Yangon trip, IN Fri 03 Oct 2014, OUT Mon 06 Oct 2014

temple1  temple2  temple3  temple4  myanmar marketI shall be in Yangon again in early Oct 2014.  And I shall extend my my trip if there are members wanting to visit Yangon. The dates are:

  • IN Fri 03 Oct 2014 – you have to arrive on or before 3 Oct, although 3 Oct will be spent in Yangon.
  • OUT Mon 06 Oct 2014 – You can leave anytime on or after 06 Oct 2014.

Note:  06 Oct is a public holiday.  We are likely to stay in the Chinatown area because the hotels are cheaper, and a few were newly rennovated.  The hotels will have internet WIFI, although I cannot guarantee the WIFI is stable. Chinatown is vibrant, full of food and busy from morning 5am to at night 9pm. Check with your friends who have joined me to Yangon before. Participants will have the option to book their own hotels, and these can be organised together as a package by the travel company which we use during our last trip.

USD or Kyatts are accepted in Yangon.  Credit cards are very very very limited in use, and incur surcharges.  Money exchange difficult to find, rates at hotel are unattractive.  Bring USD, that’s for first timers.

Please contact or send your queries only via this Post.  I shall bring some brochures on Yangon.  You may have a look at my fleamart stand on Sat 6 Oct.

Min-ga-la-bar (good morning, afternoon or evening), Terence Seah

Registration list:

  1. Terence Seah – Arriving Yangon 3 Oct; Departing Yangon 7 Oct.
  2. Susan Tan and friend – Arriving Yangon Thu 02 Oct 1255hrs by SilkAir;
    Departing Yangon Tue 07Oct 1035hrs by SIA.
  3. Jenny Lee and Choy Kum Weng – SQ5033 departing Sin 2 Oct 11.35 am
    Departing Yangon 7 Oct 10.35 am
  4. Ann Giri – Going Tiger Airways 2 Oct 1705/1825 hrs, Returning 7 Oct 1905/2340 hrs.
  5. Eleanor Chan (confirmed)
  6. Join this trip to Yangon.  Confirmation based on airtickets confirmation.

Terence Seah

 

Author: Terence Seah

Founder

20 thoughts on “Yangon trip, IN Fri 03 Oct 2014, OUT Mon 06 Oct 2014”

  1. Hi Jenny,

    Hope you and your hubby can join us in this trip?

    Hi Terence,

    Few questions I can think of right now.

    1) How is the weather during our stay like?
    2) How can we get to the hotel, cab or bus, etc?
    3) Who to contact & what to do when we arrive there as you will only be there on the 3/10?

    Will be attending your monthly gathering this Sat. Hopefully I will be able to book our stay by then. Catch up with you on this subject there.

    Susan Tan

  2. Sorry, I mean 4th Sept, will be meeting Terence on the 6th Sept and will let him know, so we book the hotel through out the period from 2nd to 7 Oct 2014.

  3. Hi Jenny,

    Yes, my friend and me have already got the visa.

    It is not too difficult to apply visa except you have to make 2 trips, submission of duly filled form in the morning & collection bet. 4.30 – 5.30pm. We can talk more in details on the application for visa.

    Regarding the hotel, we have not book yet. Hope you can go so that we can book together.

    I will be going to the monthly gathering this Sat. Be there before 12noon.

    Hope to see you.

    Susan Tan

  4. Our Yangon trip is now confirmed: 4 days 3 nights. Our package includes hotel.

    Day 1 Oct 3: Arrival in Yangon
    Time in Chinatown and check in to Chinatown hotel. This is a clean 3 star hotel.

    Yangon/Thanlynn
    Sight seeing to Thanlyin, a major port, and under Portuguese colony before British, drive from Yangon by car. Boat to see YE LE PAYA TEMPLE (middle of the river) at Kyauktan. Stroll through the riverside market, the Jetty to see people coming and going for work from either side of Yangon River. Visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!, Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight in Yangon.

    Day 2 Oct 4. Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo by car (Golden Rock)
    Early early morning, we drive to Kyaikhtiyoe Pagoda, about 160 km from Yangon (4 hours drive), stands on a gilded boulder precariously perched on the edge of a hill. Breakfast at local restaurant. Once we reach Kin-Pun Base Camp, we have to drive 11 km to the intermediate point by Local Truck, just like cattle and proceed to summit by palanquin. Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda the “Golden Rock”, a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff.
    Lunch at local restaurant, at Kyaikhtiyoe Hill. Check in at hotel. Visit Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda; Golden Rock, watch the beauty of sunset or dawn at this important pilgrimage site. Overnight in Kyaikhtiyo. The first group did not stay overnight, this time, it will be more fun;.

    Day 3 Oct 5. Kyaikhtiyo – Yangon
    After breakfast, return back to Yangon. Free and easy. We spent time at chinatown and eat eat eat. Durians, ancient porridge, bak changs, etc. Look for jade stones, look at the local markets. It will be a busy day walking.

    Day 4 Oct 6. Yangon Departure (B)
    After breakfast at the hotel, visit to Karaweik Hall, a floating barge on Kandawgyi Lake, for photo taking. Then drive to Bogyoke Market (Scoot Market) with hundreds of foods, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Transfer to the airport for your international flight departure.

    Price- USD 300 Per/Pax, inclusive of hotels.
    Single supplement- USD 340

    Hotel in Yangon : Grand United Hotel (China Town)
    Hotel in Kyeikhtiyoe : Golden Rock Hotel

    INCLUSIVE: 3 nights Hotel Accommodations with breakfast (Twin/Double sharing room basis).
    • English speaking Guide throughout the trip, Entrance fee(s) where mentioned, boat fees for Kyauk Tan, Open truck fees for Kyaikhtiyoe, A/C supported vehicles throughout the trip, 2 bottles mineral water and snow tower will provide throughout trip on car

    Exclude: International Flight, Meals (L,D), Visa fee and/or visa arrangement fee, Airport tax, Personal Insurance, Drinks & personal expenses i.e. laundry, camera fees, phone call etc, Any other service(s) not mentioned.

    For those who have joined me on the last trip, feel free to add some fun to this trip.

    Terence Seah

  5. Re the Yangon trip 3 – 6 Oct, we now have 5 pax. 3 more to go to meet our coach number. Trip is cnfirmed.4D3N. You may come earlier and leave later. Flexible.

    Terence Seah

  6. Choy Kum Weng and Lee Sow Hak
    Flight Details: SQ5033 departing Sin 2 Oct 11.35 am
    Departing Yangon 7 Oct 10.35 am

    Terence pl let me know shd we need to book hotel room before and after tour. Thks

  7. Intend to go, will be booking the flight today or tomorrow. but I am going solo. Anyone intending to partner me for the hotel?

    btw, how to get visa, and how long will it take?

  8. Hi Terence,

    Those few questions I posted to you, you still have not replied? Appreciate if you could. Mayb I repeat again? Cut & paste from my earlier post.

    1) How is the weather during our stay like?
    2) How can we get to the hotel, cab or bus, etc?
    3) Who to contact & what to do when we arrive there as you will only be there on the 3/10?

    Another few questions:
    4) Are you able to get accommodation for those arriving early & leaving later?
    5) Once the list going confirmed, for communication, can you setup watsapp or email rather than via SHC forum.

    Susan Tan

  9. Hi Susan, and those who may join us for this Yangon trip,

    The weather in October is expected to be summer, some drizzle but bearable. I guess you are concern with something about the weather, let me know.

    Going to the hotel in Chinatown. At the airport, after customs, there is a taxi counter. Costs about USD 10 one way trip to hotel. Don’t try other ways.

    There is no body for you to contact. We can arrange a meeting service if you are not comfortable. The hotel details will be given to you later. So, if you have got this, it will be easy to check in. It will be fun to get to the hotel. No English speakers.

    Sure, we can get the hotel’s for you, if you come earlier or leave later than the trip.

    A Whatsapp group will be set up in about a weeks time.

    The trip will turn out fine. Just be prepared for the unexpected.

    Terence Seah

  10. Hi Terence,
    thanks for the info.
    Questions again:
    1) No English speakers – how to communicate? 1 duck & 1 chicken or hand gesture?

    2) Good to hear that the weather is good. Sweater needed when we go Golden Rock?

    3) Price- USD 300 Per/Pax, inclusive of hotels –
    Payment – when & who to pay to & what curr

    Susan Tan

  11. Hi Eleanor,

    I am keeping the group still open. Have got 5 now, amd planning to keep to max 8.

    Yes, let me know if you are on. Visa first, then airtickets. And finally USD 300 for hotels and local.

    Hear from you.

    Terence Seah

  12. Just to share with those who wish to apply for visa.
    1) apply online for tourist visa, select a date fill up the form and must have a digital passport size photo , then submit.
    2) print out the queue no, follow the instructions you go to the Embassy to queue at counter 8.paid up and can collect at the same place for the visa at 4.30- 5.00pm. Just need to go twice to the embassy.

  13. Re the Yangon trip 2nd to 7th Oct, there will be 7 of us. I am arriving from Bangkok, while the rest will fly from Siingapore. We are staying at Chinatown. Unlike previous trips, this trip will include an overnight stay at the mountain retreat at the Golden Rock, some 2-2.5 hours outside Yangon.

    Shall keep you updated, if we can get an internet connection.

    Terence Seah

  14. The ongoing Yangon trip has been fun so far. We are happy to be located right in the middle of Chinatown where there are loads of local food. Favourite was a grilled fish that took 30 minutes to prepare. The fruits were just juicy, and even the durians takes sweet; they are local Myanmese durians.

    Our of our favourites was the tirp to an island in the middle of the river. We did not buy any salted fish, ever thought we want to. The ladies have quietly bought their jade bangles; and if not, they are likely to do so by Monday.

    Today, we are going to the Golden Rock; this time, we are staying there overnight in the mountain resort.

    Terence Seah

  15. The morning after breakfast on Sat, we left Yangon in a 9 seater bus and headed for the Golden Rock, some 400 km or 4 hours away. The weather was hot when we arrived, and cooled significantly during sunset. This is one of the key places we had wanted to visit, and I think it is worth the ride.

    We spent the night at a new hotel, with 5 star facilities. But little did we realise that we had to walk downhill for almost an hour, along a winding track. But,it was worth the journey, and we followed with a Burmese dinner after a good bath.

    We spent the night in a cool environment. The hotel automatically switches off all power from midnight to 5am. It was indeed pleasant.

    Sunday, after breakfast, we left the hotel, and along the way we had a good Chinese lunch with a grilled lobster each. It was more a grilled huge king prawn and Golden Duck and other Chinese dishes. This costs us USD 10 each.

    We stopped a few places along the way, and return to Yangon for a good rest. We had a good dinner, and some of us had a nice seafood street side dinner. Others went for a massage; seems to have high ratings from those who went (7 out of 10) from Eleanor and Ann. I think the others had plans to go for the same massage again.

    Goodnight.

    Terence Seah

  16. Our group came back from Yangon last week. Forgot to report that we have all been back safely.

    Besides Yangon, the other major cities are Mandalay and Napidaw, the capital city. While I go to Myanmar almost every month, it is likely I shall extend my business trip the next time to go with other SHC members to Mandalay or even to the cold mountain peaks in the Shan state. Hopefully, we can enjoy the hot springs, the long necks, the avocado fruits and sweet juicy red plums. Note, we can fly from Bangkok Don Muang for about USD 50 one way to Mandalay or Yangon. The next round, we shall skip Chinatown, and see what keeps Myanmar beautiful and away from the rest of the world in the last many years.

    Terence Seah

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