Travel - Myanmar .net

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

There were not many guests to welcome here in Myanmar in the last weeks, but the few, which visited Myanmar after cyclone Nargis, were all fascinated by this extraordinary country and the always friendly smiling humans.
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. & Mrs. Clausius, who visited Myanmar for one week in August.

We would be pleased to welcome also you here in Myanmar.

Shwe Yee & Klaus Dieter Mueller

„To experience Myanmar now, especially after cyclone Nagris at the beginning of May, surely belongs to the most moving experiences, which my wife and I ever had.

To see again the country, Yagon, the mystical Inle Lake and above all Bagan, to show your own humility and helplessness against the warmth of humans in their struggle for existence, to take their hands, to answer and cause smile, should be enough drive for everyone and encourage to visit Myanmar now, more than ever before.

Too much and to often is spoken of off season and season: after several visits in the country we state: the year in Myanmar should not be cut for visitors in two halves!

At each season is valid:
Where is there a scenically so rich country – from the Gulf of Bengal to the Himalaya? Where is there a second time the rich cultural inheritance dozens of ethnic groups with dozens of languages, the influence of the most different neighbours in the west, the north and the east? Here, at the interface between many worlds „East of India “.

Where are the happiest eyes and the saddest at the same time, volumes of wisdom packed into the winkles of the faces?

Everyone, who feels perfect and happy, may measure here; everyone, who may itself feel rich, will find and fill its gaps here.

Everyone, who would like to help with its heart, should travel to Myanmar and return with the desire to be able to see soon again its second homeland.

The entire package of a Myanmar trip, into „unknown “terrain, belongs however into the best possible hands. We can only recommend to everyone to put everything into German-Burmese hands. These belong to Shwe Yee, the boss of SHWE YOO Travels & Tours and her German husband Klaus-Dieter Mueller from Lahr in the Black Forest, who found, after many years of traveling, his place here in Myanmar established a family.

And got the impulse to build a small flexible enterprise - aligned to individual travelers, as even on larger groups.

They know the country, the routes, on which you are accompanied by travel guides of the highest quality. They know the main and side roads of the country, to the beaches at the Gulf of Bengal in the east and the Andamann Sea in the south, which looks still, as they may have looked already many hundred years ago.

On rich days in Myanmar under the correct care!”

Elke and Reinhard Clausius
(07.08 - 14.08.2008)

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NEWS UPDATE

Current reference from the German ministry of Foreign Affairs (latest update 17.07.2008)

The tropical cyclone Nargis brought dead and devastation to the Ayeyarwady Delta and the capital Yangon on May 2, 2008. Several ten thousand humans were killed. The state of emergency for the southern part of the Ayeyarwady division and the entire city of Rangoon has so far not been waived. Nevertheless the situation within the range in the city of Rangoon normalized itself. Electricity and urban water supply are there to a large extent re-established. Part of the telephone net in the city is still not working; the mobile net is almost completely functional. The complete re-establishment of the infrastructure will still take some months more. 

Tourists, who consider now a journey to Myanmar, should be conscious that the infrastructure in the Irrawaddy-Delta is invariably heavily damaged. Journeys to this area blocked by police and military require previous written permission. At present the beaches of Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha are not attainable from there on the overland route. The objects of interest in Central Myanmar (Bagan, Mandalay and Inle lake) are not effected.

To the current reference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we would like to note, that the cyclone Nargis did not have effects on the northwest part of the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (Myaung Mya, Pathein and the beaches of Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha) and the area south is hardly visited by tourists.

The beaches of Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha are attainable on the overland route, however at present one needs a permission, which is issued without any problems.

Yangon – Pathein Road:
Please note that the road from Yangon to Pathein is at present in a very bad condition and numerous road construction sites provide further delays. On our last trip it took us, for the 4 hour drive, more than 8 hours. The road repairs should be finished at the end of October and then it should be again possible to drive in 4 hours from Yangon to Pathein.

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Hotels:
Only the Palm Beach Resort and the Sunny Paradise Resort will be open starting from o1.10.08.
Bay of Bengal Resort opens on 10.10.08 and Myanmar Treasure Resort and Aureum Resort & Spa on 25.10.08.

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Yangon:
The Nagar Glass Factory is still closed due the high costs of gas. We will check with the factory from time to time and inform you as soon as the factory is open again.

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Rakhine State / Sittwe & Mrauk Oo:
The road between Sittwe & Mrauk Oo is very bad and the trip by car takes at least 6 hours. Therefore we have changed our Sittwe & Mrauk Oo program accordingly. For safety reasons it is also not allowed anymore to travel from Sittwe to Mrauk Oo after 12 noon. As domestic flights are arriving in Sittwe only in the afternoon, clients have to stay the first night in Sittwe and continue by boat to Mrauk Oo the next morning.

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International flights:

Bangkok – Yangon
Thai Air Asia will again fly daily between Bangkok and Yangon starting on 01.10.08
Bangkok – Yangon by FD-3770 (Etd: 07:10 / Eta: 08:00)
Yangon – Bangkok by FD-3771 (Etd: 08:30 / Eta: 10:10)

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Yangon - Chiang May:
Air Mandalay has, due to the small demand after cyclone Nargis, cancelled all flights till to the end of October, and will presumably start again on 02.11.08 to fly twice a week between Yangon and Chiang May.

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Mandalay - Kunming:
China Eastern airline (MU) flies three times a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) from Kunming to Mandalay.
Kunming - Mandalay by MU-2029 (Etd: 13:00/Eta: 13:40)
Mandalay – Kunming by MU-2030 (Etd: 14:40 / Eta: 17:35)

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Domestic flights:

Air Mandalay:
Air Mandalay is a schedule airline, based in Yangon . It operates flights to all major tourist destinations within Myanmar including Bagan, Mandalay , Heho and Ngapali Beach . Air Mandalay has schedule flights from Yangon to Chiang Mai.

Winter flight schedule of Air Mandalay:
01.10.08 – 15.10.08
16.10.08 – 31.10.08
01.11.08 – 30.04.09
 

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Yangon Airways:
Yangon Airways has become a principal domestic airline in Myanmar flying scheduled and charter flight services to 13 prime commercial and tourist destinations in Myanmar including Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kyaing-Tong, Tachileik, Dawei, Myeik, Kawthaung and NayPyiTaw.

Winter flight schedule of Yangon Airways:
01.10.08 – 31.10.08
01.11.08 – 30.04.09

Latest news dated 16.10.08

Yangon Airways has changed the schedule for the high season 2008 and there will be no flights to THANDWE, SITTWE and MYITKYINA till 31.12.08.

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Air Bagan:
Air Bagan is now operating to 15 destinations including main tourist destinations as well as to other commercially important destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Myitkyina, Putao, Dawei, Myeik, Kawthaung, Thandwe, Sittwe , Pathein , NayPyiTaw, Kalaymyo & Lashio.

Winter flight schedule of Air Bagan:
01.10.08 – 30.04.09

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Delta cruises:

Cyclone Nargis had only little effect on RV Mahaythi II. The minor damages were soon fixed and at the moment the boat is based in Bogole for relief work.

RV Mahaythi I was totally destroyed by Nargis and will be not available for day trips to Twante and Yangon Sunset Cocktail Cruises.
 

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Express boat from Mandalay to Bagan:

Shwe Keinnery or Zin Yaw:

For Octobers due to the small demand all trips were cancelled. The Shwe Keinnery boats will operate daily between Mandalay and Bagn from 01.11.08 – 30.04.09. Should the demand for individual days be too small, the operator of the Shwe Keinnery boats, will use smaller boats, like “Zin Yaw”, or cancel the trip completely.Please note that a trip can be also cancelled on a very short notice. Alternatively there is a daily flight from Mandalay to Bagan, or you may drive by car from Mandalay via Meikthila to Bagan.

Malikha River Cruise:
From 01.11.08 – 31.03.09:
From Mandalay to Bagan: every Friday and Sunday
From Bagan to Mandalay: every Saturday and Monday
The individual trips will be according to the booking condition confirmed or cancelled on a short notice.

Malikha

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River cruises between Mandalay & Bagan:

RV Pandaw 1947 und RV Paukan 2007:
Due the sharp price increase of Diesel Oil Ayravata Cruises is going to charge a fuel surcharge for all river cruises starting from 2. November 2008.

Enclosed are the fuel supplements for each river cruise:
Between Mandalay and Bagan (1N cruise / downstream)
US$ 20,- per person
From Mandalay to Ancient Bagan (2N cruise / downstream / Dep. Sun)
US$ 35,- per person
Between Bagan and Mandalay (2N cruise / upstream)
US$ 40,- per person
Myanmar Days - The Bhamo Cruise
US$ 200,- per person

Following the effects of Cyclone Nargis, the Road To Mandalay river cruise service will be suspended for the 2008/2009 season during which time the vessel will be repaired and substantially reconditioned in Burma. The boat will return to service in the summer of 2009 at the start of the 2009/2010 season.

All passengers who were booked to travel during the suspension of services are being contacted directly or via their travel agents so that they can re-arrange their travel plans and assistance will be offered to make alternative arrangements, if required.

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Has significantly reduced the 2008/2009 schedule for the short river cruises between Mandalay and Bagan and will offer only 2 river cruises in a week between October and March.
Tuesday: Mandalay – Bagan (3 days / 2 nights)
Saturday:Bagan - Mandalay (3 days / 2 nights)

For an updated schedule, please click here.

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HOTEL UPDATE:

Governors Residence (Pansea Hotel) in Yangon:
The Governor’s Residence reopened on 1st September 2008 after 4 months of successful renovation and repairs following the cyclone Nargis.

Address:
35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: 0095-1-229860
Fax: 0095-1-228260
E-mail: yangon@pansea.com
Website: www.pansea.com

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Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Hotel:
Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Yangon celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 20th March 2008. At the same time, the hotel was rebranded as “Chartrium Hotel Yangon” effective from 1st April 2008.

Address:
40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Tel: 0095-1-544500
Fax: 0095-1-544400
E-mail: chartrium@chartriumyangon.com.mm
Website: www.chartriumhotelyangon.com / www.chartrium.com 

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Royal Kaytumadi Hotel in Taungoo:
Located 175 miles from Yangon and good starting point to visit one of the Elephant Camps towards the Bago Yoma, which means Bago mountain ranges. It is the home of the best teak, and the topography of Bago Yoma is a place of genuine beauty.
The new Roayl Kaytumadi Hotel (2-3*) has 48 Deluxe, 12 Executive Suites and 3 Royal Kaytumadi Suites.

Address:
Kokekotan Street, Taungoo, Bago Division, Union of Myanmar
Tel: 0095-54-25145, 25146, 25147, 24761
Fax: 0095-54-25147
E-mail: kmahotels@myanmar.com.mm  , info@kmahotels.com.mm
Website: www.kmahotels.com.mm

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Inle Lake / Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel:

The Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel has upgraded all superior rooms to deluxe rooms and has now 31 deluxe rooms, 4 deluxe family rooms and 2 junior suites.
Webseite: www.myanmarinlefloatingresort.com

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Chaungtha Beach / Belle Resort:

The Belle Resort a 3* hotel was established in 2005, partly open in October 2006 and fully finished in January 2008.
The Belle Resort has 2 family, 12 deluxe, 12 superior and 18 standard rooms.
www.belleresort.com

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PRODUCT NEWS:

Our special offers for 2008/2009
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-phaungdawoo.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-overland.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/special-offer.htm

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Our new itineraries for 2008/2009

10 DAYS NORTHERN MYANMAR

This round trip brings you to northern Myanmar, a mountainous region bounded on the NW by India and on the N and E by China and traversed by tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River. Visit Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-10days-northern.htm

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13 DAYS THE FAR NORTH OF MYANMAR

This round trip brings you first to Putao, the far north of Myanmar. Here on the borders of Tibet and Northern India, in one of the great wilderness areas in the world, is this exclusive lodge, with its focus on adventure, nature and cultural activities, offering a unique and exhilarating insight into this area in style, comfort and safety. From here fly to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-13days-northern.htm

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BALLOONS OVER BAGAN
Update and news for 2008 - 2009 season

1. Capacity
The capacity will finally increase following a delay during this current season due to the recent drop in tourism numbers. We will therefore, as originally planned, be able to operate a maximum of four balloons at any one time. Total capacity will therefore increase to 40 passengers per flight from the 20th October to 31st March, and will be 24 passengers per flight from the 1st October to the 20th October.

2. Season
Next season will run from October 1st 2008 to March 31st 2009

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UPCOMING FESTIVALS

Festivals in October:

PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL,  Inle Lake
Sep. 30 - Oct. 17, 2008
Watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which are ceremoniously tugging four Buddha statues situated on a royal barge clockwise around Inle Lake. Throughout the event leg-rowed boat races are being held and you will come across them during the excursion on the lake. Hundreds of other vessels travel in the entourage in a general festive atmosphere. Thousands of people from around the Shan State attend this most holy of all Shan celebrations. Time table of Phaung Daw Oo Festival.

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INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Sep. 30 – Oct. 03, 2008
It’s situated at the foot of Mandalay hill, within a short walking distance from Mandalay Hill Resort. It is considered popular sales fair where all kinds of goods (some of them locally produced) are sold. Next to that is the usual organization of events similar to other Pagoda Festivals.

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KYAUKDAWGYI PAGODA FESTIVAL,  Mandalay
Oct. 11 - 18, 2008
It’s situated at the foot of Mandalay hill, within a short walking distance from Mandalay Hill Resort. It is considered popular sales fair where all kinds of goods (some of them locally produced) are sold. Next to that is the usual organization of events similar to other Pagoda Festivals.

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DUMMY ELEPHANT FESTIVAL,  Kyauk Se, Mandalay
Oct. 13 - 14, 2008
This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyaukse, a small town not far from Mandalay. A huge but light elephant figure is made with bamboo and paper. Men take their places inside the figure and dance around the town to the accompaniment of Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain uniformity inside the elephant figure. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.

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THE THADINGYUT (FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS),  Throughout Myanmar
Oct. 13 - 15, 2008
To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year. Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated and there are various kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Thadingyut is not only for joyous but also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon for whatever misdeeds might have committed.

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