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'''Myanmar''', or '''Burma''', is a country in [[South-Eastern Asia]]. Although most of the people (and especially this the stupid "loney planet Loney Planet Myanmar" book) connect Myanmar only with it´s its bad government, this is not the whole story and should not be the only fact to focus on. Rather it is much more worth to see seeing Myanmar how it really is: A beautiful country, with hospital hospitable and friendly people and an incredible rich culture. This country has so much to give, it is awesome.

The reality  == Hitchhiking in general ==(Hitchhiking in Myanmar might be technically illegal for foreigners, someone please confirm or debunk this.)Hitch-hiking in Myanmar isnot that difficult, that if you know how to do it is hard work to lift . First of all, forget about the European way raising your thumb. As in Myanmaralmost all non-Western countries, raising your thumb will not be understood as anything but an odd gesture. Try other ways using body language for instance by waving at least the drivers and signalling them to stop, or by waving and pointing in the direction you're going. You need to communicate with the driver in the cities and on few seconds you have while he sees you. Once you learn this, you will get rides in no time.  The potential for a great country for hitchhiking is definitely there. The people are very interested in foreigners, the roads are big national roadsand provide plenty of space to stand, where much traffic is. In more abandoned areas it might work bettervery slow, there are a lot of pick-up trucks which are perfect for hitchhikers (there is always some free space) and there are so many different old, funny and exciting vehicles on the road, but as you will see below that it could be great fun for a hitchhiker to get all these different lifts. It is not so very easy to get off attention as a foreigner and you will get a lot of reactions, most of the typical tourist tracks time very friendly ones. You might also get lifts with people that just come around and talk to you and decide to give you a ride after you told them where you are going. Hitch-hiking in Myanmarmight seem difficult at first. You will face some trouble that can make it seem completely impossible. There might Here is a list of things you should be several reasons prepared for hard hitchhikers life there:* The people don´t People won't understand what you are doing: If you doing there. You are white, you should be rich and for sure you have enough money for the bus or a taxi.* Some Holding up a hitchhiking sign (in Myanma script) helps tremendously with communicating what it is you're doing. Even without knowing the concept of hitchhiking, people understand you're asking to travel to the place on your sign.* This is usually not the case, but some people might be afraid about getting in trouble with the govermentgovernment, when they pick you up. I does not mean that the Burmese people are afraid of getting in contact with foreigners, but some will tell you this reason if you ask them about difficulties with hitchhiking.* Many pick-up trucks are considered to be short-distance buses. Of course they will be delighted to pick you up, but make sure about the payment first.* Cars with red number plates are taxies. Don't get on one by mistake, since many taxies are otherwise unmarked, and drivers are often very nice and may not even mention a price until the end of your trip.* The people are too friendly. Some of you might know this situations where you are somewhere in a fucked up place, nobody is stopping, which is bad and after a while people gather around you because they want to know where you are from and what are you doing. This is also the situation in Myanmar, but here you can add that despite all this things the people also try to help you, which makes the whole situation even worserworse, because they don´t don't understand hitchhiking. With 10 people around you it is hard to stop a car and there you might have the situation that a car finally stops, you jump on and just want to leave and the driver starts to talk to the people on the street about you. They just want to help, but in the end the driver is so confused, that he refuses you and you are again with your buddys buddies on the street. SoTo avoid this, if you go make sure to Myanmar and if you want travel from one town/city to hitchhike thereanother, learn some Burmese language, so that you can explain them what you are doing and things will be much easierbut always start hitch-hiking a little outside the cities.

Myanmar hitchhiking is like heaven and hell. Here comes the heaven. Between Mandalay and Yangon is a brand new expressway express-way since December 2010. They put much effort in this project. It was the third time after the fifties and the seventies, that they tried to build this road and finally it worked with Chinese support. Now they did it and it is one of the the greatest an easiest roads you can hitchhike. It is not really a challenge, good for beginners and a nice trip. Alot A lot of cars drive the whole route between the two bigest biggest cities, so you can jump on and off where ever you want. There is no confusion about what you do, because there are no taxis on this highway, only express busses buses in the night so the understand quickly, that you are looking for a ride in a car on the highway. Also the feeling is very special. It might be like Germany in the early fifties. You have a very new, big and fast road, but there are almost no cars on it. Maybe 10 cars per hour, which is not much for a toll road (the drivers pay about USD 7$ from Mandalay to Yangon). At the moment there are still people around the highway planting trees, or fixing some road borders and sometimes you might see some kids which are flying a kite in the middle of the road. Awesome. This would never be possible on the crammed european European highways.

=== Useful Vocabulary === MIN-ga-la-baa = HelloCHAY-zu-baa = Thank youMyoot = City/TownshipToe gate = Tollgate == General information ===

* There's an e-visa you can apply for online (January 2020). You'll get a maximum stay of 28 days and it costs US$50. [[user: MOAH | Mind of a Hitchhiker]] and partner got their e-visas within 2 working days. You'll need to print this out. * There are no ATM´s now ATMs in Myanmar. The money you All major cities have in your pocket is them and all you will ownaccept visa/MasterCard. You will Money is given is local currency not be able USD and you are charged anything from USD 2 to use credit cards, traveller checks, or other things that don´t look like Dollars, Kyat, or BhatUSD 15 for using the machine. The lonely planet will tell you about some Paying by card is possible in high end hotels that accept Visa, but this information (like 50with a 3% of this booksurcharge) is , but not valid anymore (September 2011)on the street so make sure that you have enough cash on you for daily spending. There are rumors about one travel agency in Yangon that might accept Vise cards, but Also make sure to spend/exchange all your Kyat before you leave Myanmar as it's not a currency that has nothing 's easy to meanexchange.

* In general you should know that alot a lot of informations information about travelling in Myanmar are is wrong, because things are changing so fast. This adresses addresses the USD 300$ you have to show at the airport (wrong!), the USD 10$ airport tax (included in AirAsia tickets since August 2011), the interview in the visa process (getting a visa in Bangkok is straightforward, fast and ver very easy) and many other informations information you will find. As a tourist they will not make your life difficult with absurd rules.

* You will have no roaming in "most of the parts" of the If you take much money with you, be relaxed. Myanmar is a pretty safe country and the first one that finds a place where roaming . Although every tourist is should leave carrying a note herelot of money around with them, only few people get ripped of. Maybe It might be because the people are so nice (see below "somewherepeople" in Myanmar ) or because you will not be able allowed to use a mobile, but that might be a secret place. So maybe ther is enter assumed dangerous areas (see below "no roamingtravel restrictions" in Myanmar. But foreigners have the chance to buy a local prepaid card for 1000$ (no joke!). So if you really need a mobile take enough money with you.

* If you take much money ith Generally the people won't cheat you, be relaxed. Myanmar Cheating is a very safe country. Allthoug every tourist new thing to them, but this is carrying alot of changing as well, especially when it comes to changing money around with themin the street. '''Never do it!''' Not even if it's Sunday, there the banks are no stories about people that have been ripped offclosed and you need money for the hostel. It might be Find another solution, because the people guys in the street are so nice (see below "people") or because only there to cheat you will not be allowed to enter assumed dangerous areas (see below "travel restrictions").They won't change your money!

* Cars and busses buses are very old (because of the embargo), stinky and slow. The traffic is not so much, but in the cities the air might be more polluted as in Bangkok during the rush hours. Sometimes you find yourself while hitchhiking beside the street surrounded by a black smoke cloud, or you sit in the back of a truck and it is a bit annoying to breath the delicious exhaust fumes that pass through you. You can wear a facemask in cities and in the back of pickup trucks to prevent yourself inhaling that stuff. It's totally normal to wear a facemask in public.

'''Update February 2013''': Still same price range of the 'licensed hotels', BUT! In rural areas the locals are usually so confused and surprised to see you that they obviously don't care about any license and check you into any guest-house for a local price (2000 kyats), although they will try to show you the fancier rooms first. They also get freaked out when you try to camp on the beach or outside of the village. Some places that are popular pilgrimage sites (Kyaiktiyo - the Golden Rock Pagoda) have '''free accommodation'''. Check out Sea Sar restaurant/hotel. They allow you to sleep on bamboo mats in the restaurant hall for free. Showers are available for 200 kyats across the road. Their food is lovely too. Myanmar is one of the cheapest countries in SEA. If you go for street food, you can get a full dinner (several dishes + soup) for less than 1 USD. The cheapest rooms in a guest house cost about 8 USD. Be careful with money exchange, don't make a deal with people that offer you exchange on the street. In Yangon the gem market is a good place with fair and stable exchange rates.  You will need Dollars for accommodation if you are staying in high end hotels; small local places will accept Just at the accomodations and rate of 1000 to 1USD (in 2015). Kyat is the currency for the street. So take with you both currencies and don´t don't exchange everything (otherwhise otherwise you will become a real money trader, without making profit, but loosing alota lot). Also most of the people will not accept your dollars, if there is something written on, if they have a wrinkle, or let´s let's say if they don´t don't look brand new (i didn´t got I didn't get this). If you pay with Kyat in the guesthouse it will become very expensive. Also the local price prices for accomodation is accommodation are about USD 3$ (2000 Kyat), but foreigners are only allowed to stay in guesthouses guest-houses that have a permission and those are often much more exensiveexpensive.

In Myanmar are alot a lot of black zones where nobody (even the locals) is allowed to go, then there are some areas where you need a special permission, and the rest of the country. It is not possible to enter these areas by accident. There are control points, often at bridges and if you don´t don't have a permission, they will send you back. The center centre of the country is free to move around. At the border states are alot a lot of conflicts (north, southeast south-east and west are rebels, there is some oil and gem production and in the east [Shan state] they also grow alot a lot of heroin for export to India).  It is very obvious that the government is keeping track about your travels. Every guest-house has to report which guests they had and even if you stay in a small village you need to register with the local police guy. It is almost impossible to stay with locals, because they need a permit. A few years ago it might have been allowed to stay one night in a monastery, but also that is not possible any more since the protests in Yangon in 2008. Some locals say that there are many new (unclear) rules and nobody wants to get in trouble. Be careful that you don't push people to help you and put them in danger. Also don't be surprised if you stay during the day with some monks somewhere and the local police officer is coming around to ask some question. As the locals told me, it is just their job nothing important, they have to report what are you doing, but in general there will be no problem, if you don't stay overnight.

EDIT 2019: It is very obvious that the goverment is keeping track about your travels. Every guesthouse has seems to report which guests they had and even if you stay in a small village you need to register with the local police guy. It is almost impossible be really difficult to stay with localsovernight. Even though most of them are super friendly, because they need the restrictions from the government still seem to be a permissionbig thing. A few years ago it might have been allowed to stay one night Also keep in mind that in a monastery, the worst case not only could you end up being questioned by the police or local authorities but also that is not possible anymore since you might put the protests in Yangon in 2008. Some locals say that there are many new (unclear) rules and nobody wants to get in troubledanger. Be aware that you don´t push people to help you and make them coming in dangerSame holds for temples. Also don´t be suprised That being said, if you stay during the day with some monks somewhere and the local police officer is coming around can make sure to ask some question. As the locals told me, it is just their job nothing important, they have to report about what are you doing, but in general there will not be no problemcaught, if you don´t stay over night.'ll have a great time!

I don´t don't want to write much about this point, because you can find alot a lot of informations information about this but i I think it is almost impossible to get a an objective overview about what is going on politically in this country. Also i don´t I don't think it is worth to focus focussing too much on political issues, because they are not so as important like as people (mostly from outside) make them.

The politics in Myanmar is are changing like the exchange rate. Since the old general is retired (April 2011) the whole situation became a bit more "relaxed" (like the Burmese would say). Aung San Suu Kyi (she won the elections 1990 and called the touristic tourist boycott) is released and in dialouge dialogue with the new government. Some say this is just propaganda. We don´t don't know. You will not come in contact with the government, only if some policemen want to shake your hand and say hello. Most of the locals are willed willing to share their thoughts about the political situation but often there is a language barrier so they just can express that they think their government is bad.

Visit Myanmar, go there, and don´t don't do it not because of the political situation, bu but rather do it because of the people! They are very welcome to every foreigner and they are very happy to get opprtunities opportunities to practise englishEnglish. At the moment there is a big lack of english English teachers and everyone wants to learn english English and practise. Also be aware that he the people are honestly interested in you. It is completely different to India, Thailand, or Cambodia. If they start talking to you it happens rarely that they also want to sell you something. In Myanmar some kind of giving culture. For example: If you ask for a card they might take you around and search the right shop and in at the moment when they order the card (and usually you will think now he wants some money for his service) the they will not allow you to pay, but give the card to you as a present. Also when you are hitchhiking and you explain to them that you don´t don't have money, there will be alot a lot of people that offer you to pay for the bus for you. It is much easier to come get around with payed paid buses than with cars that stop, haha. In general this is very nice, but also be aware. They give what they have even if they have nothing. Be prepared to make people understand not to pay for your transport and carry some small and usefull useful things with you to make presents to nice people also. Sharing is caring!

For all that are interested in meditation, Myanmar has alot a lot of meditation centres and alot a lot of high teachings of meditation technicstechniques. If you want to stay for a longer time you need a meditation visa. If you don´t don't have this kind of visa, it might be hard to find centres where you can stay. Dhamma Joti (Vipassana meditation teached taught by Goenka) in Yangon can take foreigners for 10 day retreats (with english English lectures) without meditation visa, also in Sagaing you might find a place where you can practise. in Pa-Auk forest and in another city in the north are centres where you can learn Pa Auk technistechniques, which is (like the Burmese say) the highest teaching in their country. Don´t Don't go to places where you have to pay a shitload of money, those are not real. If you go deeper in this business you will find out how incredible incredibly rich this country is.