Travel In Burma.

[Ned]

I'm thinking of going down to Rangoon for a few days later this month on a package holiday.......4 nights/ 5 days.

Back in 1975 I spent the maximum allowed one week in the country and I can remember that back then you had to cash a certain amount of foreign currency when you went into the country at the official rate and they issued a form which you had to have stamped whenever you exchanged more funds later. Everybody cashed the minimum amount of course, and cashed in on the black market of at least five times higher.

Is this the same system that's in place now? Is there a daily requirement to cash foreign exchange instead.....or some other system?

Your info would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[tayto]

If you support and want to help the Burmeese Junta then go to Burmah.

Ask yourself what harm are you doing by going there.

Dont go, as requested by the legal and democraticly elected government of Burmah.

[valentinoxxx]

How does him wanting to go to Burma for a few days make him a 'helper and supporter' of the Burmese junta?

If you are going to post this sort of thing, it might be a good idea to make your point a little more eloquently than "you either with us or against us".

'Legal and democratic' governments are also capable of violence and corruption.

I've been to Myanmar/Burma twice. How in your opinion, does that make me a helper/supporter of the military junta?

[Rinrada]

To answer the question.......

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

For the convenience of the visitors, Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) are issued by the Central Bank of Myanmar to use during their stay.

It is compulsory for Foreign Independent Travelers (FIT) holding Entry Visa Tourists (EVT) to change on arrival a minimum of USD 300 or equivalent Pounds Sterling with Foreign Exchange Certificate 300 Units. This is the minimum amount to be spent by a tourist during his/her stay in the country.

Payment by FECs is deemed to have been made in Foreign Exchange.

These FECs are acceptable by any person in the Union of Myanmar.

also ...personally I would wish to see the situation changing in Burma and would Not encourage tourists to go there however one guy on his own might make his mind up on the subject without being unduly media influenced...Mkjai...

[dannishgung]

FEC is cancelled. You do not need to change it any more. You can change money anywhere in Yangon. Usually the rates in the street shops are much better. But count your money before you leave. They have weird denominations of bills. Not much ATM.

Do people think the military junta in Myanmar is worse than the corrupted bunch of heirarchy that rules Thailand?? Please do not value everything in USA mode.

Myanmar is very very safe and friendly nation, I enjoyed my 2 trips to Yangon and Bangan past 2 years. But Yangon is becoming another sex tourism destination very fast. Now tons of hungry guys from HK, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, also lots of Germans, French guys ect are swarming all the karaoke lounges and disco clubs in Yangon.

[Ned]

Thanks for the info folks. And by the way Tayto, if you don't want to support the junta in Rangoon what are you doing in Thailand , a country known for its business dealings and moral support for the military govt there? Unless you don't mind being called a hypocrite then you ought to think about leaving Thailand and stop propping up the business interests here who are exploiting their relationships with the Burmese junta to make handsome profits. At least I know that when I go to Rangoon and buy a coffee and some fried tofu from a street vendor that my money is likely to stay (in part at least) in that person's hands. Doesn't help to bring down the junta I know but........

[tayto]

Read the following make up your own mind.

Should you stay or should you go?

There are few areas in the world where human rights are fully respected.

There are also few occasions when the nature of the suppression of human rights is such that a tourism boycott is justified.

However, Burma is a rare example where this is appropriate. Some of the reasons are outlined here.

Relevant Links:

How Tourism benefits Burma's Dictators

(PDF version)

Acrobat can be downloaded here

"I'm not going to Burma"

Celebrities speak out against tourism to Burma.

Sir Ian McKellen Zoe Wanamaker

E-mail Lonely Planet

Boycott Burma Holidays - How tourism benefits Burma’s dictators

Introduction

Burma has been ruled by one of the world’s most brutal military dictatorships for the last forty years; a dictatorship charged by the United Nations with a “crime against humanity” for its systematic abuse of human rights. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in Burma’s 1990 election. The result has never been honoured. Tourism provides the dictatorship with millions of pounds every year, while forced labour has been used to develop many tourist facilities. For these reasons, Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma.

Burma’s military regime is responsible for:

Systematic and widespread use of forced labour.

Rape as a weapon of war against ethnic women and children.

At least 1,300 political prisoners, many of whom are routinely tortured.

More child soldiers than any other country in the world.

Nearly half the government budget spent on the military and just 19p per person per year on health.

One in ten babies dying before their fifth birthday.

Over 60% of Burmese people living in extreme poverty, less than 60p a day.

The Tourism Boycott

“Burma will be here for many years, so tell your friends to visit us later. Visiting now is tantamount to condoning the regime.” Aung San Suu Kyi

Tourism to Burma helps sustain one of the most brutal and destructive regimes in the world. A regime that was weak and bankrupt in 1988 has used foreign investment and hard foreign currency to double the size of its military and strengthen its grip on power. The Burmese democracy movement called for a boycott of tourism to Burma in 1995 after the regime announced its plans to develop mass international tourism with ‘Visit Myanmar Year 1996’. The military regime in Burma, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has identified tourism as a vital source of income. They also hope that international tourists can bring greater respectability and credibility to a military dictatorship with one of the world's worst human rights records.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD and Burma’s exiled government have all asked tourists not to visit Burma. Tourism in Burma provides the dictatorship with millions of pounds every year, while the development of tourism has escalated human rights abuses. Many thousands of Burmese people have been forcibly evicted from their homes to make way for tourist projects. Many of the roads and railways that tourists travel on or the airports they pass through, have been built using forced labour. The United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO) has accused the regime of a 'crime against humanity' for its systematic use of forced labour, used by the regime “to encourage private investment in infrastructure development, public sector works and tourism projects”.

The Issues

Human Rights abuses are directly linked to tourism development.

In Burma many human rights abuses are directly connected to the regime’s drive to develop the country for tourists. More than one million people have been forced out of their homes in order to ‘beautify’ cities, suppress dissent, and to make way for tourism developments, such as hotels, airports and golf courses. In Pagan, where over 5000 people were forced to pack their belongings and move to an undeveloped area, many were given just 10 hours’ notice and little compensation for the destruction of their homes. In February 2004, Burmese soldiers rounded up ethnic Salons, or ‘sea gypsies’ who normally live on boats in the Mergui Archipelago, forced them to live on land and take part in a ‘Salon Festival’ aimed at foreign tourists. The Salons were forced to perform traditional dances for the tourists.

Throughout Burma men, women, children and the elderly have been forced to labour on roads, railways and tourism projects, under the harshest conditions. Tourist sites have been renovated using forced labour, such as the moat surrounding the Golden Palace in Mandalay. The new airport at Mandalay, which opened in 2000 specifically to handle international flights, was partly built with forced labour and many people were forced from their homes to make way for the project. The 2001 US State Department Report on Human Rights, states that in Mrauk U, a popular site of ancient temple ruins, “the government used forced labor to prepare the city for expected tourist arrivals.”

Tourism helps sustain one of the most brutal military regimes in the world.

Since Burma opened up to tourism in 1988, over $1.1 billion has been invested in the hotel and tourism industry. Income from tourism is helping sustain military rule, not only through tourist spending, but also through investment in the infrastructure essential to support tourism – hotels, restaurants, roads, railways and airports. Official figures estimate Burma earns $100 million a year from tourism and in 2001-2002, just two of Burma’s top tourist attractions generated more than US$1.3 million in entrance fees. There is simply no way to operate in Burma or visit the country without providing funds to the dictatorship. While foreign investment has flowed into Burma and enabled the regime to expand the armed forces from 180,000 personnel to around 500,000, the country’s health, education and public services have almost collapsed. The regime spends nearly half the government budget on the military but less than 44p per person per year on health and education combined.

Burma’s democratically elected Government and pro-democracy movement have asked for a tourism boycott.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), Burma's legitimate democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, first called for tourists and the tourism industry to stay away from Burma in 1995. Their position remains unchanged today. In an interview with the Burma Campaign UK in 2002, Aung San Suu Kyi confirmed that the NLD’s policy on the boycott had not changed: “The position remains the same.” In 2003 the NLD issued a statement to confirm that “the present situation has not reached the extent that tourists should be encouraged to visit Myanmar (Burma).” Burma’s Government in exile - the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) also supports the boycott.

It is a position that has the backing of exile Burmese democracy groups around the world, the UK Government and the European Union. In February 2004 UK Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien said that "because there are kickbacks and investments by generals in hotels and other parts of the tourism industry, people who go on tourist trips to Burma are in a sense actively supporting the regime and enabling those generals to receive financial advantage from it.”

Tourists and tour operators have generally respected the call for a tourism boycott, with only a handful of small companies now operating tours to Burma.

Myths

Doesn’t the tourism boycott hurt ordinary Burmese people?

A very small percentage of ordinary people in Burma benefit from tourism. No one is suggesting that this group is unimportant. However, it has to be emphasised that only a minority of Burma’s 48 million people are engaged in the tourism industry. Around 75% of Burma’s people make their living from agriculture. Of the remaining 25% only a small percentage ever come into contact with tourists.

The greatest obstacle to prosperity for people in Burma is the regime itself. The more revenue it is able to earn from tourism and foreign investment, the longer it will be able to stay in power. Change will only come if international pressure on the regime is maintained to cut its economic lifeline. The Tourism Boycott is part of a short-term strategy to ensure long-term prosperity, security and freedom for all of the peoples of Burma.

Can’t independent tourists avoid giving money to the regime?

The Observer newspaper reported in 2003 that "according to western diplomats in the capital Rangoon, the military junta and their cronies are benefiting directly from recent tourism developments. A list of owners of the hotel plots at the newest beach resort in the country, Ngwesaung, reads like a Who's Who of generals and their cronies"

While there has been a recent increase in the number of privately owned services in Burma, this does not prevent funds from reaching the authorities. Given the levels of corruption and cronyism that exist in Burma, it is impossible to know whether services sold to private individuals haven’t in fact been sold to the regime’s own families and business contacts. There is simply no way to operate in Burma or holiday in the country without providing income to the regime. In August 2002 Burma’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin admitted that the government receives about 12 per cent of the income even of private tourism services.

Isn’t it true that people in Burma do not want a tourism boycott?

Such claims are often made by those who promote tourism to Burma and have spent their time talking almost exclusively to Burmese people working in the tourism industry. They might get a different answer if they talked to those who have been forced from their homes to make way for tourist developments or forced to build tourist facilities.

In a country that has measured the opinions of its people just once in the last 42 years, during the 1990 election, there is little to guide us as to what most ordinary Burmese people really feel about the tourism issue. The call for a tourism boycott comes from Burma’s elected leaders. The National League for Democracy (NLD) remains the only party mandated to represent the Burmese people . It is a party that continues to draw the support and respect of people inside and outside the country.

Doesn’t contact with tourists encourage democracy and prevent abuses in Burma more than isolation?

“Burmese people know their own problems better than anyone else. They know what they want - they want democracy - and many have died for it. To suggest that there’s anything new that tourists can teach the people of Burma about their own situation is not simply patronising - it’s also racist.” Aung San Suu Kyi

Asking tourists not to take a holiday in Burma is not to call for complete isolation of the country. Economic sanctions and diplomatic engagement must go hand in hand. However, the typical tourist on holiday in Burma is there to visit a beautiful country, look at the historic monuments and temples and enjoy a new and exotic holiday destination. But even for those tourists wishing to see Burma’s problems for themselves, there is very little opportunity to discover the realities of life in Burma. Burmese people are not free to discuss politics with foreigners and can face punishment or imprisonment if caught. The military’s tight control keeps genuine interaction between Burmese and visitors to a minimum. In 2001, for example, the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) issued an order calling on local officials to protect tourists and prevent potential conflicts by limiting "unnecessary contact" between foreigners and ordinary Burmese. Much of the country remains strictly off-limits to tourists, particularly in border areas where drug production and anti-insurgency activities continue.

Can’t foreign travellers bring valuable information to the people of Burma?

In an interview with the BBC in December 2002, Aung San Suu Kyi said:

"I have to say quite frankly that the people of Burma, in general, do not depend on tourists and foreign visitors to bring them information. If they are really intent on getting information about what is going on in the world and what is going on with regard to Burma, then they listen to foreign radio programmes such as the BBC and the DVB, the Democratic Voice of Burma, Radio Free Asia and so on."

According to Intermedia, a private firm hired by the BBC and Voice of America (VOA) to survey their impact in Burma, 39 percent of the population listen to the BBC and 30 percent to Voice of America.

Don’t we have a right to holiday where we want and not be told where we can and can’t go?

The Tourism Boycott is like any other ethical consumer issue. We inform people about the call for a boycott from Burma’s democracy movement and the impact of tourism in Burma so that people can make an informed choice about whether to visit or not. The fact is, many tourists have decided to respect the wishes of Burma’s democrats and do not go to Burma on holiday, as have most major tour operators.

What about other countries with repressive governments?

It is a rare country that does not have human rights issues but there are many differences between Burma and other countries. Burma is unique because of the scale of human rights abuses directly connected to tourism, because tourism revenue is helping prolong the life of an illegitimate regime and because the country has a democratically elected government which has specifically asked all tourists to stay away.

What you can do: …

Don't visit Burma on holiday

If you need a guide book (to any destination) don't buy a Lonely Planet guide and email Lonely Planet to tell them why.

Write to travel companies and guide book publishers on our 'Dirty List'

Contact the office if you'd like Lonely Planet postcards or printed copies of this tourism briefing.

“Sometimes breadth of vision dictates that travel be curbed in the interest of justice and humanity.” Aung San Suu Kyi

[tayto]

Last modified 03 Feb 05

.Join these celebrities and sign the petition here

Over 70 celebrities and politicians are backing this new public awareness campaign asking people not to holiday in Burma because of human rights concerns.

Among those pledging to boycott holidays in Burma are Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader Michael Howard, and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.

Tourism provides the dictatorship in Burma with millions of pounds every year. Forced labour has been used to develop many tourist facilities. Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma:

“Burma will be here for many years, so tell your friends to visit us later. Visiting now is tantamount to condoning the regime.” Aung San Suu Kyi

Read the Press Release:Tony Blair & 70 Celebrities Boycott Burma

Find out more about the tourism boycott here.

Anna Friel:

"The best role in the world wouldn't get me to Burma."

Tony Robinson:

"We can make a difference. Please join us!"

Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister:

Click here to read the Prime Minister's full statement.

Sir Ian McKellen

Zoe Wanamaker

Christopher Lee

Susan Sarandon

Maureen Lipman Iain Banks Jay Kay, Jamiroquai Joanna Lumley

Helen Mirren John O'Farrell Juliet Stevenson Mark Thomas

Sue Cook Richard Wilson

Honor Blackman Fay Ripley

Charles Dance Sinead Cusack Jon Ronson Rhona Cameron

Esther Rantzen Tom Stoppard Andrew Sachs Margaret Atwood

Miriam Karlin Sandi Toksvig Glenda Jackson MP Glenys Kinnock MEP

Vera Baird MP John Bercow MP Angus Robertson MP, Scottish National Party Caroline Lucas MEP

Lord Archer of Sandwell Phillip Whitehead MEP Linda McAven MEP Stuart Windsor, Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Stuart Wheeler

Full list of celebrity pledges

Monica Ali

Lord Archer of Sandwell

Jane Asher

Margaret Atwood

Vera Baird MP:

"It would be wrong to go to Burma and rest in hotels built by forced labour in spaces cleared by forcing locals out of their homes. No-one should do it."

Iain Banks:

“Defeat the dictators – have fun somewhere else!”

John Bercow MP

Honor Blackman

Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister:

Click here to read thePrime Minister's full statement.

Brian Blessed

Rhona Cameron

Michael Cashman MEP

Drhistian Solidarity Worldwide:

National Director Stuart Windsor said: "CSW firmly and unreservedly supports the tourism boycott, and we urge all our supporters not to go on holiday to Burma until democracy is restored and human rights are respected."

Julie Christie

Robbie Coltrane

Sue Cook

Ronnie Corbett

Richard Corbett MEP

Baroness Cox:

“I hope this campaign will also bring pressure on the SPDC to stop gross human rights violations of ethnic nationals such as the Karen, Karenni, Shan, Chin and Kachin peoples.”

Sinead Cusack:

“The regime in Burma is a brutal unjust one and I have no desire to support it in any way.”

Charles Dance:

“We should all be following Aung San Suu Kyi’s example!”

Lord Faulkner

Anna Friel:

“You have my total support. The best role in the world wouldn’t get me to Burma.”

Zac Goldsmith

Antony Gormley

Sankha Guha:

“No-one should think about visiting Burma as a tourist until it has a legitimate government elected by its people.”

Michael Howard MP:

“I am very happy to support your campaign and pledge not to visit Burma on holiday until it is a democracy.”

Nicholas Hytner

Glenda Jackson MP

Miriam Karlin

Jay Kay

Charles Kennedy MP

Glenys Kinnock MEP

Christopher Lee

Maureen Lipman:

“It is enough that Aung San Suu Kyi has asked us not to promote tourism there. The regime has the worst human rights record – tourism there is seeing what the military allow you to see. Don’t go.”

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London

Caroline Lucas MEP:

“By pledging not to visit Burma until it’s a democracy, we can send a very clear message that Burma’s brutal military dictatorship is unacceptable and help to cut the lifeline that keeps the regime in power.”

Iain Luke MP

Joanna Lumley:

“I’ll visit beautiful Burma when Aung San Suu Kyi says so.”

Cherie Lunghi

Roger Lyons

Lee Mack

Art Malik:

“I would find it difficult to holiday in a country that does not embrace democracy.”

Linda McAvan MEP

Arlene McCarthy MEP:

“I look forward to the day that democracy returns to Burma and until that day I will not lend my support via tourism to a corrupt and degenerate dictatorship.”

Ian McEwan

Ian McKellen

Helen Mirren

"Don't do it!"

Fondation Danielle Mitterand

Graham Norton

John O'Farrell

Nicholas Parsons

Philip Pullman

Esther Rantzen

Fay Ripley

Angus Robertson, SNP

Tony Robinson: “We can help make a difference. Please join us!”

Jon Ronson

Andrew Sachs

Susan Sarandon

Prunella Scales

Dr Bob Spink MP

Juliet Stevenson

Catherine Stihler MEP:

“We have to do everything we can to bring democracy to Burma.”

Tom Stoppard

Mark Thomas

Gary Titley MEP

Sandi Toksvig

Joanna Trollope

Minette Walters

Zoe Wanamaker

Sarah Waters

Timothy West

Vivienne Westwood:

“There is one thing everybody can do for us and our children and our planet: fight for human rights and justice before the law.”

Stuart Wheeler

Phillip Whitehead MEP:

“No one should give aid and comfort to a repressive regime which keeps democratically elected leaders under permanent arrest.”

Richard Wilson

Simon Woodroffe

Susanna York

Join these celebrities and sign the petition here

[valentinoxxx]

I didn't fly in...and didn't go to any 'tourist' sites.

You don't need to be shepherded into the country and you do have a choice where you spend your money.

Tony Blair? What an idiot(in general)!

[SeaVisionBurma]

tayto - your cut and paste politics are long, un-necessary, and a complete waste of my bandwidth. Give it a rest with the uninformed rant at the original poster who asked a simple travel question. Take it to the bear-pit or wherever it is that these type of soap-box tirades are held.

Ned - To confirm what others are saying - no compulsory money change required at the airport now. They scrapped it some time back.

Don't change money at the airport if you can avoid it, as you will get only the semi-official rate of around 450-500 kyats to the dollar. If you need some, change a small amount and then get your tour guide or someone to get the money changed later downtown.

Current street rate is 1180-1200 kyats to the dollar, this will fall once the tourist season proper commences.

PM me if you want any further info, places to see, restaurant recommendations or whatever. I live here and along with a few other expat members of the forum, am happy enough to shell out a few suggestions if asked.

Everyone else - have a day...

SVB

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A worthwhile contribution as ever SVB. A bit of balance to the cut and paste of ' War and Peace '

[SeaVisionBurma]

Thanks, Doc Hope you are well and in wine.

I forgot to add the adjective "long winded" to the above post. It took me half an hour just to scroll down through his lesson on politics. No chance of condensing it all down I suppose?

I'm passing through Bangkok tomorrow en route to Hong Kong. I shall have a plonk or two for you. The new vintage of wine was released at a private tasting the other night (bottling now, on sale November). Surprisingly, it is VERY good stuff. The Austrian chap who put the project together has done very well.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

He's Irish

[Rinrada]

Ned - To confirm what others are saying - no compulsory money change required at the airport now.

They scrapped it some time back.

The origional question was a request for info on the FECs situation on entering Burma which was answered above...which incid I didnt know.

Last time but one when I went over the Exchange controls were still in operation so the news is constructive.

As it happens the very last time I tried to cross at Mai Sai they told me to F...k o... only Thais allow that day and later on they shut the border completely.

could only but assume it was something to do with good media pressure/slagging off that they were getting ...supprise supprise...

Anyway back to the subject

...as a travel forum surely the whole idea is to pass on information to the best of our ability on the situations that we find at the time and hopefully make our journeys,expectations,experiences a bit easier.

Rip off Air fares ,dodgy hotels,tour guides,car rental,bus fares ,visa costs....its all there and makes for good reading....but when we hit the political aspects .......it all tends to go a bit pea shape.

Loads of places have controversal governments and I agree that Burma is prob.one of the worse but also believe as a purely travel forum we gotta try and rise above them...not ignore... but just fly a bit higher.(hopefully on a good value tic.)

We got a good record on this forum(travel) and believe that in the past I have only had to close down a thread once......guess what subject.....

Just suggest that we keep the related info requested coming in and find solutions first and foremost and fight the "cause" in another place.

[tayto]

Sea Vision.I have read your web site and understand why you dont like the information previously posted.

I am sure it didn't take you very long to read the post as you are already familiar with it and though your company supports and or aided by the Military Junta of Burmah, I hope you keep your poison to yourself.

This was not a political posting , just travel information as available on many websites.

Dr.Pat pong ;your continued bigotry against Irish people bothers me.

As posted elswhere,you continue to use one line sentences to insult people and if we disagree,you abuse your position and bar them.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Bigotry against the Irish. Pray do tell me more about this claim of yours. I had forebears from Erin myself.

[SeaVisionBurma]

I think everyone's got a bit of Irish in them Doc - My mum's family comes from Cork - or is it everyone comes from Cork?

Tayto - thanks for the moral advice. I'll keep my poison to myself. By the way - the inevitable question - have you been to Burma? Stunningly beautiful country. Lovely people.

BTW my poison is normally a bottle of whisky. I take it with ice and a splash of ginger ale......

Rinrada - mate we might disagree on things if they get political (ie very very rarely), but I think you have done a fantastic job on this forum over the years - your info and tidbits and updates are always welcome and useful to us members.

[ovenman]

I think everyone's got a bit of Irish in them

At least on March 17th they generally do...

[SeaVisionBurma]

At least on March 17th they generally do... 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[tayto]

Tayto - thanks for the moral advice. I'll keep my poison to myself. By the way - the inevitable question - have you been to Burma? Stunningly beautiful country. Lovely people.

No.I havn't.I have been invited but advised to pospone until after democracy comes and people are not butchered and raped by the dictators.

I have been told it is a beautiful country and its people are friendly.

My Burmeese friend in London used to come from near your home until they were kicked out by your friends.

We have a saying in Ireland,Tiocfaidh ar la.............our day will come.

[Rinrada]

And hopefully one day we will all meet up in Rangoon for a wet one or 3 and maybe take the opportunity to remember the words of an earlier Thai Visa member (bit of a tit lad)....even older than George and the Doc.

...

Like the country it brings tears to yer eyes.

By the old Moulmein Pagoda lookin' eastwards to the sea,

There's a Burma girl a-settin' and I know she thinks of me.

For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the temple bells they say,

"Come you back, you British soldier, come you back to Mandalay."

Come you back to Mandalay,

Where the old Flotilla lay.

Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?

On the road to Mandalay,

Where the flyin' fishes play,

And the dawn comes up like thunder out of China 'crost the bay.

~~~~~~

'er petticoat was yaller, an 'er little cap was green,

An' 'er name was Supiyawlet, jes' the same as Theebaw's queen,

An' I seed er first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,

An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on a 'eathen idol's foot.

Bloomin' idol made o' mud,

What they called the great Gawd Budd,

Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed her where she stood

On the road to Mandalay,

Where the flyin' fishes play,

And the dawn comes up like thunder out of China 'crost the bay.

~~~~~~

Ship me somewheres east of Suez where the best is like the worst,

Where there aren't no Ten Commandments, an' a man can raise a thirst,

For the temple bells are callin' and it's there that I would be,

By the old Moulmein Pagoda lookin' lazy at the sea,

Come you back to Mandalay,

Where the old Flotilla lay.

Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?

On the road to Mandalay,

Where the flyin' fishes play'

And the dawn comes up like thunder out of China 'crost the bay.

~~~~~~

Words by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

[tayto]

I look forward to the day.

I have been sent an excellent article about the dilema of going to Burma.

Check it out.

http://www.voicesforburma.org/theboycott.htm

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I think everyone's got a bit of Irish in them Doc - My mum's family comes from Cork - or is it everyone comes from Cork?

Tayto - thanks for the moral advice.  I'll keep my poison to myself.  By the way - the inevitable question - have you been to Burma?  Stunningly beautiful country.  Lovely people.

BTW my poison is normally a bottle of whisky.  I take it with ice and a splash of ginger ale......

Rinrada - mate we might disagree on things if they get political  (ie very very rarely), but I think you have done a fantastic job on this forum over the years - your info and tidbits and updates are always welcome and useful to us members.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Cork story must be true SVB. That's from whence my rellies sprung too

[aughie]

I was in Rangoon five years ago and in order to pass outside the airport terminal building you needed to file past a table with a large sign indicating money exchange. I just ignored it. Do they still have the two types of currency in Burma?

I believe the more the burmese people are allowed to interact with foreigners and the more they have a chance to obtain money from dealing with foreigners the sooner things will change. Why make the burmese people suffer in a hellhole? Isolating them from the outside only makes it easier for the junta to oppress them.

Tayto, your idea seeks to embarass the junta at the expense of the people, imo.

[SeaVisionBurma]

My  Burmeese friend in London used to come from near your home until they were kicked out by your friends.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tayto do NOT even contemplate trying to tell me who my 'friends' are - it makes you sound completely schoolyard moronic "MY friend got kicked out by YOUR friends" etc, grow up. By the way, my home is in Australia, I work and reside in Myanmar.

Come you back to Mandalay,

Where the old Flotilla lay.

Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?

On the road to Mandalay,

Where the flyin' fishes play'

And the dawn comes up like thunder out of China 'crost the bay.

~~~~~~

Words by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rinrada - great poem that one...

Tayto, your idea  seeks to embarass the junta at the expense of the people, imo.

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spot on aughie.

yes still two currencies, the FEC and the kyat.

I think in future, any advice in the travel forum should be preceeded by a directive from the forum mods "Kindly refrain from giving personal advice or recommendations on a country if you havent been there, or take it to the bear pit"

[Bizz]

I look forward to the day.

I have been sent an excellent article about the dilema of going to Burma.

Check it out.

http://www.voicesforburma.org/theboycott.htm

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In the end, to go or not to go is a personal choice. But if you go, do it with your eyes open. And, fortunately, on the larger questions of policy and trade, I am not yet required to make that judgement call.

Tayto I gave up the crisps for lent and never went back.

As for our esteemed colleague the DR he is as we know Banjaxed.

Slan

[tayto]

My  Burmeese friend in London used to come from near your home until they were kicked out by your friends.

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Tayto do NOT even contemplate trying to tell me who my 'friends' are - it makes you sound completely schoolyard moronic "MY friend got kicked out by YOUR friends" etc, grow up. By the way, my home is in Australia, I work and reside in Myanmar.

~~~~~~

You mean you work and reside in" Burma" why dont you call it by its proper name.

This travel advice comes from a very reliable source, your advice is tainted.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Fine tayto - you win. Last shout, have another go, etc

Mods close this thread please, it is travel unrelated.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I agree with you SVB. Closed