Here is the blog for the Burmese leg of my SE Asia trip:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...gon-burma.html

I will be in Yangon, Jan. 6-10, 2014.

very interesting reading???

She hasn't gone there yet, Bob, she has just set up the blog page.

REALLY

The blog is now active.

seems like a trip to a Dr. might be wise??

interesting reading your yangon experiences

I'm surprised you didn't know about the need for absolutely pristine bills in Burma. Their careful examination of each bill is business as usual. Also, merchants in foreign countries can charge a premium for the use of a credit card, the premium is only illegal in the US. So your threat to report them to Visa was no threat at all.

I'm sorry your whole trip to Burma consisted only of a few days in Yangon. Yangon is perhaps the least interesting place in Burma. Still, you did get a small taste.

There are non-stop flights from Yangon to Chiang Mai (and vice versa) on Air Bagan on Sundays and Thursdays. That is the flight I took when I visited in November. It is much more convenient than flying through Bangkok.

I discovered the nonstop flights only after booking the ones that changed in Bangkok. So I made a mistake. There is an airline called Golden Myanmar that, I think, has even more frequent flights. I have never heard of Air Bagan. There are so many different small airlines here that go in and out of the business like a swinging door and do not make it to the internet.

I chose not to run around all over Burma in the short time I have as I would have spent more time in transit and less seeing things.

I have long since given up on trying to see too much at once.

Regardless of your opinion, Kathie, I enjoyed my time in Yangon.

Insofar as the VISA surcharges, those websites making bookings need to make it clear that the prices may be increased if you use a credit card in certain countries. They don't. Insofar as the dollar examiners are concerned in Burma, the whole thing is stupid. Then they hand you Burmese bills that are crumpled and are almost beyond recognition--and would be sent to the shredder in the US. If they are going to examine dollars for creases or red dots from being in a pocket with a magic marker to look for counterfeit money, well, it's nuts. When you obtain dollars in Thailand or Cambodia they are not always new money. There they don't care--and they do know what they are doing. The problem in Burma probably will go away as it opens to the West.

Burmese currency, by the way, is not good in Thailand, so spend it all before leaving.

The pristine US$ notes that you hand over in Burma aren't used as cash by the recipient, they are used as a commodity. Hence the need for the notes to be in pristine condition.

On the other hand Burmese kyat is worthless outside the country, so there no need for the kyat notes to be in any sort of condition, being able to identify the face value of the note is good enough. Filthy bits of paper, I've never used so much medicated hand sanitizer in my life.

We enjoyed Yangon too.

I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Yangon, Lauren. My comment wasn't meant to imply you should have done more in your allotted time, but that I'm sure you would have enjoyed more time to explore the country.

A good reminder about kyat being worthless outside of the country - just as riel are worthless outside of Cambodia, kip are worthless outside of Laos and dong are worthless outside of VN.

how can you blame people for examining currency carefully. counterfeit $$ have been a problem in asia from time to time in the past. don't you think it is all based on past history??

I took brand new bills with me from my bank in the USA when I visited Burma and Cambodia. you can just order them from your bank. I took all denominations.

They actually scrutinize your bills in Cambodia too. It has become less intense in the last two or three years, but many, many places still will not take $20s or $100s with any markings or too many wrinkles (and yes, give dirty nasty bills as change!).

The reason is that the banks will not accept those bills, so they will be "stuck" with them if they accept them from you. The only way to get rid of them is to unload them on someone else or take them out of the country...a bit tough for a poor Asian vendor. The guest house where I stay in Siem Reap used to ask people heading straight back to the US if they'd take the junk US currency with them.

Next trip ask here for tips before you go! It's rare to find a Burma thread without someone warning about needing immaculate bills.

When my daughter went two years ago, I stopped at the bank on our way to the airport and had her exchange her nice, but not perfect, bills for new ones. She rolled her eyes, but did it and later thanked me. They ran into several tourists who were running out of useable cash and were happy to not be one of them.