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Clothing: Light casual wear preferably
cotton is suitable for all year round. A
 cardigan or light sweater for the cool season
between November and February. An umbrella will be useful during the
rainy season. Cotton clothing and a light warp for the evenings
during the cool season are recommended. If possible dress modestly
at all times. Sandals or slippers are convenient, as all footwear
must be removed before entering temples and pagodas. Visitors are
required to dress decently on the precincts of religious buildings.
Ladies should not wear shorts, briefs or bra-less T-shirt in such
places. Shoes and socks or stockings must be removed at Pagodas and
Monasteries.
Tipping: Tipping is com mon to drivers, guides, waiters at
local restaurants, hotel porters etc. As a general guideline if a
hotel porter carries bags to the room, a tip of about US$ 0.50 -
$1.00 (either in US$ or equivalent to kyat) would be appropriate,
depending on size, weight etc. In restaurant generally a tip of
about 5% is appreciated for meal service if service charge is not
included in the bill. Driver's tip may be about US$ 2 to $5 per day
(either in US$ or equivalent in kyat) for individual or couple. Tips
for the tour guide can be varied between US$ 5 to $10 per day,
depending on group size and level of satisfaction of the client.
Porter fee: Porter are used at public transport base such as
airports, boat piers, bus depos and train station etc. Fee varies
place to place. Usually you are escorted by a porter at
International airport on your arrival (before meeting with your
guide/driver) in which case the porter will expect a tip of around
1US$ (preferred in Kyat). A porter will also escort you and your
luggage through departure terminal on your departure as guides are
not usually allowed into the departure terminal with you and tipping
will apply the same as your arrival.
NB: when in doubt, the best source for appropriate tipping
information for hotels, restaurants, and drivers is to ask your tour
guide.
Toiletries and medical items: Travelers should bring a
supply of personal toiletries and a basic medical kit containing
nail scissors, moleskin, Band-Aids, sunscreen, diarrhea tablets,
aspirin and a remedy for colds and coughs. Taking Acidophilus
tablets a few weeks before travel can help prevent bacterial
diarrhea abroad. Cipro, available by prescription, is the best known
treatment for bacterial diarrhea. If you are taking any particular
medicines, it would be best to bring these with you.
Insurance: It is strongly recommend for all clients to take
out their own personal travel insurance, which must cover trip
cancellation, medical and baggage protection etc. In case of
adventure program insurance is compulsory to cover such as emergency
evacuation etc. Full contact details of the insurance policy will
need to be carried with the expedition.
Emergency evacuation: In the event of an emergency you will
be taken to nearest airstrip and flown to Yangon for further medical
care. If necessary, an onward international medical flight will be
arranged. Ensure that your insurance policy covers you for such
unlikely eventualities. Medical evacuation and hospitalization fees
are to be paid for by guests prior to departure from Yangon.
Safety: Myanmar probably is one of the safest countries in
Asia. There is very little crime and thefts do occasionally occur in
Myanmar. However valuables should always better be protected, carry
your passport, money and other valuables document with you, or lock
them in a hotel safety box.
Photography: We recommend bringing all the camera equipment
and film you'll need for your trip. Most people find Myanmar more
photogenic than they had anticipated, so bring more film than you
think you'll need. However 100 and 200 ASA films are widely
available in tourist circuit and are relatively inexpensive. We
recommend bringing some extra camera batteries as they may not
available in the local market. Always ask permission before taking
photos inside any temples, and before photographing any local
people. Many villagers are unfamiliar with cameras and are unwilling
to be photographed for religious reasons or for reasons of personal
modesty. When permission is granted, always be sensitive when
photographing people, and non-intrusive when shooting inside temples
when prayers are in progress. Generally, photography is allowed
Buddhist temples and at religious ceremonies and festivals.
Souvenir:
 Best buys include lacquer-wares, silver, wood and
stone carvings, hand-woven silk and cotton garment or fabrics, gems,
'Kalaga' embroidered tapestries, traditional puppets and tribal
handicrafts. Jewelry is generally up to international standards for
design and workmanship. All gem and jewelry purchases should be made
through authorized dealer who must issue an official receipt, which
is required for taking out of the country for such items. Bargaining
is essential when shopping on the street.
Begging: An unfortunate impact of begging is that it may
create dependency. We discourage giving anything to beggars,
particularly to children. If you wish to contribute, it is more
beneficial to give to your tour leader who will distribute the
donation to the local schools. Exceptions are made for giving to the
physically handicapped.
Electricity:
Electricity is mainly available in the Tourist
circuit with the current 220 V / 50 Hz. Sockets have either three
round pins or two thick flat pins. If you are traveling with any
electrical appliances, an international converter kit and a set of
adapter plugs will be essential. Off the beaten trek including Putao
area you need battery-operated appliances with several extra
batteries.
 Time: Myanmar Standard Time is six and half-hours in advance
of GMT.
National Flag: The
dominating color of the national flag is red. The rectangular
space at the upper left corner is blue. In it could be seen the
figure of a paddy stalk and a pinion encircled by 14 white stars
of uniform size. The paddy represents the peasants while the
pinion stands for the workers who form the majority of the
people in the country. 14 uniform white stars symbolize the
equal status and union spirit of the 7 States and 7 Divisions
that constitute the Union of Myanmar. The white in the flag
signifies purity; the red indicates bravery and upright nature
of the people; and the blue stands as a symbol of peace and
stability in the country.
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