South East Asian Trips

Weights and Measures

Imperial with some local variations but for the most part, the country follows the old imperial measures.

Electricity

230 volts, 50 Hz is the standard power supply. An electric converter/adaptor is necessary for appliances not compatible with the local power supply,

Customs and Duties

Myanmar's authorities do not allow you to bring arms and ammunition, narcotics and pornographic material into the country. Also, any material which can be even remotely construed as 'subversive' shouldn't be brought within sight of the country- you could get into serious trouble if you're caught with anything which criticises the military regime or its actions. Remember that Myanmar's authorities are very strict about customs regulations, and if you're trying to import (or export) anything out of the ordinary, you should check beforehand with the closest Myanmar embassy or the MMC,

Embassies and Consulates

Myanmar has diplomatic relations with most of the major countries of the world, but not all. If you're going to be visiting Myanmar, it's wisest to check beforehand whether your country has a diplomatic mission in Myanmar or not; if it doesn't, then you should find out which embassy you could approach in case you need help of any kind. For the addresses and telephone numbers of the diplomatic missions in Myanmar (which are all in Yangon), you could check in the local telephone directory, or call Telephone Enquiry.

Post and Communications

Myanmar's postal system is effective enough, but count on letters to take at least a week if they're headed overseas. Most small post offices offer only basic postal facilities, and that can often exclude international mail. If you want to send any mail abroad, your best bet is Yangon's Central Post Office.

Telephones are available throughout the country (although local services are often not too good- surprisingly enough, international dialling services are pretty good). Hotels, post offices (and other government offices) and some shops will usually offer telephone facilities, and some of the larger ones will also have fax, telex and Internet services,

Tipping

At least in the larger cities and towns, most restaurants levy a service charge, so you don't need to leave a tip. However, where there is no service charge added to the bill, the staff does expect some sort of tips, especially if the service has been good,

Recommended Reading

Burma (F S V Donnison)
Burmese Days (George Orwell)
Outrage: Burma's Struggle for Democracy (Bertil Lintner)
Freedom from Fear and Other Writings
Video Night in Kathmandu (Pico Iyer- one chapter in the book is about Myanmar)
Golden Earth (Norman Lewis)
The Great Railway Bazaar (Paul Theroux)