About
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People
The population is very hospitable, curious and helpful. Contact runs very smoothly, because they find cyclists very interesting, although people do keep their distance due to the political situation.
Appropriate clothing is generally required in temples (shoulders and knees covered). Also in the countryside do not dress too naked. Jolanda: "I was wearing cycling shorts on the bike, which was no problem because I was practicing a sport. As soon as I got off I put on a wrap skirt." Carl: "According to a Burmese I asked about it, it was not necessary to wear anything over my cycling shorts during breaks in tea houses, etc. For visits to temples and monasteries (overnight stays) a longyi is useful."
You can get by reasonably well with English. The older people speak English and the very young children also know some English words. Carl: "My experience (2014) was different: outside the areas where many foreigners come, I spoke on average 1 person per day who spoke more than a single word of English. Also hotel staff who were able to communicate prices and checkout times reasonably in English, often didn't understand questions on a different level. 'Water' is very generally understood."
People generally have a very accurate idea of distances and directions and give correct answers when you ask them the way or how far it is to the next place.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Visa
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Sleeping
Staying with locals
Spending the night at private homes has not been a problem. Carl: "The Burmese themselves are not all aware of this yet! Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days; if a stranded foreigner is on the doorstep, someone from the Immigration Office, called the police or the army who speak a little English and will take you somewhere. That went very friendly with me and without any threat."
(Formal) camping
If you are stranded somewhere where there is no hotel or guesthouse nearby, ask if you can spend the night in a monastery (kyaung) or pagoda (hpaya). Sanitary facilities usually consist of a mandi basin and a simple squat toilet. In monasteries you can get a bed in a room, in pagodas it is useful if you have camping gear with you.
Ho(s)tels
There are plenty of accommodation options, often of surprisingly good quality. In tourist resorts the price level is relatively high. The regime sometimes makes things difficult, so that a manager must first request permission from the local authorities to be able to accommodate a Western tourist. Some hotels are not authorized to accommodate non-Myanmarese.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Safety
The security is great. Perhaps the safest country in Asia. Sometimes I left a tip on the table, they came running after me, shouting "You're forgetting something".
Traffic
There is little traffic except in the big cities and the traffic that there is is friendly. But that friendliness doesn't always result in safe driving: by default, they cut corners, or just pass you when they overtake you. With Thailand as a reference, cycling is more dangerous here. And that will increase as car ownership grows rapidly in size.
Nature and animals
It seems that most deaths worldwide from snakebites are in Myanmar. If you stay on the road, you will only see dead snakes, but be very careful when you go into the berm for a sanitary stop or something. and wild camping. Scorpions also occur.
There are many stray dogs, but they usually don't give you a glance. The rare time they come at you barking, you can keep them off by keeping your legs still and yelling loud and angry at them.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Transport
Train
You can take your bike with you in the luggage compartment for little money.
Bus
Bikes are strapped into the walkway or placed in the back seat. Sometimes they tie him with a string on the roof (without stretch) but luckily it went well. In the coaches of companies such as Asian Express that operate trips such as Naypyidaw-Pyay and Pyay-Yangon, a bicycle can be taken in the luggage compartment at the bottom. A protective cover or plastic bag around the saddle can be useful to prevent damage.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Food and drink
There is plenty of food and drink available in almost all places. Quality and price of the food are fine. Vegetarians are well catered for in Burma. Vegetarian curry is recommended. The Burmese word for vegetarian would be 'thatelo', but that is not always understood.
Stalls on the street
You will see many Indian and Chinese eateries. Along the way you will regularly come across stalls where you can snack or eat something.
Restaurants
In the cities you have restaurants everywhere, from very simple to more expensive. You can often get something to eat in villages along the way.
Drinkable water
You can buy drinking water everywhere.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Vaccinations & health
Useful vaccinations for cyclists
Hepatitis A and DTP are recommended, typhoid fever for a stay longer than two weeks and rabies specifically for cyclists.
Useful things in the travel pharmacy
Malaria prophylaxis: with the exception of Mandalay and Yangon, the whole of Myanmar is a malaria area. In addition to malaria mosquitoes, an insect repellent also serves against dengue mosquitoes.
Availability hospitals / doctors
Very limited and quality is low.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Other
Best time to cycle
For most areas, the best time is from November to March. In the north it can get quite cold in the evenings. April is not recommended as it gets very hot then. The rainy season is from July to September.
**Spare parts
**
Spare parts are hardly available. Tires are only available in major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay. There are many bicycle repair shops along the road, because the population cycles a lot, but they have the sturdy Chinese steeds, without gears. The repair options for western bicycles are limited.
Last updated 2 Jun 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit