| Climate |
Myanmar is generally described as having three seasons. From September to February the day time temperature is about 28°C (80°F) with cool evenings. March to May is hot but dry. From June to September is the rainy season. The area visited by the Road To Mandalay is protected from most of the monsoon and is described as the dry zone.
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| Electricity |
Electricity is 220/230v.
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| Festivals |
Myanmar is a land of numerous festivals. One of the merriest is Thingyan Water Festival, which takes place in mid-April. During this religious festival water is thrown on everyone and no passer-by is spared. Tourist can expect to become targets. The experience should be taken in the spirit in which it is intended – that of a fun celebration. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing during this time i.e. something you don’t mind getting wet in, and make provision to protect items such as cameras.
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| Food |
Local cuisine is a cross between Chinese and Indian - with traditional Myanmar curries and soups being the local favourites.
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| Language |
There are many different ethnic groups in Myanmar, all with their own languages. The majority of people speak Myanmar (Burmese). English is widely understood and spoken.
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| Photography |
Observe local notices – some pagodas and temples do not allow photography while others ask for a small payment. Treat Buddhist images with respect and seek permission from monks before photographing them.
Photography of airports, railway stations, police stations, military installations and government offices may result in film being confiscated. We recommend discretion when taking pictures.
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| Religion |
The Burmese are religious people and have a high regard for religious customs and traditions. Dress and conduct should be appropriate when visiting religious sites. When entering the grounds of a pagoda or monastery it is important to remove all footwear (including socks and stockings). This is both polite and a mark of respect. At the same time visitors should wear appropriate dress (this applies equally to men and women). Essentially, the knees should be covered which means long shorts are acceptable.
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| Service |
The people of Myanmar live an unhurried, leisurely way of life. Service in hotels or restaurants may thus seem a little slow. Instead of being troubled by this, visitors should learn to adapt to the relaxed rhythm to enjoy their visit even more.
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| Shopping |
Many different arts, crafts and antiques are available throughout Myanmar, hand crafted lacquerware, embroidered cotton and wood carvings all make good souvenirs. Myanmar is of course renowned for its precious stones, particularly rubies. You should only buy these from licensed Government shops.
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| Time Zones |
Local time is GMT + 6.5 hours. For example, on a Monday night at midnight in Yangon, it will be:
- New York (Eastern Standard) 12:30 Monday
- London (GMT) 17:30 Monday
- Bangkok 00:30 Tuesday
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| What to Wear |
Rarely is anything more than a short-sleeve shirt or blouse required in Yangon. Further north a light jacket or sweater will be needed during the cooler months. Shorts, short skirts or revealing clothing are not appropriate because Myanmar preserves a conservative and largely Buddhist culture.
Conservative dress is particularly appropriate when visiting temples. Essentially the knees should be covered which means long shorts are acceptable. It is obligatory to remove shoes and socks for all temple visits in Myanmar. This is both polite and a mark of respect. It is recommended that visitors wear sandals or shoes which can be easily slipped on or off. Hats and sunglasses are obviously advisable, as is an umbrella for the rainy season. Rainy seasons often start out sunny but outbursts of rain can be heavy, even if short and infrequent.
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