On 2/15/2025 at 5:34 PM, simon43 said:

Small update: I'm flying back to Myanmar next week I think. 

Did you go, are you OK?

Yes I did, but I returned a couple of weeks ago to sign a contract to rent a small condo at Jomtien Beach as a long-term 'base', since I've now retired from in-class teaching.  So I wasn't in Mandalay when the earthquake occurred.

 

However, I have seen the damage etc from friends in Mandalay and at Inle Lake, and so I'm trying to work out a way to return legally to Myanmar to run my charity efforts.  Basically, the issue is to get a viable visa, not a short-term tourist visa, and I'm speaking with lawyers in Yangon about that.

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

Yes I did, but I returned a couple of weeks ago to sign a contract to rent a small condo at Jomtien Beach as a long-term 'base', since I've now retired from in-class teaching.  So I wasn't in Mandalay when the earthquake occurred.

 

However, I have seen the damage etc from friends in Mandalay and at Inle Lake, and so I'm trying to work out a way to return legally to Myanmar to run my charity efforts.  Basically, the issue is to get a viable visa, not a short-term tourist visa, and I'm speaking with lawyers in Yangon about that.

 

Great to hear from you and happy to know you were not in Mandalay when the tragedy struck. So much devastation including buildings I knew from my visits during the democracy era. There must be so many people suffering, including many children.  If you are successful with a visa and a place to live, please keep us informed. I personally would be prepared to make a donation to your charity and NOT the Burmese military/junta.

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Great to hear from you and happy to know you were not in Mandalay when the tragedy struck. So much devastation including buildings I knew from my visits during the democracy era. There must be so many people suffering, including many children.  If you are successful with a visa and a place to live, please keep us informed. I personally would be prepared to make a donation to your charity and NOT the Burmese military/junta.

Thanks VERY much for your kind comments.  To legally live in Myanmar (unless I marry a Burmese woman!), is to register my own company and get a business visa. I can do that and Yangon lawyers quote me $2,000 USD to do all the paperwork etc.  I've asked my Burmese friends if they know a lawyer who can do it cheaper 🙂  (I will pay $2k if needed, but if I can save money on these documents, then that means more money for donations etc)

 

Alternatively, please propose a young Burmese lady who is willing to marry me so I can get a Social visa... 🙂

Well, a few months since my last post.  I have been relaxing in Thailand and reached a milestone in mid-June when I reached the grand old age of 66 years and started to receive my UK state pension of about $1,100 USD per month, based on 29 years of NI contributions.

 

Now that income, together with my online teaching income of double that amount, might encourage me to relax by the beach every day, but that's too boring!

 

I did plan and seriously investigated returning permanently to the UK, but my research highlighted the huge shortage of rented properties and a huge demand to rent those properties.  Prices are through the roof.

 

So it's back to Myanmar.  I have been offered a teaching job in Taunggyi, Shan State.  (Well, I was offered several jobs, because for some reason living/working in Myanmar is not popular!!).  But Taunggyi interests me because I know the city well and there are no less than 7 orphanages/monastery schools in Taunggyi and nearby Inle Lake that I have supported for many years with educational donations.

 

I previously used to ride my motorbike from Naypyitaw to Taunggyi on long weekends, but actually living in Taunggyi will be much better.

 

I'm sorting everything out, hope to be in Taunggyi in about 3 weeks.

 

What about my lung illness (Bronchiectstsis, widening of the trachea)?  I'm determined that my life won't be controlled by this illness. I've been in good health for several months and have found a cheap medication that works well to thin the mucus so that it can be coughed up.  So next I need to brush up on my Burmese language 🙂

Nice to read an update from you, @simon43! All the best for your return to Myanmar, I hope this upcoming new chapter for you there will be fun and fulfilling. I'm looking forward to your reports from Myanmar once you're back.

Taunggyi not a bad spot and the October/November balloon festival is excellent despite the military being more involved these days than villagers would like. Beauty of Taunggyi is you not only have Inle nearby but also Kalaw a fabulous town devoid of western influence 90 minutes west.

 

Good luck.

16 hours ago, Mahseer said:

Taunggyi not a bad spot and the October/November balloon festival is excellent despite the military being more involved these days than villagers would like. Beauty of Taunggyi is you not only have Inle nearby but also Kalaw a fabulous town devoid of western influence 90 minutes west.

 

Good luck.

True!  Here's a photo of my good self (looking quite young!) at the girls' orphanage in Kalaw, about 2018 I think! A great motorcycle ride through the hills to reach Kalaw.

 

The blue item is a bluetooth loudspeaker with memory card loaded up with English language/songs/phonics files 🙂

I'm still in Luang Prabang, due to some delays in getting my new British passport.  That's almost all finalised, so I should be on my way to Shan State soon.

 

I've loaded my many photos of my trips into Burma to the My Album website.  I've set these all public, in case anyone wants to look at these photos.  Comments welcome 🙂

 

The albums are here:

 

https://myalbum.com/folder/vZkY6TmKKzkQ/

 

Thanks a lot. I'm also having, I would say, thousands of photos from my trips to and through Myanmar. Would love to go back, but it's not the right moment now.

Have a good time...

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

I'm still in Luang Prabang, due to some delays in getting my new British passport.  That's almost all finalised, so I should be on my way to Shan State soon.

 

I've loaded my many photos of my trips into Burma to the My Album website.  I've set these all public, in case anyone wants to look at these photos.  Comments welcome 🙂

 

The albums are here:

 

https://myalbum.com/folder/vZkY6TmKKzkQ/

 

Best of luck and enjoy!

Take care of yourself and Good Luck.

Whenever i look at the map of Southern Burma i see hundreds of small islands. Makes me think they could have a fantastic tourist industry down there if they ever got peace.

4 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

Whenever i look at the map of Southern Burma i see hundreds of small islands. Makes me think they could have a fantastic tourist industry down there if they ever got peace.

Well they were great places for tourists to visit during the more peaceful times of ASSK, with many dive boats visiting those regions....

44 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

Whenever i look at the map of Southern Burma i see hundreds of small islands. Makes me think they could have a fantastic tourist industry down there if they ever got peace.

way back in 1987 did a 1 month dive exploration trip on a live abroad out of Phuket mapping out lots of dive sites in what was known as the Burma banks.
what stood out was seeing  huge manta rays and whale sharks

 

live abroad boats used ( pre fighting) to travel there out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Kawthaung 
 

I finally got a new UK passport (my old passport was completely full with Myanmar and Laos visa stamps). To get this new passport in a hurry, there was only 1 way; jump on a plane, fly back to the UK, visit the passport office, collect new passport, fly back to Bangkok/Laos!  Very tiring flights and $$$...., but at least my passport is sorted for the rest of my life.

 

I also had something else to celebrate!  The software company that I use in Pakistan to manage my Android 'Teacher Simon' app (for helping Myanmar students to learn English), has completed this app for Apple devices (IOS), and I'm testing it now.  This cost almost a 4-figure USD sum, but money well spent IMHO (I was surprised at how many monks and teachers had iphones....).

Everything is back on track now.  My new school employer is applying for my entry visa, and if that is all OK, then I'll be back in Myanmar and based in Taunggyi very soon.

 

I've been rechecking the special kit that I need in Myanmar; solar-powered/handcranked torch, solar panel controller box, car battery charger, 12v DC to 220v AC inverter, USB panel lights for Zoom classes, emergency medicine, DIY fix a tooth kit, DIY heart bypass surgery kit .. ah wait!! that's for Afghanistan....

 

I also bought a nice, flatpack 'top box' to put on the motorbike that I rent/buy in Taunggyi - real top boxes seem non-existent to buy (last time I strapped 2 toolboxes to my trusty bike 🙂.) 

 

This photo looking at the Leinli Bridge near to Paunglaung, on the scenic road between Naypyitaw and Taunggyi - now too dangerous to travel along because of fighting.

 

Bugga! Just heard from my potential new employer that they have been unable to get an entry visa into Myanmar for me...  I don't know if this is just at a local level (ie - to do with working in Shan State), or if it's a national decision.  No idea for the reason, (although I can hazard a guess...). 

 

Anyway, obstacles are to be overcome.....

Please keep your info coming. Very interesting to hear first hand news (although not really encouraging for you).

 

Thanks....

On 10/1/2025 at 2:45 PM, simon43 said:

Bugga! Just heard from my potential new employer that they have been unable to get an entry visa into Myanmar for me...  I don't know if this is just at a local level (ie - to do with working in Shan State), or if it's a national decision.  No idea for the reason, (although I can hazard a guess...). 

 

Anyway, obstacles are to be overcome.....

To explain more, apparently the list of documents now asked from potential employers is very lengthy, including personal guarantees from ALL the directors of the school business... This applies to all future foreign employees, not just to me.  So it is getting very difficult to work in Myanmar.

 

I've thought about this situation, and have decided to soon make a 28-day trip to Taunggyi/Nyaung Shwe on a 28-day tourist visa, (if that is granted to me). During my 4 weeks in Myanmar, I hope to do my educational charity work, visit my potential employer in Taunggyi, and also study hard and chat as much as possible to locals to improve my Burmese language skills.  (I'm sort of at the level of being able to read and say 'Hi, I want to buy 9 big tasty apples...' - so basic conversational level.

 

If the business visa is still not forthcoming, then I might split my time between 1 month at my 'base' in Luang Prabang and 1 month in Myanmar doing my charity work. This will cost me (plane flights, hotel accommodation etc, but my budget should be ok!)

 

 

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

To explain more, apparently the list of documents now asked from potential employers is very lengthy, including personal guarantees from ALL the directors of the school business... This applies to all future foreign employees, not just to me.  So it is getting very difficult to work in Myanmar.

 

I've thought about this situation, and have decided to soon make a 28-day trip to Taunggyi/Nyaung Shwe on a 28-day tourist visa, (if that is granted to me). During my 4 weeks in Myanmar, I hope to do my educational charity work, visit my potential employer in Taunggyi, and also study hard and chat as much as possible to locals to improve my Burmese language skills.  (I'm sort of at the level of being able to read and say 'Hi, I want to buy 9 big tasty apples...' - so basic conversational level.

 

If the business visa is still not forthcoming, then I might split my time between 1 month at my 'base' in Luang Prabang and 1 month in Myanmar doing my charity work. This will cost me (plane flights, hotel accommodation etc, but my budget should be ok!)

 

 

 

Whatever you decide to do Simon, I wish you success , good luck, good health and much happiness.

Best of luck 

I wouldn't mind coming with you 

Best of luck Simon, did look at the album, the travel pics are great. Thank you for sharing.

Update:  Another school (not the school in Taunggyi) is close to getting the business visa etc for me to teach part-time at their school. This is ideal, because I only need the business visa, not the teaching salary.  So teaching part-time gives me more time to do my educational charity work.

 

The school is well-known to me, so no hidden surprises.  Anyway, they expect to get the final documents within 2 weeks.....

6 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Update:  Another school (not the school in Taunggyi) is close to getting the business visa etc for me to teach part-time at their school. This is ideal, because I only need the business visa, not the teaching salary.  So teaching part-time gives me more time to do my educational charity work.

 

The school is well-known to me, so no hidden surprises.  Anyway, they expect to get the final documents within 2 weeks.....

Thanks Simon

You certainly love an interesting life 

I noticed it's either Burma or Laos 

No Cambodia?

 

I probably will move in with you in the next few years when I eventually retire from my full time job 

41 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Thanks Simon

You certainly love an interesting life 

I noticed it's either Burma or Laos 

No Cambodia?

 

I probably will move in with you in the next few years when I eventually retire from my full time job 

I do not speak Khmer...  I speak Lao and Burmese.  Enough languages learnt.... (yes I know many city people in Cambodia speak English, but I'm not a city person).  I have no links to Cambodia, but I have educational links to Burma and Laos.

Finally got a business visa to re-enter Myanmar for a new teaching job 🙂

 

Guess the city where I'll be working:

 

- Yangon

- Mandalay

- Naypyitaw

- Lashio

- Kawtaung

- Wa State

49 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Finally got a business visa to re-enter Myanmar for a new teaching job 🙂

 

Guess the city where I'll be working:

 

- Yangon

- Mandalay

- Naypyitaw

- Lashio

- Kawtaung

- Wa State

 

Perhaps either Naypyitaw or Rangoon? 

 

Wherever, enjoy and the very best of luck helping to teach the Burmese school kids.

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Finally got a business visa to re-enter Myanmar for a new teaching job 🙂

 

Guess the city where I'll be working:

 

- Yangon

- Mandalay

- Naypyitaw

- Lashio

- Kawtaung

- Wa State

Beautiful and thankyou for your service Simon 

You truly are dedicated to your profession 

@ Burma Bill, yes it's Naypyitaw again 🙂

 

One reason why NPT is a good destination, (apart from nearby Sama Mountain Orphanage), is that I can make myself a nuisance at the government ministry offices, gently lobbying in person until they get sick of my visits and grant me what I'm after.  For education, I would need to consider what the Education Ministry could do that benefits the students.

 

These ministries are mostly staffed by civilians, who do have decision-making authority, but won't make any decisions if they are worried that their military bosses might have a different opinion.  So one has to win their confidence.. slowly, slowly catchee monkey etc.

 

I'm off to Bangkok tomorrow to store some bulky items that I don't want to/not permitted to take into Myanmar, such as my ham radio equipment. But I'll come back to Luang Prabang on Saturday.