What's Myanmar like to live in

[kan148]

Cool pictures. Thanks for sharing. I was there last year and visited Ngapali beach. Loved the place and the people so planning to be back there again in January to visit Bagan this time. It really is a very interesting country.

[Lobster]

An Asian city whose streets are unchoked by traffic! That's amazing. Looks like a charming place, Lobster.

How's Burmese cuisine? Have you tried street food?

It must be said that the photo is not representative of the level of traffic, but compared to most Asian cities it is not too bad. Also they have banned all mopeds from the streets.

Burmese cuisine is not great it has to be said, lots and lots of oil. However they have basically taken on Thai, Indian and Chinese cuisine as their own so there is a lot of good food available.

Good to see that you are settling well in Yangon. I may plan a trip up there and we could meet up for a drink.

What's with the umbrella coming out of the window of the taxi?

Yeah not too sure what the umbrella is doing outside of the taxi. When it is raining you quite often need an umbrella inside the taxi as they have so many holes in them that you still get wet inside.

Drop us a line if you are passing through, Myanmar beer is not too bad.

[SuperJonJon]

Good to see that you are settling well in Yangon. I may plan a trip up there and we could meet up for a drink.

What's with the umbrella coming out of the window of the taxi?

[jjpb3]

An Asian city whose streets are unchoked by traffic! That's amazing. Looks like a charming place, Lobster.

How's Burmese cuisine? Have you tried street food?

[kapitan]

u know something, I have been to Yangon so many times, ... I have never stepped into Swe Dagon temple before... .. one of these days i will do....


thanks for the pics

[Lobster]

Well I have been living in Yangon for a month now and I have to say I really like it. Yes it is a bit like stepping back 30 years in time but it is really chilled out place. After all the horror stories we are fed in the UK media I was expecting a grilling at the airport and then police and military everywhere. But I received a very warm welcome at the airport and around Yangon there is a lower police presence than any other city I can think of. However you do need to remember that if you go around shouting down with the Generals you will disappear very quickly into a very dark hole from which you will be lucky to ever come out of.

I do feel a bit isolated at times, although it is easy to get around the blocking of sites on the internet there is nothing you can do when it goes down completely and it does go down a lot and for several days at a time. Also international phone calls are as well as being incredibly expensive are very unreliable. However it does give me a very good excuse if I do not want to respond to an email or phone call from my Boss in Bangkok.

Here are a few photos from around Yangon.

[Moviela]

I do some training twice a year in RGN and it is always a good trip. Hard to find a truly 5 star place to stay, but the food is not too bad if you are not a fussy eater. I would never discuss politics, it is none of my business. I do show respect for the officials because courtesy is appreciated everywhere. Get yourself a pair of comfortable sandles and one of those skirts for men and learn to tie the knot at the waist. I find it is instant acceptance with the people you work with.

One aspect of life I enjoy there is the lack of petty theft. The whole country hates a theif. Name another country where there is 60 tonnes of gold in the middle of the capital just sitting out where everyone can see it? Put that temple up in Los Angeles (my home) and the gold would be gone in 60 seconds.

Life is hard for many people in the country, but it does not deter them from being friendly and hospitable to foreigners. It is a pleasure to work there. You must accept it as it is. If the people as a whole want democracy, let them choose it. The reports promugated in Western media is very slanted by people who do not agree with the current government. In truth it is much better than those reports. Individuals have the same freedom people in other countries enjoy in conducting the ordinary business of their lives.

I have never had a problem with ordinary messages on the internet, and I always conduct telephone conversations as if my Grandmother was listening.

[kapitan]

I personally do not like living in Myanmar, being so used to the convenience of a city like Singapore. Whenever I am on a visit, I feel so shut out from the world. Internet connection is restricted, no auto roaming on my mobile phone, ..... yes of course I would be able to watch cable TV off the hotel room, but not being able to make a call on my mobile gives me a feeling of being cut off from the rest of the world.

Things are generally inexpensive over in Yangon, but you will have to expect plenty of old world charm. Many cars on the road are at least 20 years old and they do fetch a hefty price too, about US15-20k. Unless you have proper connection, chance of importing a new car is quite slim, but of course if you are a foreign MNC, thats a different story.

My company uses an agent in Yangon for some of our work and it is a German company, and the few expat that are station there do like a good life, and of course they have ways to go around the internet connection.

[MAN Flyer]

Thanks for the info. I think I will need to be very careful about what I say there as it has taken my company almost two years to get formal permission to work there and I know one wrong word from me and we will be out in a flash.

I have to say I was a little surprised to hear you were going there and I would expect you to be 'popular'. I think I'll meet you in Bangkok.

I probably will not be there until May. But if you do make it then we must catch up for a beer (even if it is not a DO).

Definitely.

[jhm]

You must know someone in Europe who can receive one letter for you each year!

[Lobster]

How would the relocation affect your FFP now?

its a bit of a disastrous move from that point of view. I think my BA gold days will be over as I will go back to having to get the full amount of tier points. So will probably just concentrate on *A but going nowhere near KF.

I think I should have negotiated for compensation

[Lobster]

Thank you all for the congratulations. I must say I am excited about it, I think it is going to be an interesting challenge working there.

Myanmar is actually quite a nice place, I go there once or twice a year. We can have a DO there?

Mobiles phone lines are very expensive (Few hundred USD for a SIM card), no roaming there.
International phone services(IDD) are very poor and very expensive.
Internet coverage is poor (I always tell people that the internet connection will drop whenever a flock of birds fly over the satellite dish)
I usually stay in Kandawgyi Palace in Yangon so not sure about housing for long term.
Going out for a meal usually involves taking a stack of money. Largest note is a 1000 kyat which is about 10 dollars.

Don'ts :
No talk about democracy there unless you know every individual in the vicinity. (Supposedly there are people who will report you to the government that you are pro democracy)

Thanks for the info. I think I will need to be very careful about what I say there as it has taken my company almost two years to get formal permission to work there and I know one wrong word from me and we will be out in a flash.

Do let me know when you are passing through would be good to meet up for a beer.

Congratulations, Lobster!

When you're settled down, perhaps some investigation is in order whether any local TAs have any nice fares ex-RGN!

I was looking at airfares to SIN and BKK the other day planning for some weekend escapes and they were shockingly expensive.

When do you start in Burma (it' still called that here... ), I need to get out there on a business trip myself but keep putting it off. Not sure about a RGN do, but BKK aint far away.

I probably will not be there until May. But if you do make it then we must catch up for a beer (even if it is not a DO).

But yes will definitely try to attend and DOs in BKK or SIN as I will be in the neighbourhood.

[phaleesy]

Congratulations, Lobster!

Burma is on my to-do list. Maybe you should organise a DO for us.

How would the relocation affect your FFP now?

[phaleesy]

Don'ts :
No talk about democracy there unless you know every individual in the vicinity. (Supposedly there are people who will report you to the government that you are pro democracy)

Too much democracy and we might not get any work done!

[SuperJonJon]

I wonder what would happen if you "accidently" encrypted the mail

It just never reaches the destination. I know of many emails that go "missing".