We like to be prepared well in advance for a trip and have some questions which hopefully you can help us with some answers.

We know that the internet can be sporadic at best, but for sending and receiving e-mails is there one source that seems to work better than the others? We have a few different e-mails addresses.

Can you take a backpack or even a fanny pack into a Shrine or do they have to be checked somewhere?

Now everybody's favourite question--Money. As Canadians, we do not have access to U.S. notes as you would have. We have to go to the bank or a currency exchange and wait while they search through their U.S. notes to find pristine bills. We have read on many sites,(I know shame on us for not just using Fodors LOL), that for example the $100 bills must be 2006 or newer, and that all others have to be the coloured bills. As far as you know is this still the way it has to be or has somethings changed? We are starting to collect pristine money now and don't want to waste our time if the bills we get won't be accepted.

Last question. Just out of curiosity what did the Burma flag look like before the country became Myanmar?

Thanks for any assistance you can give us.

http://www.google.es/search?client=s...IcXAtAaL84DoAQ

the flag link

Internet access is very slow. That will be your biggest problem with email. It used to be that many email portals were blocked, but that has stopped. You may still find that gmail works best.

You can take a pack into temples and shrines, not a problem. Of course, you must remove your shoes.

The Myanmar banks' precooupation with getting pristine currency is well-known. There can be no tiny tears, ink marks or creases. If you get some bills that are creased, you can try ironing them. Not all of the smaller US bills are colored (ones and fives), and you will need smaller bills to pay admission fees. Change your money at offical exchanges - there are exchanges in the major airports and in downtown Yangon and Mandalay.

Hi worldtraveler2. I often buy $US when the rates are good (this time at RBC but also at banks such as Scotia Bank, CIBC etc.) and have asked for 'pristine' bills. They've all been helpful and if they don't have any bills that are in the denominations that I need, they offer what they do have (still usually quite good) and say that I can return and exchange them at any time for bills that are in excellent condition. They'll also order them for me to exchange later.

Thanks everyone for some good ideas. This site is the best I have found.

Perhaps you can find a bank machine that deals in US as well as Canadian currency. Ask your bank branch; such ATMs are easy to locate where I live, although I am close to the US border. The bills coming out of the machines tend to be crisp and look new.