Myanmar - Burma

>>1209030
This is of no help, but I'm thinking of going there for March.

I've heard it's more expensive than Thailand etc., but is it really that much more? How difficult/expensive is internal travel?

>>1209030
Don't know anything about Cambodia. Pro's and cons of going there? How is it compared to other SEA countries? How are the girls there?

been there this summer, its not really that expensive, you might pay a bit more for acommodation, which you cant expect to be the same level of hygiene etc as in cambodia

we had a daily budget (including everything from acommodation to food and entrance fees) of 35$ and it was really doable

plus the people are super friendly and not really used to tourists, even more if you stay off the beaten track (there where periods of days where we didnt see another tourist), so it kinda feels like a more "genuine" experience there than in, say, cambodia

> Any questions about Cambodia be sure to ask me.

What are the social life prospects for an expat in his 30s, in Cambodia? which places are better in this respect?

Regardless of work - let's say I won't work and live off investments.

I'm sort of worried of being handicapped both in socializing with locals (not having a network) and the expat scene (not doing what others are doing - teaching or doing the whole DN thing)

(tried to ask this in another thread but didn't get replies)

Also interested in long-stay info about Burma. Specifically, it seems accommodation for foreigners is somehow overregulated, and tourists pay highly inflated prices for shit rooms as a result. I wonder how people go around this for longer stay

Do I need anti malaria tablets for Cambodia?

How expensive is Cambodia to travel?
Same question for all SE asian countries if anyones been

>>1209708
No. 10 people died of malaria in 2015 in Cambodia.

Bump im currently planning a trip to myanmar from new york. Im finding it hard to find direct flights.

>>1209717
Cambodia's cheap.

>>1210549
will be cheaper to go via Bangkok

Anyone have experience with visas in Myanmar? Specifically visa on arrival, coming from Thailand.

Did two weeks there: Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Ngapali Beach

Protips:

Don't spend more than two nights in Yangon
If you want a night out that doesn't end at 10pm, go to 7th joint in Yangon
The food is awful generally (super oily) but good by the coast
Bus travel is long so book overnight. Always book the VIP option if available, only a couple of dollars more and more legroom, you don't have to get off every stop and it's full of backpackers instead of locals who paid 10% what you did
Check what you should be paying for taxis before you arrive in different places or you'll get ripped off
Keep an eye on your passport, it will be passed around by a lot of officials
Don't bother with a balloon ride in Bagan of you're on a backpacking trip
Book accommodation well in advance, it's expensive compared to most of SEA due to the lack of competition

Any questions, hit me up

>>1209717
Cambodia is alright, but for living, the surrounding countries are a little bit cheaper.

I do the expat existence there with a decent hotel room with TV. Eat out all the time. Expensive coffees. 8hrs a day in caf´s. Smoke some weed. Don't drink. Cost 1000-1300 bucks per momth. Thailand and Vietnam and Laos would be a little bit cheaper.

Reason: Cambodians don't produce. Most stuff is imported.

Of course, you can live there for 500 a month, but don't expect to have much fun.

my thai gf is half burmese. she keeps teasign about going their but we havent yet

>>1211065
As far as I know they don't really exist. Just get a visa from an embassy the proper way.

do you work? I'm moving soon with a bit of money but want to earn a bit more while I'm there. I'm a uni student.

Just about to leave after a month in Myanmar. Ask any questions if you want. For visa I recommend the evisa, it's insanely easy and quick. Cost wise, I spent under 30 dollars a day. You rarely have to spend more than 10 on accommodation. 2 per meal. Rest on transportation or activities. My recommendations are to do a lot of hikes or trekking. And try to get away from the touristy spots. The people are the best part of Myanmar, make friends.

>>1211106
Get a TEFL if you have Anglo as a native language. You'd make 1000-1400 per month.

>>1211068
Where are you from and how much did you spend in total (everything) roughly?

>>1211151
Which were your favourite places away from the touristy spots?

>>1211375
I liked monywa. It has the giant Buddhas and old cave temples as things to do. Most foreigners just day trip to those from Mandalay, so just walking around side streets everyone was super excited to see me. Ended up getting kind of close to some of the sellers at the night market because I kept getting food from them. I definitely didn't spend enough time off the beaten track, so just go crazy and choose some random spots to go via bus.

>>1209740
Some people have the weirdest luck. For all we know, he could be next year's statistic.

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How's the food? And what are some must see sites?

I'm dying to go see the Temples like pic related.

Whats the best way to get around? Is it safe to rent a scooter or bike to travel around?

A friend of mine traveled SEA and told me that Cambodia was way more rural and more depressing than Thailand.

>>1209030
Whats the sex tourism like and what are the best places for it

>>1211069
Damn that sounds nice. What do you do there?

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>>1212129
Not the OP but I visited in December.
>How's the food?
Pretty good, but expect to may more than you might think. Still not expensive, but you can clearly tell that Cambodia all but depends on tourism. So you will pay tourists prices for a lot of meals. Even at a road side restaurant with flies buzzing around that we stopped at between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh was like $6-7. I had food for half that in Singapore.

>And what are some must see sites?
Temples of Angkor obviously. I wouldn't classify anything else as must-see. Although obviously killing fields/prison museum should be checked out.

>I'm dying to go see the Temples like pic related.
Go to Angkor. I took this picture.

>A friend of mine traveled SEA and told me that Cambodia was way more rural and more depressing than Thailand.

He's not wrong. Cambodia is much less developed than Thailand. Phnom Penh is lightyears behind Bangkok.

>>1212131

Of all the countries in the world, why the fuck would you go to cambodia for sex?

Just go to any European country or Thailand if you really need that Asian pussy

>>1211095

25 dollars a day, though i stayed with a friend in ngapali beach so that brought the cost down

sorry for late reply, still travelling!

>>1209706
fuck off reddit

What's the best time of year to go in terms of weather and price?

>>1212412
>All asian pussy is the same
Wrong. South East asians look very different. Besides, Cambodia is also a more convenient place to get Viet pussy than Vietnam.

>>1212717

OK please enlighten me. What's the difference? Its darker?

And what's so special about viet pussy?

And why are there alot of viet in cambodia?

>>1212717
The most convenient places for getting Viet pussy are Hong Kong and Singapore.

>>1212444
fuck off /b/

>>1209030
Heard that finding petrol bikes in Myanmar is a bit of a hassle? Any truth to this? Not a fan of those electric ones.

>>1212822
Viet women are sometimes extremely slim and a lot paler than Cambodian. Cambodian women can be quite dark and curvy with rounder faces. Thai girls look more like space-aliens. Also, Viet girls are skilled thieves. The chance of waking up with all your valuables gone, are higher.

The reason why there are Viet girls on the job in Cambodia is because Vietnam is not a major redlight destination, due to more efficient police and less corruption.

>>1213971
>Viet women are sometimes extremely slim and a lot paler than Cambodian. Cambodian women can be quite dark and curvy with rounder faces


I have been with Thai women that fit this description. It's really a one stop shop.

>>1213791
In Bagan, tourists can only get electric. In Mandalay and Yangon you can't get anything. Everywhere else I had no problem finding any.

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Have lived in Myanmar for over 5 years. Can try to answer any questions you have.

>>1214362
What the fuck do I call the little fried fish mixed with curry flakes? God I love that.

>>1214362
how about this with regards to Myanmar? >>1209706

what are the beaches there like?

is the north safe to travel to? would be be expensive?

are foreigners restricted in where they can only stay in government-approved hstels/hotels (like in China)?

>>1214715
Social life in Yangon is actually very good for a western immigrant. The city is fairly small and there are still a lot of open events for socialising amongst all the other people who don't have friends.

There is a gallery that does an open night every week and it's very casual and the opposite of "networking" or "everyone sit on a table with your friends and don't talk to other people".

The good thing about Yangon as a westerner is that it doesn't matter what you do. I have friends who are teachers, journalists, business people, etc. It actually made me realise how segregated by profession people are in other parts of the world.

You can also make friends with locals pretty easily, young people under 30 are very easy to make friends with.

>>1215951
I have not been to many beaches, but I hear they are good scenery but not much else to do.

the downside to travelling in MM is that yes you have to stay in a registered for foreigners hotel which limits your options.

In case you didn't know, there are many areas in the borderlands that are not controlled by the central government so you won't be allowed to go there either officially.

if by north you mean Kachin, then you can fly YGN-Myitkyina for around $100 or take a 24 hr train from Mandalay for around $10. Myitkyina is cool to hang out and around it, but you can't really go that far due to fighting. I heard Putao in the very far north now has cheap hotels for foreigners. The only way to get there is by plane.

Indawgyi lake in Kachin is very nice and will be a huge tourist spot in 20 years.

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>>1211068

This.

Also: went in March 2016 myself shittiest time of the year I think. The country is dry as fuck.

I got a visa in Bangkok, took like 3 or 4 days. Be aware of national holidays as we had to wait for an extra day.
Then went by bus to the border. Were with an aussie couple and took a taxi from the border to Mawlamyine. Went to Hpa-A. Then to Yangon. From there with bus to Kalaw for 4 day trek to Inle. Then a busride to Hsipaw. Hiked some more. With a slow train to Mandalay (which is shit, the city). Boat to Bagan (17h in dry season). 4 days in Bagan at a really cheap resort. Train to Mandalay (during water festival). After 2 days I escaped to Thailand by plane.

Overall was disappointing. Shit food. Nature was dry and less colorful but this was due to the season. Not that big a variations of temples. The fact that people are really friendly make up much.
My original plan was to go overland to Keng Tung and then choose the northern border to enter Thailand again. But its illegal to do this without a permit.

Highlights: trek from Kalaw to Inle. Bagan. Hsipaw, exploring around.

>>1216003
>you have to stay in a registered for foreigners hotel
is there a way to escape it if you are staying there long-term? That is, some way to just rent an appartment or something like that

>>1216003
thanks

fuck, i should've thought about that. at least the roads should be better i guess... and there's got to be some region with nice greenery...right?

also, did you bother with vaccinations/medication etc?

>>1216013
I think if you had more time there to explore you'd change your mind on some points. I really liked the local food and found some of the best temples I've seen yet.

>>1216045
I imagine you'd need to be working there for that to work, in that case talk to your employer

>>1216351
Apart from Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon it's hard for me to remember a temple/stupa that stood out. Ofcourse apart from the Bagan ruins, which are awsome.
The reason I disliked most temples could been that every one of them looked almost blazing new (even though they were very old). Because most are just plain golden stupa's its easy to give them a paintjob once in a while.

And like someone else said, they put so much oil in their dishes.

I was there 4 weeks I think, which is a little longer than most people. But the season really made a big difference, and the fact I was with a friend (I didn't blend in as much as I would have).

>>1216045
Yes if you have a business visa you can rent an apartment.

>>1216237
You should get rabies vaccine at least.

>>1216351
Food in Myanmar is difficult to find good stuff, but when you do, it's amazing. Morning food is the best food, because it's freshly cooked and there's more variety. Get up and early down to the teashop and have local bread snacks and tea.

Tray shops, where they have long lines of pre cooked curries are also tasty in the morning, especially if you can find ones that do vegetable curries too.

The problem is that the local restaurants (that serve dinner) are pretty much all the same wherever you go, which is just this basic chinese cooking style, where everything is dry and bland. These places are good for a beer and a snack, but they aren't fine dining and don't really represent Myanmar food too well.

Shan Food is popular and worth checking out. "Shan noodles" is a good go to meal when you want something that has taste.
In Yangon there is a little Kachin enclave in Sanchuang and it's well worth your time to head down there and eat Kachin food if you're looking for something different.

>>1216427
Can't you just airbnb there for a whole month?

>>1216492
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/22780-yangon-government-to-clamp-down-on-renting-apartments-to-foreign-tourists.html

there is a MM bnb, but I think most of the places are licensed hotels.

>>1216854
Took a quick glance on available room in Yangon and there seems to be at least a few families renting part of their houses and a few entire apartments.
But I don't know if they require a special visa to rent, I didn't read all of the ads.

>>1216013
Surely it's better than going during Monsoon Season?

Is there any way to enter overland via Thailand at the moment? I'm reading conflicting things but would rather that than fly from Bangkok

Has ayone stayed in a monastery in Myanmar? Advice/stories?

Myanmar is interesting and worth visiting but I think two weeks is enough. There isn't a huge range of sights, the culture is not very accessible and there isn't a lot of fun stuff to do in your downtime. Inle lake is alright, Pagodas are cool but once you've seen one you've seen them all. People are friendly but generally quite shy (or perhaps afraid of drawing attention) when it comes to foreigners. Bagan was definitely the highlight for me, really is a unique place unlike anywhere else in the world. I wouldn't say the food is shit, sure it's not on the same level as Thailand but still a fair few good dishes to be had. I have fond memories eating Chapattis at the street stalls in Mandalay, makes a tasty cheap snack or you can order beer and curried meat at night to make it a meal.

>>1218310
Monsoon season isn't necessarily that bad, yeah it rains for an hour or two most days but you can generally work around it. Could be an issue if you want to go anywhere rural though.

I'm assuming you want to go overland because it's more interesting? If you're worried about the flight from Bangkok don't be, it's easy and cheap.