The first thing people say when I say I am heading for Myanmar is "Where is that?" Myanmar has not been on the travel circuit for western visitors until just the last couple of years. The country shares a border with Thailand. The guidebook explains it best, I think, "Yangon, the former capital, during colonial times known as Rangoon, is emerging from bloody and neglectful military rule into an era of glittering possibilities. Exiles are returning and foreign investors and adventurers are flooding in ......" Lonely Planet 

I arrived at Bangkok airport from the Philippines . I fly to Yangon, Myanmar later tonight, but it is with a different airline. So I need to wait several hours before flight time. I am flying to Yangon, Myanmar later tonight, but it is from a different airport in Bangkok. 

Fortunately, there was a free shuttle bus to the other airport. It took one hour to get to the other airport and all I had to do to ride the free shuttle was show my ticket flying from there. It's a nuisance having two airports in Bangkok. I think only a few airlines still use the old airport. I wish they would close it and move all the airlines to the new Bangkok airport. But, who cares what I wish?

It was a short flight to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar (once called Burma). I got a taxi from the airport to where I was staying. I arrived at night and the taxi driver seemed very nice and spoke pretty good English, pointing out things as we went that I should try to see while in Yangon.

The people at the airport and the driver have been friendly so far . They act as if they really do welcome visitors to their country. So many other countries (including the U.S.) could take a lesson from the immigration people here. When I enter most countries the immigration people are sour and unwelcoming, as if visitors are a bother to them. I think Myanmar is excited to have their country opened up to tourists and immigration here has given me a good first impression of the country!

From 1962 to 2011, the country was under military rule. They had absolute power, even though condemned by the international community. They suppressed all opposition and forcibly relocated citizens as they wanted. They were accused of gross human rights violations. They forced labor on their people, including children.

The country was under sanctions from the U.S., U.K. and other countries, basically isolated from the world, until 2011. In 2010 they held a general election and this was seen as a move, led by the military, towards a representative democracy in the country .

In December of 2011, Hillary Clinton (then U.S. Secretary of State) visited Myanmar. This was the first visit by a senior US official in 50 years and sanctions were lifted and this opened the way for tourist from the western countries that had been prohibited before.

I'm glad to be able to visit this country now, before it becomes more developed and loses some of it's uniqueness.

Myanmar has a number of things that interest me right away.

1. There are NO MOTORBIKES in Yangon!
  This is an Asian city without motorbikes! It doesn't seem right!  One reason offered is that a military general was annoyed by some motorbikes while riding in his motorcade one day and had them outlawed. This is a city of 4.5 million people, so it must have been a real hardship on many of the people, but that is how a military dictatorship works! Bicycles were also outlawed!

A few trishaws are still permittled, but they are rare . The trishaws here have a side car connected to a bicycle. They are very basic and the few I see are sort of old. Still, they seemed to be used by the people to get around in. The city busses are very old and crowded here.

The result of now allowing motorbikes is that now the cars overwhelm the small streets and traffic is a nightmare.

2. The men and boys were SKIRT-LOOKING things called LOUNGI'S!
  These loungi's wrap around from the waist down and are tied with a large knot in the middle. They are made from a piece of cloth about 6 1/2 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide. Some men and boys wear pants like in other parts of the world, but many wear the loungi's. I guess it is a personal choice. I think they wear which ever one fits their mood for the day. They don't wear pants underneath (but I hope they wear underwear). It looks like the knot could come undone and the thing could fall at any minute. I do see them retying the knot now and then as I walk around . 

3. The HOOD-LESS trucks!
   I am just fascinated by these things! Everytime I see one I want to stop and watch it go by. It has a loud sound coming from the engine like an overgrown lawn mower or something similiar. They rattle around town, loaded with people, or goods. They are so rustic and basic, they just amaze me.

A local told me the truck beds are made in Myanmar but they get the engines from China. He says they are much harder to control than a regular vehicle.

CAPSULE BEDS
The hostel in Yangon has capsule beds. These are my favorite type of dorm rooms. Often I stay in a private room but this place only has this dorm room. Since it has capsules for beds, it is fine. 

I have stayed in a few hostels (Japan, Vietnam, and Myanmar), with capsule beds and I really like them. Foreigners are not allowed to stay just anywhere in Myanmar. You have to stay in a hotel that is approved by the government, so the choices are few .

A WALK AROUND TOWN
I walk around this capitol city of Yangon and see some beautiful old buildings. They are in need of maintenance it looks like. But, I find this all over Asia. It seems like maintenance is just not high on owners list of priorities. Most places I stay or eat or visit are in need of paint or repair of some sort. There are some modern buildings here also. Often, small shacks sit at the very base of the towering modern high rising buildings. It's a strange mix.

There are also the street sellers here. I am happy to find that one thing that is very common to find on the street here is watermelon. The seller will cut it in small pieces while you wait and put it in a small plastic bag with a stick to use as a spear, to eat it with. I buy a lot of it while walking around Yangon. It's a very refreshing treat in the heat of the day and so convenient to get.

THE CHANGING MYANMAR
So far I like Myanmar . It has a behind-the-times feel to it because it has been isolated from the world for so many years. But that will change now that it is becoming more a part of the world scene. I am glad to be here now before it changes very much, though!

Some changes are already evident. For example, while doing my research for Myanmar I read numerous times from all types of sources that there were no international ATM's in Myanmar. Therefore you had to take American money to exchange for the Myanmar kyat (pronounced 'chat'). In addition, the American money had to be new. No wrinkles or marking or torn spots. Even placing a new bill in a wallet and folding it over would make the bill worthless to exchange.

However, I found when I arrived in Yangon that there are a few (just a few) ATM's that will work with foreign cards. I tried mine though and it would not work. I contacted the bank and they said they did not have an agreement with Myanmar yet . 

So, my ATM would not work, but, still, the big citiies like Yangon and Mandalay do have at least one ATM machine for foreign cards. The smaller town and cities do not have any ATM machines, though. 

Some tourists don't realize that and get caught in the small places without a way to get money. I took enough American bills to exchange while I was there, though, and it turned out just fine. I never used an ATM while in Myanmar, I just exchanged my U.S. $ for Kyat.

While still particular about the condition of the American bills, they are not as picky as before. Apparently the government finally told the banks they could take bills in less than new condition. Just a little evidence that the country is slowly changing to become a part of the world community!

There are many things about this country that are different from any other I have visited, but I just wanted to mention the 3 main ones that got my attention right off. I will have more photos and discuss some of them more in later entries, I am sure!

Every country seems to be notorious for something. Well, Myanmar is known for it's thousands of Pagados, all of various designs and ages!

NEXT: Some Beautiful Pagodas in Yangon!