Burma itinerary
Sep 5th, 2009, 07:45 PM
#21
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Kathie: didn't we do a timeline of that option in another post? As I remember, it was a killer travel day with not nearly enough time to enjoy. Almost certainly you'd be able to pick up transport outside Heho - but that airport is quite complicated enough; I wouldn't.
I dunno how, otherwise.
I dunno how, otherwise.
Sep 5th, 2009, 07:53 PM
#22
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Dogster, we did do a timeline, but I've altered the itinerary (at your suggestion) so that I spend a day in Rangoon before flying to HeHo. Depending on how early a flight I can get, I should have more time.
If not, do you have suggestions for what we might do with our first day at Inle?
By the way, what do you mean by the airport being complicated?
If not, do you have suggestions for what we might do with our first day at Inle?
By the way, what do you mean by the airport being complicated?
Sep 5th, 2009, 08:21 PM
#23
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I just went back over the previous posts about how to schedule our time in Inle. Current plan is to go to the hotel and then out on the lake the first afternoon. (But I still have time to change my mind - lol)
Sep 5th, 2009, 11:51 PM
#24
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Heho is almost a frontier outpost, Kathie. It leads into Shan State and towards the Thai border - so, despite the tourists blithely getting on and off, there are additional security prtecaustions and what seems to be a totally unnecessary passport check.
Then, inexplicably, you will be marched out of the terminal WITHOUT your bags. lol. All the way out the gate. 'Wha...? Wha...? My luggage...?' You gasp. Wait.
Outside the gate, on the road it will be brought to you. Why? I have no idea. It's all kinda odd.
Then, inexplicably, you will be marched out of the terminal WITHOUT your bags. lol. All the way out the gate. 'Wha...? Wha...? My luggage...?' You gasp. Wait.
Outside the gate, on the road it will be brought to you. Why? I have no idea. It's all kinda odd.
Sep 5th, 2009, 11:57 PM
#25
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By the time you get to Taunggi you are about as far as foreigners can go. The next leg to Kakku you have to get some local government guide to accompany you.
At that point you are right on the edge of some serious narcotics, people smuggling and god-only knows what, not that anybody will ever tell you. Not tourist territory at all. Count the number of army/military barracks/secret airfields on the way to Taunggi. That's the absolute end of the line.
At that point you are right on the edge of some serious narcotics, people smuggling and god-only knows what, not that anybody will ever tell you. Not tourist territory at all. Count the number of army/military barracks/secret airfields on the way to Taunggi. That's the absolute end of the line.
Sep 6th, 2009, 01:14 AM
#26
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Just in case any of you want your Burmese horoscope
http://myanmartravel.net/
Mine says:
Tuesday Born (names: Cid, Nyi, San, Zaw)
Tuesday is the day of the LION. The southeast direction is your lucky direction. Tuesday belongs to the Mars. You want to do work with some prestige and dignity attached to it. You are a natural self-promoter. Your idealism motivates you to seek challenges and to dedicate yourself to great and worthy causes. You attract people because of your honour and strength of character. In Myanmar it is widespread that Tuesday born have a "sharp tounge"..
Now we know that I can blame the day I was born on for my sometime quite sharp tongue
http://myanmartravel.net/
Mine says:
Tuesday Born (names: Cid, Nyi, San, Zaw)
Tuesday is the day of the LION. The southeast direction is your lucky direction. Tuesday belongs to the Mars. You want to do work with some prestige and dignity attached to it. You are a natural self-promoter. Your idealism motivates you to seek challenges and to dedicate yourself to great and worthy causes. You attract people because of your honour and strength of character. In Myanmar it is widespread that Tuesday born have a "sharp tounge"..
Now we know that I can blame the day I was born on for my sometime quite sharp tongue
Sep 6th, 2009, 07:09 AM
#29
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Nywoman, I'm also a Tuesday. For those that are Wednesdays, there are different horoscopes for before noon and after noon.
Well, I'm a lion and a tiger... a double dose.
Craig, Dogster, from my reading, it appears that there are plenty of taxis at the airport, though they are managed by the "taxi mafia" and the prices are "high' (US$30). Is this not true? Are the taxis in terrible shape? the drivers on drugs? Is there a reason to get a hotel car other than convenience (which may well be enough). I got quote from the agency with whom I booked the Lake View for airport transfer $125. It seems ridiculous.
By the way, I'll have more questions for you soon, as my plans seem to have been altered slightly by the flights.
Well, I'm a lion and a tiger... a double dose.
Craig, Dogster, from my reading, it appears that there are plenty of taxis at the airport, though they are managed by the "taxi mafia" and the prices are "high' (US$30). Is this not true? Are the taxis in terrible shape? the drivers on drugs? Is there a reason to get a hotel car other than convenience (which may well be enough). I got quote from the agency with whom I booked the Lake View for airport transfer $125. It seems ridiculous.
By the way, I'll have more questions for you soon, as my plans seem to have been altered slightly by the flights.
Sep 6th, 2009, 09:03 AM
#30
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Pandas are Sunday born:
"Sunday is the day of the GARUDA (galoun), the mythical king of birds. The northeast direction is your own and lucky direction. Sunday is the day of the Sun. You are very definite in purpose and energy and go-ahead spirit is in your mind and in your soul. You are very stubborn. Anything that is difficult and laborious interests you. Too good and too generous to others is not good for you; people will take advantage of that. According to Myanmar believe Sunday Born are mostly blessed with luck!"
As you can see we are too good and generous to others. This lies at the heart of my frienship with Bob. Others would have abandoned him long ago. Exactly how was I lucky?
"Sunday is the day of the GARUDA (galoun), the mythical king of birds. The northeast direction is your own and lucky direction. Sunday is the day of the Sun. You are very definite in purpose and energy and go-ahead spirit is in your mind and in your soul. You are very stubborn. Anything that is difficult and laborious interests you. Too good and too generous to others is not good for you; people will take advantage of that. According to Myanmar believe Sunday Born are mostly blessed with luck!"
As you can see we are too good and generous to others. This lies at the heart of my frienship with Bob. Others would have abandoned him long ago. Exactly how was I lucky?
Sep 6th, 2009, 09:20 AM
#31
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I am a Lion and a Dragon so watch out.
It seems I will have to change my schedule if I want to go Ngpali. Tried Mandalay Air for September flights just to see frequency, they only fly twice a week.
Bagan Air is supposedly owned by in-laws of the General and has had sanctions......
Kathy who is your agent, the one independent agent I found will only get tickets if I send a bank draft. Independent travel is not as easy as I thought in the land of gzillion temples.
It seems I will have to change my schedule if I want to go Ngpali. Tried Mandalay Air for September flights just to see frequency, they only fly twice a week.
Bagan Air is supposedly owned by in-laws of the General and has had sanctions......
Kathy who is your agent, the one independent agent I found will only get tickets if I send a bank draft. Independent travel is not as easy as I thought in the land of gzillion temples.
Sep 6th, 2009, 09:46 AM
#32
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The flight schedules are driving me crazy! There are apparently no flights from HeHo to Bagan. How can that be? The only flight I can find so far is one that flies late in the day from HeHo to Mandalay then on to Bagan after an hour layover. So much for having four almost full days in Bagan. I guess the good news is I'll have more time at Inle.
I'm beginning to see why using an in-country agent would be helpful... they would know that what I was trying to do was impossible. The problem with the in-country agents is that they all want to give you guides and cars and drivers and special tours and all the stuff I don't want.
For the air tickets, I'm using Eddie, a guy at the AmEx agency in Bangkok who I've used for years. You can contact him at [email protected] I'm assuming he'll allow me to use a credit card, likely for an extra charge. I've already purchased by BKK-RGN-BKK tickets from him.
I'm beginning to see why using an in-country agent would be helpful... they would know that what I was trying to do was impossible. The problem with the in-country agents is that they all want to give you guides and cars and drivers and special tours and all the stuff I don't want.
For the air tickets, I'm using Eddie, a guy at the AmEx agency in Bangkok who I've used for years. You can contact him at [email protected] I'm assuming he'll allow me to use a credit card, likely for an extra charge. I've already purchased by BKK-RGN-BKK tickets from him.
Sep 10th, 2009, 06:49 AM
#33
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To try to plan an independent trip in Burma is a lot like walking through a maze, when you have no sense of direction.
None of the airlines have any schedules listed online for November. I finally broke down and contacted 2 different travel agents in Yangon to enquire about airfare Yangon - Heho. I know my itinerary has changed, but more about that at a later date.
Received 2 quotes one is for $82 all inclusive the other $80 plus a $10 delivery fee. The first agency also told me that there would not be enough time to catch a same day flight.
They also suggested two different options of hotels and told me they would deliver the ticket to the hotel of my choice and to pay in cash either dollar or local currency.
At least I have my first night covered and a flight next day.
The rest may have to depend on serendipity or stupidity. I prefer to think of the former as the best option.
None of the airlines have any schedules listed online for November. I finally broke down and contacted 2 different travel agents in Yangon to enquire about airfare Yangon - Heho. I know my itinerary has changed, but more about that at a later date.
Received 2 quotes one is for $82 all inclusive the other $80 plus a $10 delivery fee. The first agency also told me that there would not be enough time to catch a same day flight.
They also suggested two different options of hotels and told me they would deliver the ticket to the hotel of my choice and to pay in cash either dollar or local currency.
At least I have my first night covered and a flight next day.
The rest may have to depend on serendipity or stupidity. I prefer to think of the former as the best option.
Sep 10th, 2009, 09:09 AM
#35
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Ladies - the only real obstacle here is that you ever thought it would be otherwise.
As you are discovering. So, that obvious point made, how to work with it?
First, what is it? It's a place with a system that simply doesn't understand the needs of independent travelers. You can be as independent as you feel like, in actual fact, but someone HAS to be responsible for you. Someone arriving without every split-second arranged is just a mind-explosion for everybody involved, generally. Face has to be maintained - a whole lotta interesting stuff.
Until you accept the unacceptable, you'll continue to have problems in advance, I fear. As soon as you walk in the right door, everything is easy.
Which door is that?
Ahhh, then it all gets kinda Buddhist.
As you are discovering. So, that obvious point made, how to work with it?
First, what is it? It's a place with a system that simply doesn't understand the needs of independent travelers. You can be as independent as you feel like, in actual fact, but someone HAS to be responsible for you. Someone arriving without every split-second arranged is just a mind-explosion for everybody involved, generally. Face has to be maintained - a whole lotta interesting stuff.
Until you accept the unacceptable, you'll continue to have problems in advance, I fear. As soon as you walk in the right door, everything is easy.
Which door is that?
Ahhh, then it all gets kinda Buddhist.
Sep 10th, 2009, 09:58 AM
#36
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Yes, I came to that realization last week. As it was so difficult to make even the most elementary of arrangements on my own, it suddenly occurred to me that Burma doesn't want me to travel independently.
I do wish I had enough time there that I could just wing it. But I don't. So I have to plan as best I can and expect the unexpected. It'll all be a part of the Burma experience.
Yup, it is very Buddhist... I'll practice detachment.
I do wish I had enough time there that I could just wing it. But I don't. So I have to plan as best I can and expect the unexpected. It'll all be a part of the Burma experience.
Yup, it is very Buddhist... I'll practice detachment.
Sep 10th, 2009, 04:55 PM
#38
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This is fun. (I was more intrigued by the heading "Burmese Bunnies" on that sight, but I clicking on it produced nothing.)
I am Monday born.
Monday Born (names: Cho, Khin, Kyaw, Kyin)
Monday is the day of the TIGER. The east direction is your lucky direction. Monday belongs to the Planet Moon. In character your patience, perseverance, and solidarity are outstanding. You are always reliable. You are very ambitious. Your aim in life is to make success of things. Monday born are supposed to be very bright and alert!
Well, the Moon isn't a planet and I have no patience whatsoever. Solidarity with what? Otherwise, it's all true.
Gpanda, perhaps you should change to a bird handle. Do any birds have black circles around theier eyes?
I am Monday born.
Monday Born (names: Cho, Khin, Kyaw, Kyin)
Monday is the day of the TIGER. The east direction is your lucky direction. Monday belongs to the Planet Moon. In character your patience, perseverance, and solidarity are outstanding. You are always reliable. You are very ambitious. Your aim in life is to make success of things. Monday born are supposed to be very bright and alert!
Well, the Moon isn't a planet and I have no patience whatsoever. Solidarity with what? Otherwise, it's all true.
Gpanda, perhaps you should change to a bird handle. Do any birds have black circles around theier eyes?
Sep 10th, 2009, 06:32 PM
#39
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Dogster, I meant to say I also have a fascination with hardware stores. On a quickie tour of Mangalore, India, a pit stop on our Asia/Middle East cruise, we found them to be the highlight.
Now, Mangalore is one of those places that seems to be of no interest at first glance. No glorious temples or palaces. Just soot and dirt and nursing schools and hotel management institutes and new strip malls. Our displeased fellow passengers were appalled that we'd stopped at this armpit, where there was "nothing to see" and little to buy--other than at the de rigeur shopping stop at a tourist trap jewelry store).
But, as you do, we try to wander away from the tour group. The market was bustling with everday Magalorans buying beautiful produce, cheap clothing, toys and sweets. But our fascination was the dozens of hardware stores, with their hundreds of shiny tin pots and pans hanging from ceiling. And all manner of things an everyday Magalorite might need. A very insightful way to see how the locals cook and clean and organize their households.
No cow decorations, though. Come to think of it, seeing how this was India, we probably should have asked! We bought some colorful woven plastic mats for our patio, popular in the U.S. for $75 a pop, for $1 each (but in rupees; they couldn't begin to deal with U.S. money). Back on the bus, eyeing our odd souvenirs (plastic mats????), our comrades must have thought we were very strange.
Now, Mangalore is one of those places that seems to be of no interest at first glance. No glorious temples or palaces. Just soot and dirt and nursing schools and hotel management institutes and new strip malls. Our displeased fellow passengers were appalled that we'd stopped at this armpit, where there was "nothing to see" and little to buy--other than at the de rigeur shopping stop at a tourist trap jewelry store).
But, as you do, we try to wander away from the tour group. The market was bustling with everday Magalorans buying beautiful produce, cheap clothing, toys and sweets. But our fascination was the dozens of hardware stores, with their hundreds of shiny tin pots and pans hanging from ceiling. And all manner of things an everyday Magalorite might need. A very insightful way to see how the locals cook and clean and organize their households.
No cow decorations, though. Come to think of it, seeing how this was India, we probably should have asked! We bought some colorful woven plastic mats for our patio, popular in the U.S. for $75 a pop, for $1 each (but in rupees; they couldn't begin to deal with U.S. money). Back on the bus, eyeing our odd souvenirs (plastic mats????), our comrades must have thought we were very strange.
Sep 11th, 2009, 03:22 AM
#40
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Nywoman and Kathie ...
I can recommend an in-country agency for you; Mr Myanmar Travel.
Their email is [email protected]
Based in Yangon, Family-owned and reliable. Hope that's helpful!
I can recommend an in-country agency for you; Mr Myanmar Travel.
Their email is [email protected]
Based in Yangon, Family-owned and reliable. Hope that's helpful!
