Hello again,
I will arrive at Rangoon airport with two cameras in my rucksack. One is a Panasonic Lumix FZ30 (rather big, but not a professinal one) and a compact camera - Lumix LX2. A friend of mine told me that they will confiscate professional-looking foto equipment at the airport (especially now after the riots).
Do you think I will have a problem with getting these two cameras inside Burma? Can I hide the camera at the bottom of my rucksack or do I have to state what exact equipment I bring? And will they then however search through all my stuff properly. Further I will bring 15GB of sd-cards and an Ipod (80Gb) to store pictures on. Any problem with that? If they confiscate anything, will I get it back when I leave or can I see it as a donation to military and junta?
Also, in case they say they will confiscate it, is there any success chance to discuss this or might bribary work?
Below you see a picture of my big camera, so you have an idea.
http://www.dvgu.ru/meteo/PC/ViborPhoto/FZ30.jpg<BR><BR>Thank you so much
Alex
Alex-
Don't worry. They won't confiscate this camera. A great many people who travel to Myanmar, I dare say MOST people who travel to Myanmar, have nice cameras and other equipment. Just indicate the equipment on your customs form. As long as you do not take pictures of 'sensitive' things, you won't have to worry about anything.
Be sure to share your photos when you return.
Personally I would not declare anything. The worse thing is they take your cameras and you get them back when leaving the country. If you are really worried about it , have a US $10 ready in your palm and if they start searching the bag with the camera just discreetly slip the guy the $10. I can almost guarantee you'll have no more problems. I've been there 11 times myself.
I have never heard of anyone having a camera confiscated at the airport. In the 90's they used to take cell phones and laptops. They don't even bother with that now. Tourists are taking photos now just as they were 3 months ago.
Perhaps it doesn't make any difference whether or not you declare your things. I declare my stuff out of habit and the belief that if I am forthcoming that they won't search my stuff. They never have. If you are bringing your things back out of the country, you won't have any problems.
I do not particularly care for bribing officials unless you are in a MAJOR pickle. If you make a practice of it, then they're just going to start inspecting bags in the hope of getting money. Airport officials ALWAYS ask Myanmar people for money. At this point, foreigners are still immune.
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