Myanmar trip


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DJ9900

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Oct 5, 2004
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Yew Tee
Planning to go for a Myanmar trip early next year. Please assist to feedback on the following queries: -
(a) Has anyone gone on customized trip for small group mainly for photography? Any travel agency to recommend?
(b) What is the best time to go in term for photography purposes?
(c) So far has anybody stop by Myanmar's official for bringing DSLR camera and equipment?

Many thanks in advance
 

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Went there 2 yrs back for voluntary work, just a gentle reminder that you need a visa
 

Thanks for the reminder
 

Hi,

I am from Myanmar. Which part of Myanmar are you going? Normally, people will go to Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan(ancient city), Innlay(a lake) and some other resorts (in the south and west).
a) for foreigners, I don't know which agency to recommend. I have asked a friend of mine who knows about it and will let you know again.
b) nov, dec and Jan should be winter there. So, it should be a good time. However, temperature and weather can be slightly different from place to place. Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan will be very hot in summer and at that time, Innlay and May Myo (also a city of Mandalay State) has very nice weather. Anyway, Dec and Jan would be the best to travel. Normally, at that time, locals also travel round the country and so you can see more activities and cultures.
c) I don't think the government officials will stop you unless you go into certain area (like naypyidaw, so-called their new government town) and take pictures. The best is to get a guide or a local who knows well about the country. It is also advisable to check the political activities before you go in. The officials may make a fuss or be stricter (like now, they are having international pressure for putting the opposition leader on trial).

Wish you an interesting and enjoyable trip.

Best regards,

Albert
 

Hi,

I am from Myanmar. Which part of Myanmar are you going? Normally, people will go to Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan(ancient city), Innlay(a lake) and some other resorts (in the south and west).
a) for foreigners, I don't know which agency to recommend. I have asked a friend of mine who knows about it and will let you know again.
b) nov, dec and Jan should be winter there. So, it should be a good time. However, temperature and weather can be slightly different from place to place. Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan will be very hot in summer and at that time, Innlay and May Myo (also a city of Mandalay State) has very nice weather. Anyway, Dec and Jan would be the best to travel. Normally, at that time, locals also travel round the country and so you can see more activities and cultures.
c) I don't think the government officials will stop you unless you go into certain area (like naypyidaw, so-called their new government town) and take pictures. The best is to get a guide or a local who knows well about the country. It is also advisable to check the political activities before you go in. The officials may make a fuss or be stricter (like now, they are having international pressure for putting the opposition leader on trial).

Wish you an interesting and enjoyable trip.

Best regards,

Albert


Hi... sorry to TS for Hijacking the thread :sweat:

To - newmonk - What would a good and safe place to go in Myanmar to photo old fashion looking buildings ?? And would the Myanmar be offended if we (as foreigners) take candids photos of them..... :think:
 

Hi... sorry to TS for Hijacking the thread :sweat:

To - newmonk - What would a good and safe place to go in Myanmar to photo old fashion looking buildings ?? And would the Myanmar be offended if we (as foreigners) take candids photos of them..... :think:

Hi,

Yangon is the capital(ex-capital I should say because the gov disputably named an another city, Nay Pyi Daw, as its new capital a few years back) of Myanmar. You have to fly to Yangon, where the international airport is located. In Yangon, there are only a few famous colonial buildings and religious monuments which attracts tourists. However, those religious monuments are very famous for locals. Majority of Myanmars are buddhists and the most famous monument in Yangon is "Shwe Dagon Pagoda" which was built 2000 years ago. If you are a chinese, you can visit "china town of Yangon". It is very crowded place and you can see a lot of activities with various types of people and various kinds of businesses (except for prostitution but who can say for sure) and the china town is located in the city. You can take lots of candid pictures there. Normally, most of the people are ok with being photographed. There may be some, one of a hundred, who don't like to be(who knows) but anyway they will not aggressively stop you. Compact or smaller dslrs will have more successful candid photos because the big dslr will attract attention wherever you go.

From Yangon, it is easier to go to the famous resorts and beaches, which are located in the south, such as Ngwe Saung, Chaung Thar and so on. You need at least 2D1N to go there. The most famous ones are in the North West of Yangon but you have to go there just for the resorts. The trip is out of sequence already if you want to continue to Mandalay, which is about 400 miles away from Yangon in the North. It is far about 10 hours drive from Yangon.

Normally, tourists like to go to places like Mandalay(state where Myanmar ancient kings lived before British Colonized, in which you can also take lots of candid photos too. Although Yangon was the capitol of Myanmar, Mandalay is more centre to businesses because it is closer to China and Thailand and products from those countries come directly to Mandalay. You can also see the palaces built by ancient Myanmar kings there but the gov renovated partially), Pyin Oo Lwin (new name for May Myo, a small town and famous for its nice weather and beautiful sceneries), Pagan (in which there are lots of ancient buildings (pagodas, monuments and historical site) built by the kings and their people. You can see lots of ancient architectural buildings and cultures there) and Inn Lay(the lake located 900 meter above the sea level. It has very nice weather and sceneries too. Also the lake is very big, 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide. People in that region, live their lives around the lake (such as their houses, market, business, commutation, etc.., all happening in the lake and the place is famous for people who row their boats with legs rather than hands. I heard that almost all of the tourists who have been to the place are satisfied with the trip although Myanmar has no systematic tourism or tourist attraction.). All these places are located in the same region and not so far from each other.

There are also interesting places like Sagaing, Myuke Oo (older than Pagan and famous for archaeology), Kyike Htee Yoo (very famous for locals and buddhists) and so on. You need at least half a month to visit all those places. You can check out with tour agencies. I have asked a friend of mine but got no reply for recommended agencies yet. If interested, you can also find out with those travel agencies at Peninsula Plaza, level 3-5.

I am very sure that you will have no problem with photographing people.


best regards,

Albert
 

Best time to go Myanmar is during Nov or Feb but Nov is still the best.

One of the Best in Asia for photography.


You are welcome to have a glimpse of Myanmar from my website (at my signature)


Cheers
Stan
 

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Hi,

I am from Myanmar. Which part of Myanmar are you going? Normally, people will go to Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan(ancient city), Innlay(a lake) and some other resorts (in the south and west).
a) for foreigners, I don't know which agency to recommend. I have asked a friend of mine who knows about it and will let you know again.
b) nov, dec and Jan should be winter there. So, it should be a good time. However, temperature and weather can be slightly different from place to place. Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan will be very hot in summer and at that time, Innlay and May Myo (also a city of Mandalay State) has very nice weather. Anyway, Dec and Jan would be the best to travel. Normally, at that time, locals also travel round the country and so you can see more activities and cultures.
c) I don't think the government officials will stop you unless you go into certain area (like naypyidaw, so-called their new government town) and take pictures. The best is to get a guide or a local who knows well about the country. It is also advisable to check the political activities before you go in. The officials may make a fuss or be stricter (like now, they are having international pressure for putting the opposition leader on trial).

Wish you an interesting and enjoyable trip.

Best regards,

Albert


Hi Albert,

Thanks for the info. Beside those places that you have mentioned, I would also like to visit U Bein bridge and meet up with minority tribe (if any????) in your country.

Look forward to your friend recommendation

Regards,
 

Best time to go Myanmar is during Nov or Feb but Nov is still the best.

One of the Best in Asia for photography.


You are welcome to have a glimpse of Myanmar from my website (at my signature)
or click below link :-
Myanmar

Cheers
Stan

Hi Stan,

Stunning photo you have in your website. :bigeyes:

Are those photo taken in Nov or Feb?? Very clear sky have you in most of your photo.
Care to share why Nov is better than Feb

Regards,
 

Thxs Albert for your short.... but VERY detailed insight on where best to go in Myanmar. :thumbsup:
 

Hi Stan,

Stunning photo you have in your website. :bigeyes:

Are those photo taken in Nov or Feb?? Very clear sky have you in most of your photo.
Care to share why Nov is better than Feb

Regards,

Yes Darren, went during Nov period.
Nov is best due to weather and activities.
Cheers
 

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Hi,

This is what my friend who is currently working with a travel agency in Singapore.

"I saw it and I can recommend some agents for the trip. But especailly in this time, it's not advisable to go there for photographying although you all are genuie people, as our government doesn't welcome foreigners. I called Myanmar Embassy in Singapore for my clients and their response was pretty weird as all visa applications are considerable case by case and need to write self-explaination or recommendation for ourselves mentioned that where we are going to stay and how long and what exactly we are going to do there (This letter is different from the agent so we still need to provide the confirmed tour program from myanmar agents directly send to Myanmar Embassy in Singapore), Secondly, not only this time, all the time being our government doesn't welcome the foreigners who have professional cameras and accused them to be as 'journalists' although they knew those people are coming for leisure purpose. So need to be consider all those facts before making any reservations. Anyway, I'll provide agents contact in next mail."

Hi DJ9900,

U Bein Bridge is nearly located to Mandalay city, so you don't need a separate trip to go there if you are going to Mandalay. Myanmar has various types of minorities all over the country. To meet or to study the real cultures of those tribes, you have to go to very remote places (you must be very enthusiastic or must be from National Geographic, just kidding). However, I have seen some tribes, especially those minorities from the borders of China and Thailand, are relocated by the goverment as a tourist attraction in Mandalay. It is like a human zoo (sorry to say that). It is a very small group and just give you some idea about the tribe but not a real one.

No matter whatever time you go to Myanmar, always check the political condition of the country. The gov only care about not losing their political power and they can ignore all the other things. You may not enjoy the trip in that case. You have to watch out the gov officials but you will never have problems with the people there.


With best regards,

Albert
 

Hi all,

I and some of my friends are going to Myanmar for photography in Sep or Nov.

currently we are planning to go Pagan , Inlay and mandalay..

All of you are welcome.

the more the merrier.

dont worry for all the arrangement.

i was formerly from Myanmar. But currently i am holding singapore passport.

i am also like you all to get visa and other arrangement.

i will let you all know the detail arrangement when the number of people is set...

Please let me know if any of your are intesested.

Regards
Tint
 

Planning to go for a Myanmar trip early next year. Please assist to feedback on the following queries: -
(a) Has anyone gone on customized trip for small group mainly for photography? Any travel agency to recommend?
(b) What is the best time to go in term for photography purposes?
(c) So far has anybody stop by Myanmar's official for bringing DSLR camera and equipment?

Many thanks in advance

Bro, I think u have ans for a & b.

I just went back in March with all my equipments but nobody stopped me.

I even walked around with my 70-200 on the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Just look calm and u'll gonna be fine.

But just don't shoot uniform wearing people, I think u know what i mean.

Regards,
 

Hi,

This is what my friend who is currently working with a travel agency in Singapore.

"I saw it and I can recommend some agents for the trip. But especailly in this time, it's not advisable to go there for photographying although you all are genuie people, as our government doesn't welcome foreigners. I called Myanmar Embassy in Singapore for my clients and their response was pretty weird as all visa applications are considerable case by case and need to write self-explaination or recommendation for ourselves mentioned that where we are going to stay and how long and what exactly we are going to do there (This letter is different from the agent so we still need to provide the confirmed tour program from myanmar agents directly send to Myanmar Embassy in Singapore), Secondly, not only this time, all the time being our government doesn't welcome the foreigners who have professional cameras and accused them to be as 'journalists' although they knew those people are coming for leisure purpose. So need to be consider all those facts before making any reservations. Anyway, I'll provide agents contact in next mail."

Hi DJ9900,

U Bein Bridge is nearly located to Mandalay city, so you don't need a separate trip to go there if you are going to Mandalay. Myanmar has various types of minorities all over the country. To meet or to study the real cultures of those tribes, you have to go to very remote places (you must be very enthusiastic or must be from National Geographic, just kidding). However, I have seen some tribes, especially those minorities from the borders of China and Thailand, are relocated by the goverment as a tourist attraction in Mandalay. It is like a human zoo (sorry to say that). It is a very small group and just give you some idea about the tribe but not a real one.

No matter whatever time you go to Myanmar, always check the political condition of the country. The gov only care about not losing their political power and they can ignore all the other things. You may not enjoy the trip in that case. You have to watch out the gov officials but you will never have problems with the people there.


With best regards,

Albert

Hi Albert

Noted your advice and thanks once again

Regards
 

Bro, I think u have ans for a & b.

I just went back in March with all my equipments but nobody stopped me.

I even walked around with my 70-200 on the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Just look calm and u'll gonna be fine.

But just don't shoot uniform wearing people, I think u know what i mean.

Regards,

Thanks Nyist for the advice
 

Hi Tint

I'm also planning for a trip, not purely for Photography. Probably in end of this year, hopefully around december.

swe

Hi all,

I and some of my friends are going to Myanmar for photography in Sep or Nov.

currently we are planning to go Pagan , Inlay and mandalay..

All of you are welcome.

the more the merrier.

dont worry for all the arrangement.

i was formerly from Myanmar. But currently i am holding singapore passport.

i am also like you all to get visa and other arrangement.

i will let you all know the detail arrangement when the number of people is set...

Please let me know if any of your are intesested.

Regards
Tint
 

Want to join with us? u are welcome..

tint
 

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