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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.

   == Hitchhiking in general ==(Hitchhiking in Myanmar might be technically illegal for foreigners, someone please confirm or debunk this.)Hitch-hiking in Myanmar is not that difficult, if you know how to do it. First of all, forget about the European way raising your thumb. As in almost 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 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 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 hitchiking hitchhiking is definitely there. The people are very interested in foreigners, the roads are big and give much provide plenty of space to stand, traffic is very slow, there are alot a lot of pick-up cars 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, that it could be a great fun for a hitchiker hitchhiker to get all this these different lifts. It is very easy to get attention as a foreigner and you will get alot a lot of 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.are going.

* People won't understand what you are doing: You If you are white, you should be rich and for sure you have enough money for the bus or a taxi.* 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 bussesbuses. 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. To avoid this, make sure to travel from one town/city to another, but 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.

* If you take much money ith with you, be relaxed. Myanmar is a pretty safe country. Allthoug Although every tourist is carrying alot a lot of money around with them, only few people get ripped of. It might be because the people are so nice (see below "people") or because you will not be allowed to enter assumed dangerous areas (see below "travel restrictions").

* Generally the people won't cheat you. Cheating is a new thing to them, but this is changing as well, especially when it comes to changing money in the street. NEVER DO IT'''Never do it! ''' Not even if it's sundaySunday, the banks are closed and you need money for the hostel. Find another solution, because the guys in the street are only there to cheat you. 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.

'''UPD 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 guesthouse 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.

Myanmar is maybe You will need Dollars for accommodation if you are staying in high end hotels; small local places will accept Just at the rate of 1000 to 1USD (beside Singaporein 2015) one of the most expensive countries in South East Asia. 10$ Budget a day Kyat is very tight (guesthouses usually take 6-8$ per night the currency for the cheapest rooms), street. So take with 15$ you can go around easily both currencies and with 20$ don't exchange everything (otherwise you don´t need to worry about will become a real moneytrader, without making profit, but loosing a lot). All Also most of the prices you people will find in the internetnot accept your dollars if there is something written on, if they have a wrinkle, or in the guidebooks are not valid anymore. Everything is much more expensive let's say if they don't look brand new (40% more for food, +2-4$ for accomodation in September 2011I didn't get this). Also the exchange rate is changing enormously. In 2010 you could get local prices for 1$ around 1000 accommodation are about USD 3 (2000 Kyat. In August), but foreigners are only allowed to stay in guest-September 2011 it was between 650-750 Kyat for 1$. The rate is changing constantly and can vary in from 50 to 100 Kyat within 24 hours. Be careful with money exchange, don´t make a adeal with people houses that offer you exchange on the street. In Yangon the gem market is a good place with fair have permission and stabile exchange ratesthose are often much more expensive.

You will need Dollars for === Travel restrictions ===In Myanmar are a lot of black zones where nobody (even the accomodations and Kyat for the street. So take with locals) is allowed to go, then there are some areas where you both currencies and don´t exchange everything (otherwhise you will become need a real money traderspecial permission, without making profit, but loosing alot). Also most and the rest of the people will country. It is not accept your dollarspossible to enter these areas by accident. There are control points, often at bridges and if there is something written on, if they you don't have a wrinklepermission, or let´s say if they don´t look brand new (i didn´t got this)will send you back. If you pay with Kyat in The centre of the guesthouse it will become very expensivecountry is free to move around. Also At the local price for accomodation is about 3$ border states are a lot of conflicts (2000 Kyat)north, but foreigners south-east and west are only allowed to stay rebels, there is some oil and gem production and in guesthouses that have the east [Shan state] they also grow a permission and those are often much more exensivelot of heroin for export to India).

=== Travel restrictions ===In Myanmar are alot of black zones where nobody (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 locals) local police guy. It is allowed almost impossible to gostay with locals, then there are some areas where you because they need a special permissionpermit. A few years ago it might have been allowed to stay one night in a monastery, and the rest of the country. It but also that is not possible to enter these areas by accidentany more since the protests in Yangon in 2008. There Some locals say that there are control points, often at bridges many new (unclear) rules and if nobody wants to get in trouble. Be careful that you don´t have a permission, they will send don't push people to help you backand put them in danger. The center of Also don't be surprised if you stay during the day with some monks somewhere and the country local police officer is free coming around to move aroundask some question. At As the border states are alot of conflicts (northlocals told me, it is just their job nothing important, southeast and west they have to report what are rebelsyou doing, but in general there is some oil and gem production and in the east [Shan state] they also grow alot of heroin for export to India)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.