live42day

I loved the circle train. I am finally editing my video and relived my circle train trip with all the locals and thier produce and it was the hightlight for us in Yangon as well.
We were staying at the hotel beside the Parkview and would eat at the PV every day and used the pool and gym the entire last day we were there (for a $10 fee). I would stay there next time we really liked it.

shelleyk

live-I see your next trip is to Russia. We are considering that as well for the fall. Did you make your arrangements yourself or through a TA. What's your itinerary?

Kathie

Shelly, any reflections on your trip to Burma that you'd like to share with us?

glyntor

We also found Ruby Mart to be an interesting experience. In addition to the depts that you have mentioned, they also had a good variety of liquors and wines!

live42day

Great minds think alike eh Shelly. Yes we leave here in one month. I did it all on my own, fly to Helsinki for two nights then the train to St. Petersburg for five days. I booked two ballets and an opera on the net and also prebooked my two day Hermitage pass. I will hire a guide as we need them when we are there. I booked the hotels all on Booking.com. My husband is going this time with me, this was his choice actually.

We then take a train to Vladimir for two nights and arranged a guide for 1/2 day to take us to Suzdal. Train to Moscow and three nights there where we have a guide arranged for one day and the opera at the Bolshoi. From Moscow we fly to Turkey for two and 1/2 weeks.

I did research here on Fodors, trip advisor and other searches. I booked my trains on line with a both Real Russia Travel and Russiantrains.com

When are you going?

shelleyk

live-Your trip sounds wonderful. My Russia trip is just a thought at this point, probably for next spring, but possibly for the fall. I hope you post a TR. I spent 2 weeks in Turkey about 15 years ago, and until I started travelling to Asia, it was my favorite trip. I am sure it has changed a lot since I was there. The ruins were fantastic then, and I'll bet that some (especially Ephesus) are better now considering the ongoing excavation.

Kathie-I really don't have anything major to add about our trip other than it was one of the best we've had. The people are wonderful and friendly and I hope that the influx of tourists does not change them too much, although I suspect it inevitably will. My one regret is that we did not include Nigpali beach in our itinerary, since we were so close when we were in MU, and it looked really lovely from the plane.

Robbietravels

Shelley: I just finished reading your report and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially MU, which I've failed to visit in 2 trips to Myanmar. I am a fallen Asia Board person and should have been cheering you along at each step. Since DH, at 74, has retired from SE Asia travel, I don't visit the board regularly anymore. I, too, worked with Zaw and benefitted from his recommendations. Any everything wonderful has already been said about our dear friend MinThu and his loyal SuSu.
Wonder where you're going next.
Robbie

marya_

Shelley -- I just read your thoughtfully detailed report from start to finish and I look forward to seeing your photos after this. Many thanks.

shelleyk

I am happy you both enjoyed my TR.

Robbie-I empathize with your DH's decision to forgo any more Asia trips. Those flights can be killers, and I guess you reach a point where you've had enough of the jet lag. I have not reached that point yet, but I know I will at some point. Are you now confining your travels to Europe and the US?

Our next big trip is in the thinking about/investigative stage. We are considering southern India, Russia and Indonesia, but if something else appealing materialized, we might go another route. I am actually trying to figure out a way to spend 2 months abroad next winter, but haven't come up with anything yet.

Marya_-I will be posing my last batch of photos covering Marauk U and the circular train as soon as I finish editing them.

FromDC

Thanks so much for all the detail in your report, which I have now read twice! Hoping Zaw gets back to me so we can plan our trip for July, my tickets are on hold for one more day.

shelleyk

Sometimes it was 4-5 days before Zaw responded to my email. He may be out of the office for a few days touring with a client. If the tickets on hold are ff tickets, or at an especially good price, I'd get them whether or not you hear from him today. July is low season, and I am sure you will have no trouble getting good hotels and figuring out an itinerary.

Kathie

This is the Burmese new year - the office will be closed for multiple days. The main celebration this year is 5 days, many places are closed longer. I agree with Shelly - get your tickets, I'm sure he it make it work for you.

FromDC

Thanks so much, Shelley and Kathie, I didn't know about the holiday.

I've been up in the air about choosing between Burma and Borneo so that's why I'm antsy about hearing back from Zaw. I know the weather will be better in Borneo in July but I'm worried about waiting too long before visiting Burma!

shelleyk

FromDC-Since you mentioned somewhere, maybe on another thread, that the heat can have a bad effect on your DH, I would caution you about going to Burma in July. It will be hot or very hot, and the heat will impact on how much you will be able to do. I don't know whether Borneo in July will be any cooler. I've never been to Borneo. If it were me, I would check weatherbase.com for average high temperatures in all cities you are considering visiting in both Burma and Borneo before making a decision on where to go.

natandmiriam

Thanks for your informative report. I guess I am like many who read these reports sometime after they are written.We use the info but perhaps don't give the required feedback. Thanks for making the effort to share your experiences. We are tossing up between Burma and India next year (2013). Keep travelling and sharing. Cheers

kikiv

ShellyK, My husband and I are trying to decide whether to visit Myanmar (Burma) or go back to India in Nov 2013. I enjoyed reading your report, it is certainly very helpful. Judging from your comments and others on this forum who have been to Burma recently, it appears to be a widely popular tourist destination so perhaps we should go before it becomes even more over run by tourists. I actually sent Santa Maria an email and I am hoping to hear back from them soon.
Thanks for sharing your experience!

shelleyk

natandmiriam and kikiv- Glad you both found my report informative and useful. It is interesting to me that you are both trying to decide between India and Burma for 2013. I've been to both and enjoyed both, but IMO Burma is a much easier trip to do. It is less populated, chaotic, and frenetic than India. If you decide to go to Burma I strongly suggest that you make your hotel arrangements thru a travel agency a minimum of 9 months in advance. Burma has gotten very popular and those trying to plan last minute trips are finding limited hotel availability.

kikiv

Following your advice and Kathie's I contacted Santa Maria but have not heard back from them yet. How long did they take in responding to your emails? I have read that internet access is not always reliable in Burma.
We are planning on using our FF AA miles to get there and will book 12 months ( max allowed )in advance to make sure we get the flights we want but want to work on a preliminary itinerary/ price before doing so.

shelleyk

Sometimes it took 2 days for a response, sometimes a week. If you don't hear from them in 4 or 5 days, resend your email. There are several email addresses for SM listed on their website. I'd send to all of them. Hopefully, at least one will get through to them. Internet in Burma is unreliable and I am sure that SM is very busy with current bookings. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip.

kikiv

I will make several more attempts to reach them. In the mean time I contacted Myanmar Shalom and was sent a cursory response, with a generic tour information sheet. It seems SM has a very good track record here and in TA and would prefer to work with them.
I suppose the agents are very busy this time of year so I will persist. Thanks again for your help.