So my gf just asked me if it's expensive to go there, she says she wants to go pray at some temples there (she is very Buddhist and prays most nights) because she is having 'bad luck' this year. She says that many Thai people do this.

I think she is nuts...does anyone else know something about this?

Why Burma would be the question I would ask for starters. Plenty of temples in Thailand to obtain good luck.

Buy her a one way ticket

cheers

onzestan

So my gf just asked me if it's expensive to go there, she says she wants to go pray at some temples there (she is very Buddhist and prays most nights) because she is having 'bad luck' this year. She says that many Thai people do this.

I think she is nuts...does anyone else know something about this?

About what? Whether it is expensive to go there? No, it is not (except the air ticket).

About good luck? Well, people in Burma, according to my impression, are very devout. You can see people meditating everywhere. There are international Buddhist colleges and plenty of good mediation centres. In terms of "obtaining good luck": Burmese also have a tendency for superstitions. They even have an astrologers' association and are also famous for good numerologists. Maybe your girl friend wants both of this.

So my gf just asked me if it's expensive to go there, she says she wants to go pray at some temples there (she is very Buddhist and prays most nights) because she is having 'bad luck' this year. She says that many Thai people do this.

I think she is nuts...does anyone else know something about this?

Ohh heck, I have had this, and my wife is MA University educated and is only slightly not the sharpest knife in the drawer in some areas. Mostly as how the falang view this.

Just let her do it, it gives her inner happiness. I am not a buddhist but its about give and take in a relationship.

Go with her, you may enjoy it too

Yes, she wants me to go with but: 1) This would be almost impossible due to my work and further education commitments 2) I don't want to go cos the last thing I heard about Burma was the riots and shootings!

I know nothing about travel to Burma, I thought that it wasnt that easy, visas were hard to get and some places were not open to foreigners. My gf hardly speaks English and doesn't have a passport making things even more difficult.

The reason I posted was that she said many Thai people go there to pray, so I was wondering if there is some kind of Buddhist group tour she could go with?

Edited January 19, 200818 yr by davejonesbkk

Yes, she wants me to go with but: 1) This would be almost impossible due to my work and further education commitments 2) I don't want to go cos the last thing I heard about Burma was the riots and shootings!

I know nothing about travel to Burma, I thought that it wasnt that easy, visas were hard to get and some places were not open to foreigners. My gf hardly speaks English and doesn't have a passport making things even more difficult.

The reason I posted was that she said many Thai people go there to pray, so I was wondering if there is some kind of Buddhist group tour she could go with?

Hmm ok. Well, this is from a couple of years ago (we did not go in the end) but if it helps...... . All visitors need a passport. It was possible to get Visa on Arrival provided you flew in from Bangkok or Singapore and it was an organised tour.

Prearranged Visa's were actually easy provided you could prove you had booked accommodation, just expensive. The government was trying to encourage tourism.

2) I don't want to go cos the last thing I heard about Burma was the riots and shootings!

The status of the country has returned to "normal"; meaning nobody trusts each other, there are many rumours around, the government plays foreigners and wants to make believe the majority of its people are pro-Junta (I still have to meet somebody even remotely 'Pro'). Common people are very happy to see foreigners. They'll take any chance to talk to you, especially about what happened during and after the riots.

I know nothing about travel to Burma, I thought that it wasnt that easy, visas were hard to get and some places were not open to foreigners. My gf hardly speaks English and doesn't have a passport making things even more difficult.

You will be surprised! Firstly, tourist visas are not difficult to get; they even have e-visas. But then it is true you cannot go to all places with such a visa. When you come to the arrival area in the new airport you will probably be overwhelmed: all immigration staff are women and it seems they selected the most beautiful ones, too. See, deception starts right at the beginning. However, having been there recently I think the chance to talk to the Burmese who are really really appreciative of foreigners taking an interest outweighs other things. Don't forget; to the Burmese it seems like the world has forgotten about them... You will hear other viewpoints (tourism boykott) so it really depends on your or your girlfriend's opinion.

The reason I posted was that she said many Thai people go there to pray, so I was wondering if there is some kind of Buddhist group tour she could go with?

Yes, there were. The tours I am aware of are organized by temples. Your girlfriend should know about them.

Oh, BTW, Air Mandalay is the only airline I would take within Burma.