an adventure of a lifetime and explore the natural wonders of Myanmar. Travel by boat along the waters of Inle Lake and trek through the forests of Kengtung to meet remote hilltribe people. Explore the ancient stupas of Bagan on a bicycle, visit a temple perched on top of an extinct volcano and end your adventure in downtown Yangon.

FOR THE HISTORY BUFF •

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Observe the contrast of old and new in bustling and charming Yangon. Watch the sunset over the ancient temples of Bagan. Take in a panoramic view of Myanmar’s last royal city, Mandalay. Admire the unique one-legged rowing style of the Inle Lake boatmen. Capture one of Myanmar’s most photogenic sights, the U Bein Bridge.

Classic Myanmar 14 days | 13 nights

| Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Inle Lake – Ngapali | Discover the enchantment of Myanmar with a classic tour of all the sights. Wander the streets of Yangon with its faded colonial architecture and admire the hundreds of Buddhist stupas at Bagan. Watch the one-legged rowers on Inle Lake, and walk across U Bein Bridge. Discover the ancient cities of Amarapura and Mandalay, and explore the beautiful botanical gardens of Pyin Oo Lwin. End your trip with a few days by the beach at Ngapali on the Bay of Bengal.

FOR THE FOODIE • • •

Drink tea at every opportunity, just as the locals do. Learn to love the national dish of Mohinga, fish noodle soup. Try unique salads made from ginger and fermented tea leaves.

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Leave rice and noodles behind to enjoy hotpot in Mandalay and street BBQ in Yangon Indulge in the Indian influence with samosas and other street snacks

| Yangon | Starting from Sule Pagoda, wander along the orderly streets of downtown Yangon to reach the BBQ mecca of 19th street, Chinatown. Let your knowledgeable guide pick out the best BBQ choices, grilled to perfection, and enjoy them as you chat about local life in the city.

Chinatown Foodie Tour 1 day

FOR FAMILIES •

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Climb the Bagan viewing tower, or hop in a hot air balloon, for unbeatable views of the temples at sunset. Cruise the Ayeyarwady river from Bagan to Mandalay, taking in the peaceful countryside on the way. Marvel at the famous onelegged rowers in Inle Lake. Chat to young monks throughout the country, who outnumber their elders and love to practice English. Relax on one the quietest stretches of coastline in Asia at Ngapali beach.

| Yangon - Thandwe - Ngapali | Relax and get away from it all with a beach break at Ngapali. This secluded location is still very hard to reach by road, but a short flight from Yangon will get you to its serene beaches and crystal clear waters. Spend the day lazing away under a palm tree, snorkeling in the clear waters or visiting the nearby black sand island.

Ngapali Beach Break 4 days | 3 nights

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

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Myanmar food: from US $5 Chinese, Thai, Indian food: from US $5 Western food: from US $10 Soft drinks: US $1 Bottled water: US $1 Juice: US $1.50 Local beer: US $3 Spirits with mixer: US $5 Wine by the glass: US $5

PRICE GUIDE

DO  Try not to show annoyance or anger by shouting or becoming abusive. It is considered extremely impolite and is unlikely to achieve a positive outcome. In Myanmar people always try to be considerate towards others feelings before taking an action and will always try to avoid making others ‘lose face’.  Remove your hat and leave your shoes at the entrance of any pagoda or monastery grounds.  It is customary to take off your shoes and socks before entering a person’s home, temples and various buildings. If you are unsure, look to see if there are any shoes outside of the door!  Dress appropriately and act with the utmost respect when visiting pagodas or monasteries.  When sitting in front of a Buddha, make sure your feet are placed to the side, rather than cross legged.  Show respect and turn off mobile phones, remove headphones, lower your voice and avoid inappropriate conversation.

DON’T  Displays of affection are not common in Myanmar, please remain discreet while in public.  Topless or nude sunbathing is not acceptable at any time.  Do not wear shorts or tank tops. Men and women should make sure their shoulders and knees are covered.  Do not point your finger or the soles of your feet towards any image of Buddha.  A woman may accept something from a monk but should never touch or sit next to a monk.  Giving of alms is deeply rooted tradition and should be done with the utmost respect. Do not give money or cigarettes and be discreet when taking photographs of monks or nuns.  Avoid touching a person’s head or feet, and do not point with your feet to items or people, as it is considered extremely rude.

FOOD TO TRY •

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Laphet Thoke – this unique dish of fermented tea leaf salad can be found throughout the country, from sit-down restaurants to small roadside stalls. Mohinga – the unofficial national dish of Mynamar, this is a fish based soup with rice noodles, flavoured with chickpeas, garlic and coriander. Kausuetho – this classic noodle dish is flavoured with masala spices and lemon. Samosas – a classic example of the Indian influence in Myanmar, piping hot and spicy samosas. Shan Noodles – from the Shan state but with influences from neighbouring countries, Shan noodles come in plenty of varieties. A typical version has a chicken broth and tomato base and is served with greens and peanuts. Burmese Curry – curry in Myanmar is a mild affair with flavourings of ginger and paprika.

 Don’t take photos or pose with street animals nor feed any animals on the street.  Try to only buy responsibly made handicrafts.  Don’t ride elephants and be sure to support a sustainable elephant camp if you’re interested in spending time with them.  Don’t give money to those begging in the streets, especially if they’re children.  Don’t give candy or other material goods to children  Support local communities by volunteering your time.

TRAVELING RESPONSIBILITY

PRO TIPS

SOUVENIR GUIDE •

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Lacquerware - The best place by far to pick up a few lacquerware creations is in Bagan, home of thousands of ancient temples. Panthien Umbrella – Panthien umbrellas are popular throughout the country, but the best place to buy them is from right where they are made. Marionettes – Marionettes are available throughout the country’s larger cities, but the best are found right in the heart of Yangon. Htamein and Longyis - Though longyis and htamein are easy to find throughout Myanmar, buying traditional hand-loomed longyis is best in Mandalay.

HOW TO BARGAIN LIKE A PRO 1. Assess your options While most souvenir shops will carry identical or similar goods, be sure to visit many different vendors to find the best selection and price! 2. Smile big Smile, laugh and try to have a good time while bargaining –the locals will appreciate it a lot more!

HOW TO BARGAIN LIKE A PRO 3. Say Hello Bargaining is starting a conversation, so it is rude to simply ask ‘how much’. Start your conversation with a smile, eye contact and a friendly ‘min-ga-laba’. 4. Be Polite Just like in English when you might ask for a discount with a friendly ‘please’, we use the phrase ‘shauba-ome’, which translates to “Please decrease” or “Please reduce a little”.

5. Move along Rather than staying at one shop and bargaining, if you are not doing as well as you’d hoped, move away to another vendor. If they really want the sale, they will come after you and give you a discount! Make sure you do it with a smile! 6. Have fun If you make it stressful or mean, you will never get a discount. Don’t be afraid to make a joke or crack a sly smile while bargaining!

HOW TO BARGAIN LIKE A PRO

PACKING ESSENTIALS       

Scarf or shawl Unlocked ATM cards Sunscreen Travel pack of tissues Earplugs Luggage locks Camera with extra batteries and SD cards

FROM THE BLOG 1. [INFOGRAPHIC] A Guide to Travel: Myanmar 2. Mysterious Myanmar: Top 10 Attractions 3. 24 Hours in Bagan, Myanmar

MORE MULTI-DAY TOURS Essence of Myanmar - Experience the true essence of Myanmar as you traverse the land by road and river, from the last royal capital of Mandalay to the mystical ruins of Bagan. Climb to a temple steeped in ancient myths atop Mt. Popa and relive colonial times in the flower city, Pyin Oo Lwin. Sip the finest of local wines at Inle Lake and watch the sun go down over the tranquil white sand beaches of Ngapali. Mrauk – U Explorer - Start your 5-day adventure with a short flight to Sittway – originally a small fishing village and now known as Rakhine State, following the first Anglo-Burmese war. Travel by boat from Sittwe – Mrauk U to discover the rich history of Burma through the beautiful temples and pagodas. Experience the Mrauk Uchin villages with the typical culture of the Chin people.