Myanmar trip on November 2012

Replies: 6 - Last Post: Jul 9, 2012 9:38 AM Last Post By: ricannabis

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Jul 7, 2012 8:07 PM
Posts: 19

Myanmar trip on November 2012

Hey folks! I'm heading to Myanmar this coming November. And I have a few questions:

1. What time does the Bagan to Mandalay bus usually leave? According to http://www.ananda-travel.com, they leave at 4am, 9am and 7pm respectively. Any truth to that?

2. I plan to take the 4am bus to Mandalay (if this is indeed true). Would it be dangerous for a solo female traveler to hire a taxi around 3am in Bagan to go to the bus station? Or is there even an available transportation at that ungodly hour?

3. Is it true that I can change my money in banks now? Read an article here in LP online which was written in April that banks now exchange at good rates.

4. Going to Mingun: do I have to arrange my boat trip there? Or is DIY style applicable? Should my hotel in Mandalay direct me to the boat ride for Mingun?

5. IN addition, one LP forum member posted this "Buses don't run for almost 5 days, be careful to not be stuck where you don't want to be!"Is this even true? I'm only going to be up there for about 10 days and I don't want to get stuck somewhere.

6. Please recommend guest houses or hostels in Mandalay or Bagan below $23 US.

7. May I know the taste of Burmese cuisine? I'm not a fan of Khmer cuisine but I'm a HUGE fan of Thai and Viet cuisine. So I hope you can enlighten me.

8. I am SO on a budget. And I plan to spend $350 or less (excluding airfare) for the entire duration.

Here's my plan:

Day 1 - fly to Yangon
Day 2- Yangon
Day 3- Yangon to Bagan
Day 4- Arrive in Bagan
Day 5- Bagan
Day 6- Bagan to Mandalay
Day 7 - Mandalay (Mingun)
Day 8 - Mandalay to Yangon
Day 9 - Yangon
Day 10 - Leave Yangon

I'm choosing fan rooms with outside showers for accommodations and will eat cheap food. I will only splurge on my final day (like a nice $20 dinner or something).

Thanks for reading and I hope you can help!

Cocodrilo

Jul 7, 2012 11:25 PM
Posts: 6,074

You'd be cutting it very close with that budget. I wouldn't even atttempt it. While there are still $10~$15 a night guesthouses around, you will have to pay tourist zone fees ($10 each for Bagan and Mandalay) and admission to sites like Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon($5) , etc. Also, transport adds up ($6 from Yangon airport~downtown). I'd budget aroudn $50 per day just to be on the safe side.
Food is great, lots of single side dishes which they call "curries" but taste nothing like Thai or even Indian curry and have mild spices. The side dish comes with steamed rice, soup and a plate of vegetables. Meals are cheap if you eat at little local places, meals from under $1~$3. If you eat at places that cater solely to western tourists, plan on $3~ per dish.

Cocodrilo

Jul 7, 2012 11:26 PM
Posts: 6,074

Burmese food
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7930283@N04/5379802855/in/set-72157625760682021

More Burmese food
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7930283@N04/5389537296/in/set-72157625928880596

montyman

Jul 8, 2012 2:25 AM
Posts: 3,441

answers to Questions:
2) most bsues collect from GH but rethink route
3) Banks at airport or Sule Paya opens 11am chane $100 note only as GH still charge in $'s check any change is crispy clean.
4) take mobo driver from Hotel 600kyat to river early am after breakfast for boat return trip morning and after do the sagaing Inwya and Ubein trip same day if you dont go to top of temple and just see the bell you can avoid the $3 -$5 entrance fee.
5) rubbish who told you this last year Nov flooded areas stopped buses to Monwya for a few days
7) yes for me Burmese food is generally avoidable Ha! Ha! ie curry meat with loads of cold uncooked veg but samosas and Taratas in coffee shops great also tofu and some noodle dishes Ok for rest plenty of chinese style foods
8) was ok plenty for 10 days last year BUT this year prices have increased
8)

macl00

Jul 8, 2012 5:18 AM
Posts: 36

Recent info about changing money:

http://mmtriplog.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/changing-money-in-myanmar-burma-2012/

You can usually find an Indian restaurant -- veg curry or thali with chappati or naan bread, about $1-$2.

water_lili

Jul 8, 2012 7:49 AM
Posts: 160

I generally like SEA cuisines but unfortunately Burmese curries were too salty for me.

I would change money in a bank as it has the best rates.

For Minguin you can also take a motorbike (though it takes around 45 minutes I think).

ricannabis

Jul 9, 2012 9:38 AM
Posts: 19

Thank you so much for all your replies! Love the photos as well. :)

@montyman - unfortunately I'm not heading to Inle. I'm heading straight from Bagan to Mandalay due to budget concerns. And it's also a good excuse for me to come back next time :) I will be there early November. You mentioned about "rethink route". Is my route with the schedule impossible?

@macl00 - the link you have provided is very useful. Thanks so much!

For Mingun, I don't have to pre-book it, right?

Also, is $50 a good overall budget for the tourist zone fees based on my itinerary?

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