10 things to know before going to Myanmar
Myanmar has many beaches but not all of them for swimming, Internet is now cheap and not censored, cash is king, hotel can be as expensive as those in Europe but the standards are much different...Hotel prices has raised up to three times since 2010, a kissing sound to get a beer, men wear skirts without underwear, and so on. There are just few things you should know to before taking adventures to Myanmar. Prepare yourself to enjoy your holiday at its bests.
1. New year celebrations last 4 days
The Burmese make a big deal of the New Year. Thingyan, known as the "water throwing festival," is celebrated in April. In this occasion, everywhere consists of banks, restaurants, shop, are not in operate. The biggest celebrations are in Yangon (30m from Martaban) and Mandalay (716 km from northern Yangon). During the New Year water-throwing frenzy everyone throws and sprays water at each other. Water symbolizes the washing away of the previous year's bad luck and sins. Fish and birds are released in the last day of festival.2. Myanmar has hundreds beaches
Myanmar has 2,000 kilometers of coastline. Almost beaches face to the west so tourists could contemplate great sunset. The best known is Ngapali Beach has 3km of length, a 45-minute flight from Yangon, where almost three kilometers of white sand. Or NgweSaung, a beautifully unspoiled beach that's a five-hour drive from Yangon. Also called Silver Beach, its 13 kilometers stretch makes it one of the longest beaches in Asia.>> Myanmar's best beaches and time to go
3. The internet is not censored anymore
The Internet arrived in Myanmar in 2000, but high prices and slow connections. Under the former government, websites such as YouTube and Gmail were blocked. But restrictions have largely been lifted.Not popular than the Internet- mobile phones are in high prices too. $15 SIM card for mobile phones will be made available in June 2014, in the run-up to the South East Asian Games to be held in Myanmar in December 2014, but will be available only to tourists and foreigners.
4. You will need plenty of cash
There are few ATMs in Myanmar, so visitors need to bring plenty of U.S. dollars. And make sure its clean, that means no creases, stains, marks or they will be worthless in Myanmar. Credit cards are accepted only in five-star hotels and upscale shops and restaurants5. A kissing sound gets you a beer
When the Burmese want to get a waiter's attention they make a kissing sound, usually two or three short kisses. It's the sort of sound you might make if calling a cat.Walk down 19 Street in Yangon's Chinatown, you'll hear that kissing sound a lot. This is narrow, pedestrian- only street is where the Burmese come to drink. Chairs and tables are set out in side of the street. The local brew is Myanmar Beer and it's cheap, about 1US$ per glass
6. Hotels are expensive
Room rates shot up 350% last year, which means that a room that cost $25 a night in 2011 now goes for almost U.S.$100.Since the country opened up, business travelers and tourists have been packing flights to Myanmar. There are a lot more visitors but the same number of hotels.
More hotels are on the way, but they take time to build and the hotel shortage is considered to continue five to 10 years.
A lot of hotels are renovating since they don't want to miss out on the visitor boom. They're staying open while upgrading. When making a reservation, you should checking to see if any work is in progress and, if so, requesting a room away from the noise.
7. The men wear skirts
The traditional Burmese dress is “the longyi”. Men tie theirs in the front and women fold the cloth over and stitch up it at the side.In the cities, Burmese men usually wear underwear beneath their longyis when they go out.
In the countryside, underwear is much less common for men and women. As one man jokingly put it: "Longyi are great. Free air-conditioning." That's a advantage, especially when the summer temperature tops 400C..
8. Weird eating practices
It's considered rude to eat with the left hand as this is the hand used for personal hygiene.So eating is always done with the right hand.
A typical Burmese meal includes steamed rice, fish, meat, vegetables and soup. The Burmese use their fingertips to mold the rice into a small ball and then mix it with various vegetables. Buddhists usually avoid eating beef and the Muslims don't eat pork.
9. The transportation
The poor condition of railway tracks means carriages get shaken about. But trains are still a great way to see the country.Myanmar's trains are slow and have a reputation for running late. The most reliable route, Yangon to Mandalay, takes about 16 hours, assuming no delays. On overnight trains, it is extremely cold when it is dark. Buses are often crowded. Domestic flights are the most comfortable way to cover long distances. Refer an informative guide of Myanmar transportation.
10. The people with red teeth are not vampires
Chewing betel nut is a part of traditional so The Old usually has red teeth and they proud of it. The leaves are filled betel nut, lime, spices and sometimes a pinch of tobacco. Western foreigners sometimes become addictive when chewing betel.More guide...
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