Burma Myanmar Tourism Information

Arriving in Mandalay

I arrived back in MDL yesterday after a 5-week-trip to Germany. No problems when I left Berlin and entered Thailand. But MAI (Myanmar Airways Int'l) asked for proof of vaccinations and an insurance certificate during check-in for Mandalay at Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok, yesterday. My insurance certificate was on my smartphone and not accepted that way. I had to have it printed out at the airport police station (10 baht). Nice helpful people. When entering Mandalay, insurance and vaccination certificates were checked immediately after arrival. After immigration straight to the testing station. Nurses in hazmat suits. A stick was rammed into my nose. Ouch! An unpleasant waiting time followed: Maybe I'm positive and I have to go into quarantine...? But I wasn’t worried. After all, I was 'insured' - with a Burmese insurance company. Only $50 to $75 for 14 days ... Names were called out over loudspeakers. I wasn't able to identify mine until the third call... Atmosphere like in a 1984 movie... I was glad when I got my passport and was given permission to leave …
Regarding visa: I applied for social visa at the Burmese embassy in Berlin. They told me that at the time being they don't issue tourist visa. You can do that online. Proof? I've met two Hungarian travellers at Mandalay airport and they told me that they've got their tourist visa online ...

Burma Myanmar Tourism Information updated their information in their About section.

Hi friends, today I'd like to open a discussion about the classroom language i. e. the language of instruction in Myanmar's schools. Occasionally I'm getting caught in a debate with foreigners who claim that it is discriminatory to use only the Burmese language in schools. They hold the opinion that the minorities should be taught in their native language. At least in primary school. What do you think? Some facts HERE: https://oldburmahand.com/myanmars-language-problem/

Myanmar's 'language problem' Myanmar’s ‘language problem’ Linguistic atlas of Myanmar Myanmar is a multi-ethnic country, home to more than 100 ethnic groups who speak over 80 different languages. The two most important language families are Tibeto-Burman (e.g. the national language Burmese as well as the Karen languages ....

Good news from Thailand! Now we only have to wait for Myanmar to follow suit!

Seitdem ich 1977 das erste Mal nach Myanmar (damals noch Burma genannt) kam, hatte ich von diesem Trip geträumt. Wie oft stand ich in Taunggyi oder Kyaing Tong und malte mir aus, wie es wohl sein würde, wenn man diese Tour „overland“ machen könnte. Und was hatte ich nicht alles gehört über den Straßenzustand und die Dauer der Reise. Eine Schmugglerin in Mae Sai erzählte mir einmal, dass ein LKW von dort nach Taunggyi vierzehn Tage braucht. Wie gern wäre ich mitgefahren! Etliche Jahrzehnte war es schlicht unmöglich, denn die Straße (NH 27) führt durch ein Gebiet, das lange von Insurgenten und Stammesarmeen kontrolliert wurde. Auch heute kommt es noch zu Zusammenstößen zwischen der Armee und Rebellengruppen. Jedoch: Kein Grund zur Sorge! Sobald es Probleme gibt, wird die Straße gesperrt. Und jetzt, 42 Jahre später, wurde mein Traum wahr! Mehr hier: https://oldburmahand.com/von-taunggyi-nach-kyaing-tong/

Von Taunggyi nach Kyaing Tong Von Taungyi nach Kyaing Tong – überland! Seitdem ich 1977 das erste Mal nach Myanmar (damals noch Burma genannt) kam, hatte ich von diesem Trip geträumt. Wie oft stand ich in Taunggyi oder Kyaing Tong und malte mir aus, wie es wohl sein würde, wenn man diese Tour „overland“ machen könnte. ...

Hi folks,
Since the expressway from Yangon to Mandalay was opened in 2005 there have been terrible accidents, mostly caused by speeding or overtired drivers. As can be seen in the photo that I took some time ago in the parking lot of a restaurant on the expressway.
Very few people, however, know the true reason for this dramatic increase. HERE'S WHY: https://oldburmahand.com/the-lord-of-the-highway/

Hi folks, ever wondered about the ominous number 9 and its connotations? Here's more: https://oldburmahand.com/the-ominous-number-9/

The ominous number 9 The ominous number 9 Swe Taw Myat pagoda Mayangone: pls. note the entrances! This number is of great importance in numerology worldwide and Burma is no exception from this rule. In the following, I’ll confine myself to NINE (what else?) examples. The other day I was having lunch with my wife and n...

Hi folks, unfortunately the train between Mandalay and Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) is out of service at the time being. But I still have vivid memories of my first trip on that train: https://oldburmahand.com/en/the-local-to-maymyo/

Enjoy reading, Axel

The Local to Maymyo The Local to Maymyo Burmese folk medicine – satsifaction guaranteed! It was – if I remember correctly – in the late 1970s. I was in Mandalay and had seen it all: I had ‘conquered’ Mandalay Hill for the umpteenth time, paid a visit to Kywe Zun, where the water buffaloes pulled heavy teak lo...

Hi folks, here's some good news from Burma for a change: I just learned from the station manager in Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) that the train is running between our station and Gokteik station twice a week on Sundays and Mondays. Unfortunately, it doesn't cross the railway viaduct. However, it is possible to rent a rail car that takes you across and back. Minimum 20 passengers, 2000 Kyat each, as I've been told. Of course it can be chartered, too. While you're waiting for the train you can take a look at some fantastic contraptions like a huge stage completely made of sand sheets and rails just outside the station or a gong made of a piece of rail. You can even charge your mobile phone FOC. Or stay at the cozy Foreigner Rest Room. Have a nice ride!

Dear All, the military government appointed U Htay Aung minister of tourism. He replaces Maung Maung Ohn who had no support in our industry. U Htay Aung served in this position under the Thein Sein government from 2012-2016. More HERE: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2021/08/military-calls-up-retired-minister/

Military calls up retired minister | TTR Weekly DESTINATIONSMYANMAR Military calls up retired minister By Don Ross - August 9, 2021 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter YANGON, 9 August 2021: Myanmar’s military junta named U Htay Aung as the new minister of hotels and tourism at the weekend, recalling him from retirement. The announcement was mad...