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Myanmar

470 bytes removed, 14:04, 6 March 2013
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=== Hitchhiking in general ===
Hitchhiking Hitch-hiking in Myanmar is definitely not as easy as in Europethat difficult, but for sure people will make different experiences in this countryif you know how to do it. In general hitchhiking is not a very common thing in MyanmarFirst of all, forget about the european way raising your thumb. Especially when you are As in the citiesalmost all non-Western countries, or on the high traffic national roads, most of the people just don´t understand what you want. Sometimes they also raise their raising your thumb, will not be understood as if they would like anything but an odd gesture. Try other ways using body language for instance by waving at the drivers and signalizing them to say: "Ah thank youstop, i also think my car is very nice!". It is very easy to get attention as a foreigner or by waiving and pointing the direction you will get alot reactions, most of the time very friendly ones. But they don´t stop're going. You might get more lifts need to communicate with people that just come around and talk to the driver the few seconds you and decide to give have while he sees you a ride after . Once you told them where you golearn this, than by people that stop because you raised your thumbwill get rides in no time.
The potential for a great country for hitchiking is definitely there. The people are very interested in foreigners, the roads are big and give much of space to stand, traffic is very slow, there are alot of pick-up cars 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, that it could be a great fun for a hitchiker to get all this different lifts. It is very easy to get attention as a foreigner and you will get alot reactions, most of the 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 go..
The reality is, that it is hard work to lift Hitch-hiking in Myanmar, might seem difficult at least in the cities and on the big national roads, where much traffic isfirst. In more abandoned areas it might work better, but as you You will see below face some trouble that can make it seem completely impossible. Here is not so easy to get off the typical tourist tracks in Myanmar. There might a list of things you should be several reasons prepared for hard hitchhikers life there:* The people don´t understand what are you doing there. You are white, you should be rich and for sure you have enough money for the bus or a taxi.* Some This is usually not the case, but some people might be afraid about getting in trouble with the goverment, 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.* 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 worser, because they 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 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.
=== Brand New Myanmar Express Highway ===
* In general you should know that alot of informations about travelling in Myanmar are wrong, because things are changing so fast. This adresses the 300$ you have to show at the airport (wrong!), the 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 easy) and many other informations 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 country and the first one that finds a place where roaming is should leave a note here. Maybe "somewhere" in Myanmar If you take much money ith you will be able to use a mobile, but that might be a secret placerelaxed. So maybe ther Myanmar is "no roaming" in Myanmar. But foreigners have the chance to buy a local prepaid card for 1000$ (no joke!)pretty safe country. So if you really need a mobile take enough Allthoug every tourist is carrying alot of money around with you. UPD! The sim card costs $28 for 28 days. Otherwisethem, you can ask a Burmese person to only few people get ripped of. It might be because the people are so nice (see below "people") or because you a sim card under their name, it costs around $100 and will not be valid longer than 28 daysallowed to enter assumed dangerous areas (see below "travel restrictions").
* 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 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.

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