Yes, both of those books are excellent.

The embassy gave you a guidebook? Very interesting. Let us know what it and the cd have to say.

I've been waiting to get my visa, as I understood it was only good for 90 days from the date you get it. I would be fine if you have to get into Burma within 90 days, but not if I'd have to be out of Burma in 90 days, so I'm waiting a bit longer.

Thnanks for the info about Mandalay Air. Do you know if they are selling tickets for the fall yet?

No they are not selling the tickets yet. I lost her e-mail but it said something to the effect of contacting them to reserve or ........??? Spent several hours trying to retrieve it, my computer is like my desk filled with junk. At least on my desk I can find things.

Hi Kathie: Just to keep us all up to date. I assume you've seen this?

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader currently under house arrest, has dropped her opposition to tourism to Burma.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ight-help.html

Hi, dogster,yes, I saw that. I was pleased but wary, as I've seen this announced several times before. A few days later, I saw this

www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=16589

The more things change the more they stay the same.

lol. sigh. damn. O.K.

I thought a miracle had come.

Hi Kathie, Someone just mentioned the heat of the day on Inle Lake. I find the best time to go out on the lake is for sunrise, magical to see the Intha leg rowing fishermen emerging from the mist. But it is cold cold cold. The boat owners have umbrellas for the sun but they come in very useful first thing for wind breaks. I took gloves and a head scarf (if it is good enough for the Queen of England!) and layered my clothing so could shed during the full day on the water. Going early also gets you ahead of the crowds. I enjoyed Leaping Cat Monastery and on both visits we were the only ones there.

Naungshwe is also an interesting place to explore on foot or bicycle. There is a bustling market with traders coming and going and n the outskirts we watched women cutting sugar cane while the men squatted nearby enjoying a cock fight. We also came across a family sugar refinery and were welcome to just wander around.

There is also a Spa with hot pools a good bicyle ride away over pretty grim roads but there is always something to look at, last time it was the women(again) repairing the road by hand. A man got to drive the ancient Chinese steam roller.

Inle is the sort of place I can easily spend a week.

In 2002 ASSK was briefly at large and we narrowly missed seeing her in Hsipaw. A backpacker who spoke with her said she told him her real problem was not with independent travellers but with large tour groups who put more money into the Generals coffers. Just what I was told for what it is worth.

Pity John Yettaw got in though.
Sue

Sukie, thanks for your comments on Inle.

ASSK's words get (mis)interpreted by many people. It has long been rumored that ASSK told a backpacker that backpackers are ok, but her offical statements have never refected any split between tour groups and independent travellers. So while I have made the decision to visit Burma, I have no illusions that I am going with ASSK's blessing.

True, I wish we had been a day earlier then I would have been able to give you a first hand account, for obvious reasons her itinerary was not advertised.

This is the link to Sukie's Inle photos.
http://www.wright-photo.com/inlelake0.htm

Thanks for the link. What lovely photos!

One more thing, Sukie, a number of people have told me it is cold on Inle in the morning but I haven't been able to figure out how cold. I bought a hooded light jacket for Inle, but I was interested in your comment about gloves. Were you glad you had them? Any other clothing advice? We plan to be out on the lake at sunrise both mornings we're there.

I am a bit of a wimp about cold, would much rather be too hot than too cold so yes I was glad I had them, nothing too bulky, just a very cheap pair ($ store) of those tiny gloves that stretch. You can give them away as you leave Inle. Tony, my husband decided he didn't need extra warm clothes so had to buy a fleece jacket on the Naungshwe market. It cost $3 and he is still wearing it 4 years later. Any extra clothing you have on at the start can be left in the boat when you go ashore. Sue

Thanks for the info.

I was on the lake in August/September and it was probably low to mid 60s on the lake in the morning. But when zipping up and down it felt like 50s with the wind, especially if it was overcast.

Thanks, Femi, I expect it will be significantly cooler in November. I'm going to buy a light windbreaker jacket to add to my layers.

make sure not to bring a bathing suit so if they search you on arrival they will not suspect that you are going to swim the lake to meet the opposition...

Small bump in the road here. Mandalay Air is NOT flying out of Chiang Mai in November, will have to return to BKK to go to Yangon. Good part is that it gives me more time in Myanmar, since I would have had to wait 3 days for the now non-existent flight.

Thanks for the update. Yes, now you have more time in Burma!

Have just this minute bought my ticket $170 RT on Bangkok air. Fly out on the 3rd to Yangon and return on the 24th. Let's see if there is a way to hook up. My itinerary is still very not together.