Some Precursors to the MYANMAR Tales

First, a brief introduction from the free map I got at the MTT office in Yangon:

MYANMAR

The legendary "Golden Land" - this is still the Myanmar of today.  Certainly one of the most exotic countries in the world - a land of astounding beauty and charm that moved Kipling to pen these words: "quite unlike any land you will ever know."  Paradise... Myanmar is a paradise to discover, a destination for discerning travelers to explore and experience the mystical charms of the East in its diversity - rich archaeological sites, glittering pagodas, a wealth of cultures, colorful landscape, lush fertile plains, vast virgin jungles, majestic snowcapped mountains, pristine beaches washed by crystal clear waters, fragrant pine trees and sunflowers bathed in abundant shine.  But most of all, perfectly complemented by a most gracious and hospitable people.

Now, I'll include some excerpts from a letter my French friend Chams wrote me after he spent a month traveling around Myanmar last year:

It took me some time but as I promised I m gonna give you some scoops about Myanmar. First if you go there its for two reasons: peoples and spirituality (good country for you!) it's a very rich and interesting mix of people and religion. If Im a magician and drop you in a street of Yangon now, you could never guess where you are. Chinese, Indian, Bengali, Pakistanis in the street my guest house was in Yangon there is a pagoda, a mosque, a hindu temple, a sik temple, a baptist church and a Synagogue for the 40 jews living there and for you...It s very easy to meet monks who wants to improve their english and share their knowledge. Everywhere you go you r welcome with a true smile everybody wants to speak with you, sometime it can be too much... People are honest and the country is safe, I forgot my "handbag" with all my money, my passport, ALL MY LIFE, in a bus and after 15 minutes and a getaway by motorbike in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night with no light and no gas I re-found it nothing missing. They also have beautiful countryside, landscape but its not the best I saw. The food is interesting to because of the mix of population but no so easy to find safe and good food for every meal. People spend a lot of time in teashops, they are everywhere, chinese tea, cofee mix(cofee+sugar+condensed milk), samoussa, cakes, sometime rice and basic food, I like teashops!  Transportation is the worst point, old buses, broken roads and eXtra long journey. Its possible to enjoy the country to see a lot without giving a lot of money to the governement so go there. I spent 28 days in the country, I was with a german girl that I met in Cambodia we shared rooms and most of the things and I spent 450$, cheap cheap!

Lonely planet can be helpful for the country excepted for the prices because of the conversion with the dollar. For example all the guesthouse I have been to where 1,5 to 2 times more expensive. The same for the transportation, it can be expensive if you compare to thailand and cambodia, even for a dusty, broken local bus. This country changed a lot this last years, a good idea is to go now(or soon) or maybe never...  There is not that much travellers there, difficult to find someone, going the same way, travelling like you and interesting. Better to bring someone you met before!... Plan to go there from Bangkok with an air asia flight, ask all the people in thailand to have the last tips about Myanmar and you ll enjoy it. Bises.

So here I go....