The 'Do not travel' warnings from many 'western' countries is really because they don't want criticism if one of their citizens is killed or injured or arrested etc in Myanmar. I've been teaching off and on in Myanmar since 2012, with my most recent job in Mandalay ending just before the earthquake in 2025. In all those years, I have never felt in any danger, wherever I've traveled in Myanmar. This is simply because the police and military will not let foreigners travel to any region they deem to be dangerous. Therefore the possibility of a foreigner getting injured or killed is absolutely minimal. Unlike Laos, (where the local police arrested me twice and deported me from the country 3 months ago, due to my 100% legal ham radio activities), I have never felt at any risk of arrest by the Burmese authorities. I refrain of course from making any comment about politics or religion, and never discuss these topics with any person in Myanmar. I have been followed many times by the police, (especially in Naypyitaw), but was assured that it was for my own safety lol. Since my reason for being in Myanmar is purely for educational purposes, I feel that I have nothing to hide. Anyway, I'll fly up to Shan State tomorrow. I'm told that foreigners can no longer rent motorbikes, which would be annoying since one of the orphanages that I support is about 10km from my hotel. So perhaps a bicycle can be rented. We'll see :)
