Safety Tips in Burma

Do NOT drink tap or local water. Use only bottled water you have bought.

This includes ice in drinks, cleaning your teeth, salads (not that you find many of them in this country, except perhaps in top class hotels which would be ok.)

Remember also that food served on plates at roadside food stalls have probably been served on plates that have been rinsed in cold water that has been in a bucket all day. The problem is not with hot food, it's with the washing up facilities.

This is a general warning that extends all over south east asia/

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SNAKES
When travelling in the countryside in Myanmar BEWARE of snakes..Myanmar has a large range of different snakes and many are venomous that pocess neurotoxic venoms that are deadly. Many people die of snake bite each year in Myanmar usually because of the lack of fast medical and hospital attention.. The hospitals in Myanmar are not likely to have any anti-venene so if you are bitten it can have a serious outcome.
Myanmar has the largest snake in the world and is commonly known as the Burmese Python this snake can grow up to 5 meters in length and is extremely dangerous . The main snakes to worry about are the snakes that you would come in contact with while out walking. There are some common sense things to remember..
WATCH WHERE YOU ARE WALKING
ALWAYS WEAR A GOOD PAIR OF HIKING / WALKING BOOTS/ SHOES.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
STAY CLEAR OF ANY SNAKES THAT YOU MAY COME ACROSS.
DON'T BE INQISITIVE..WITH ANY SNAKES.
ALWAYS CARRY A SMALL TORCH AS MANY SNAKES ARE IN DARK AND COOL AREAS OUT OF THE EXTREME SUNSHINE. IE: TEMPLES AND THE LIKE...EXTREME CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THESE PLACES.
CONSIDER ALL SNAKES VENOMOUS.

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When travelling to/ through Myanmar make sure that your finances are covered...The only currency that is accepted for Entry and Departure taxes is US Dollars...These US dollar bills must be in pristine condition...crisp and new otherwise they will not be accepted by government authorities entering and departing ALL the different regions you will visit in your stay as there is an entry AND departure tax....Make sure that you have some bills in small denominations ie:$5's $10's and $20's. When paying taxes always try and have the correct amount in US $'s thus avoiding change in Burmese "Kyiat" at a really lousy exchange rate.This will also ensure that you will not be left with a lot of worthless Burmese "KYAT " currency when you leave.
There are no ATM machines. The bank will give you a really low rate and travellers cheques are not accepted anywhere. Best exchange rates on your money can be negotiated at your hotel. DONOT exchange money in the street it is illegal.

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S.E.ASIA.
I love to travel through S.E.Asia and also know what the medical system is like..Make sure that you are ALWAYS carrying travel insurance..it is a must! When I prepare to travel I always carry with me a Travel Insurance contract that will cover me for all the countries that I will be travelling in and also I take out a special" repatriation clause that will get me back home in case of dire emergency. Travelling is great fun but accidents unfortunately happen anywhere and anytime.Hospital stays can be horrendously expensive also some times hard to find. You know mother nature can play a hand as well I was once caught in an earthquake in Peru with no notice at all. A lot of travellers indulge in wonderful and sometimes very dangerous activities without giving it a second thought. but as they say:
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

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While travelling through Burma and ALL of South East Asia I always carried a poncho with me as it can rain at any time and when it does it is extremely heavy. The weather can change in a minute and to be in an exposed areas such as out on Lake Inle as happens I was glad that I was carrying it. My poncho also covers my backpack as well. The poncho is light , small and when rolled up fits into my pocket no problem..

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MYANMAR (BURMA)
When travelling out and about in Myanmar ALWAYS make sure that due to the excessive heat you will need to carry plenty of fresh water. This in a lot of areas this is not easy to find. So, before you set out for the day have more than sufficient bottled fresh water for your daily needs . I found the heat in Burma to be the most extreme that I have have ever endured travelling anywhere. The best and cheapest option is to always buy large bottles at the supermarket and keep them in the hostel/hotel refrigerator.This way I always new that they were not "refills" with ordinary water...ALWAYS check the caps to make sure that the seal has not been broken .I once got caught this way and suffered for a few days with extremely bad stomach problems...

There is no public access available to the internet. "Illegal use of a modem" is punishable by 15 years in prison. The SLORC is very serious about not letting any information in or out. In 1996 Leo Nichols was arrested for "Illegal use of a fax machine." He died in prison shortly after being arrested. Only a couple servers that we know of are inside the country, but they are privately owned, or within the US consulate.

Don't Do as I did here and photograph Government buildings. After taking this photo here of the Kawthoung Burmese Immigration Office, on the northern Coast of Snake Island, I was told by my guides to Put my camera in my bag. I could be arrested. Or at least my Camera could be confiscated.

The guides were quite serious, and told me later that the Army, which rules the country with an Iron fist, do not tolerate such liberties.