No more tourist boycott
by TheSentinel
The tourist boycott is no longer an issue as no-one within the country is calling for it to be enforced. Also tourism is a very minor source of income for the country, so it would have no effect. The Myanmar economy is based on trade with India, Japan and China, so only if these countries chose to cease trading would an economic boycott have some influence. Additionally, most of the population is now resigned to the current regime and there is no longer a big appetite for change, outside a shrinking number of activists. It is said that at the crucial time a few years back there was a general lack of courage in the population to make that final sacrifice and push for change, which occurred in so many other countries.
stroll along the streets of...
by Krystynn
stroll along the streets of Yangon (formerly known as 'Rangoon') and just observe the hustle and bustle of a typical day in the life of a Burmese here.
Do be careful when you are out walking the streets at night though. At times, there may be a curfew imposed by the military government. When I was there during the month of May (oh, and NEVER go in May either... The weather's BOILING HOT!! Ouch!!), everyone is expected to be indoors by 10 p.m. So, if you want to be safe and avoid bumping into one of those military guards, please be careful and take the usual necessary precautions. Fondest memory? I guess the thing that really intrigued me most were the people (both men and women) dressing in 'longyis' (like a sarong). I reckoned at least 99.9% of the population here are dressed in this way, including the professionals (doctors, lawyers et al). I also managed to bump into lots of monks here. In the mornings, long lines of monks can be seen in the towns and villages making their alms rounds, receiving whatever food offered by the people.
Yes, Myanmar is a land of predominantly Buddhist people. Buddhism has been thriving in Myanmar since the 11th century, or pehaps even earlier. No wonder Myanmar is sometimes referred to as the Land of Pagodas!
See Shwedagon Paya from far away
by herzog63
When you are in Yangon and of course not in the middle of a street but up high you can see the Golden Zedi of Shwedagon Paya from just about anywhere. It is the tallest building around and the area is very flat.
Welcome to my Teahouse
by Hewer
Whenever you order tea at a teahouse in Yangon, the staff will automatically bring bean curd cakes and a few cigarettes to accompany your order. Of course you don't have to smoke and eat all of this - you are charged on consumption.
The hot tea served in the teahouses is made using condensed milk. You get drink a free thermos of green tea after your cup also. It's a great atmosphere sitting there at night and enjoying a bit of chit chat.
For a cup of tea, two or three cups of green tea, a cake and (dare I say) a couple if cigarettes, expect to pay about 200 kyat (23 cents).
Star Cola
by herzog63
Star Cola is the more affordable alternative to you Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola drinkers. Star Cola is less than US$.25 cents where the real coca cola was quite expensive comparitivly speaking. I think the Coca Cola was brought in from Thailand. My son liked it and he also liked the local brand of Quench and others. I'm not a soda drinker so I didn't try them.
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Relative size of pouch, Kyat and US Dollar
COMPACT PONCHO
DOWN TOWN BOTATAUNG PAYA
CLOSE TO CITY SIGHTS..
