Myanmar. I'm a budget traveller and would love to hear of any good things to do off the beaten track.?

Question

Wow, some strong feelings. I disagree however. Rather than turning my head and convincing myself the problem doesnt exist, i want to witness the problem first hand and let the natives know that there are many people in the World who do understand their situation. I may even do some voluntary work. Yes it is possible.

Answer 1

all the guys who have answered about myanmar is absolutely wrong what a wonderful country to visit tourist get the best respect best secured country in the world for tourists ,yangon lot of stuffs to see shewdagon pagoda,yangon city is gorgeous,mandalay,bagan,bago,inle lake ,chatiyo pagoda ,tanugyi these towns are to be seen . best time to go is october,nov,dec,jan,feb from march its hot . its actually a budget country one of the cheapest countries in the world for budget travellers during the month of dec lot of europeans come all around the world. and another important fact i tell you all flights which depart from singapore goes full to yangon hardly to get a seat to this destination. i had been to all parts of myanmar its good place you will feel still there are lot of good people in the world

ps : in myanmar other country mobile dont work ,yahoo service is banned internet is very much restricted .

Answer 2

You need to stop and ask yourself 'why'? and 'do I have the right?' Why would you wish to travel to a country where the democratically elected leader has specifically asked tourists not to visit? For a good story back home? because few other westerners have been there? For the novelty of the 'tribal people?
And do you have the right? Do you have the right to invade people's culture? to export your western ways to people who are most vulnerable and pressured to enter the western cash economy? To travel where ever you wish, irrespective of the impact on the local people? and, as a budget backpacker, to do all this whilst contributing very little, in terms of money, to the local economy whilst having a very real 'cultural pollution' effect because of your desire to travel off the beaten track. In response to your question of good things to do off the beaten track, go to Scotland, go to Spain there's plenty to see and do off the beaten track and nobody will suffer as a result.

OK, fair play! you have the right to go there, and I'm sure you will find the people very friendly and the country very beautiful. Just think about what I said. Stay away from the very remote, tribal regions! My step-mother is from a region bordering India and Burma and belongs to the local ethnic group. it's not safe to travel in these regions because of guerilla activites and the heroine trade!! My friend lived in Rangoon (now Yangon) for several years and he said it is very beautiful but restrictive!! If you want to find out about voluntary work there, you could try googling green volunteers or go to environmentjobs.co.uk they have a voluntary section. peace! pugs.

Answer 3

You will not be allowed to go off the beaten track. The Burmese authorities are very strict about who does what in their country, including tourists.

Do NOT go there. You will be helping to prop up a regime that has China as its only ally. Doesn't that tell you something?

You will be funding human rights abuses and keeping them in power.

So, jaikumaar6, why do you think Yahoo's banned? Wake up! Your tourist Pounds/Euros/Dollars would perpetuate this fascism.

Answer 4

Lack of personal freedoms and appalling human rights abuses make Burma an inappropriate destination for tourists.

Further to your follow up comments I would respectfully ask you to stay away. If you look closely at what is happening in the country then you would see that it would be deeply offensive to visit as a tourist at the present time. Start by looking at what Amnesty International has said and follow their advice. Stay away. Here is the link to the Amnesty site:

http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/mmr-summary-eng


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