11 Things to Know Before Visiting Myanmar

                              

Out of many wonders of Asia, there lies a small country in the South-Eastern part of the continent that dazzles even the most ardent travelers with its culture and landscapes. Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar Myanmar is a place that many people go to discover themselves by diving into a different culture.

1.   New Year is a big deal for Burmese

New Year lasts nearly four days for Burmese. Thingyan, also known as “water throwing festival” is celebrated in April. The entire country shuts down over the four days New Year. The biggest celebrations are in Yangon and Mandalay.

2.   Experience Myanmar’s fantastic beaches

The coastline of Myanmar is 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) and also has some of the finest stretches of beach in Asia. Many beaches along with Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea remain undiscovered by tourists and unspoiled by development

3.   Internet isn’t censored, however slow

In Myanmar, the internet arrived in 2000; however high prices and slow connections mean it’s still not widely used.

Earlier, websites such as YouTube and Gmail were blocked, but restrictions have largely been lifted.

4.   Keep plenty of cash

Myanmar is still a little backward; hence visitors need to bring plenty of US dollars. The higher the denomination, the better the exchange rate.

Also remember that the cash needs to be crisp and clean which means no creases, stains, no marks etc.

5.   Hotels are a bit Pricey

Hotel rooms are expensive in Myanmar. The reason behind is that the country opened up, business travelers and tourists have been packing flights to Myanmar. As per the reports, in 2011 room rates shot up to 350%, which means that a room that cost US $25 a night now goes for almost US $100.

6.   The men wear skirts

As we know the traditional Burmese dress is longyai which is a wrapped skirt worn by both men and women. Men ties theirs in the front and women fold the cloth over and secure it at the side.

7.   The food is exceptional

In Myanmar it is considered rude to eat with the left hand. Hence, avoid eating or giving money with the left hand.

A typical Burmese meal includes steamed rice, fish, meat and vegetables and soup and all the dishes arrive at the same time. The Burmese use their fingertips to mold the rice into a small ball and then mix it with various dishes.

8.   Get ready to get bumpy ride if you travel by train

Railway tracks are in not so good combination. And this makes for a bouncy ride, but trains are still a great way to see the country. Myanmar’s trains are slow and have a reputation for running late.

9.   The people with red teeth aren’t vampires

In Myanmar, the national pastime is to chew betel nut. You will come across a lot of small street stalls selling the palm-sized green leaves everywhere. The leaves are filled with hard squares of betel nut, spices and sometimes a pinch of tobacco and then folded up and popped in the mouth and chewed.

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