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Language: Burmese is the official language of Myanmar, yet English is widely spoken and understood. Burmese's alphabet is made up of circular and semi-circular characters. Other languages spoken are Karen, Shan and Kachin.
Currency: The official currency is the Kyat (MMK) pronounced 'Chat'. The best currency to travel on in Myanmar is the US Dollar. The Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC) is a legal currency for visiting tourists that is usable in government shops and hotels. One FEC is equivalent to one US Dollar. It is recommended to use US Dollars. It is difficult to cash
American Express travelers cheques in certain cities, such as Mandalay, and even when it is possible the commission can be as high as 10 percent. US Dollar notes will not be accepted if they are damaged or torn in any way, or have pen marks on them. There is a big difference between the official and unofficial exchange rates; street moneychangers offer favorable rates at hotels and Scott Market. Very few major hotels, airlines, shops and restaurants accept credit cards and ATM cards can rarely, if ever, be used. It is advisable to carry cash. Banks are closed on weekends.
Time: Local time is GMT +6.5.
Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European plugs with two circular metal pins as well as British style plugs with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade are used.
Communications: The international dialing code for Myanmar is +95. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code. The area code for Yangon (Rangoon) is (1) and Mandalay is (2). Internet cafes are widely available in Mandalay and Yangon and public telephone booths can be found on nearly every street corner as well as at railway stations and airports, however international calls are expensive. The military regime carefully controls and monitors all Internet use in Myanmar and restricts Internet access through software-based censorship that limits the materials individuals can access online. Several cyber cafes have been allowed to open, but access to the Internet is very expensive, and access to most international e-mail services such as Hotmail and Yahoo is prohibited, although Gmail can now be accessed.
Duty Free: Two bottles of liquor, two cartons of cigarettes or 100 cigars and half liter of perfume are allowed per person. Valuables including jewelry, cameras, electronic equipment, etc, should be declared at customs upon arrival. Purchases of locally bought goods may require receipts upon departure.
Getting Around: Air Mandalay, Air Yangon and Bagan Air run a good internal flight service, but Myanmar Airways has a poor safety record for internal flights. Other options include the Yangon-Mandalay bus service for long distances. There are daily express trains from Yangon to Mandalay. A private company runs these trains, though regular trains are not recommended, as they are slow, dirty and unreliable with uncomfortable seating that can result in 'saddle-soreness'. Traveling around town is easy and the fare is negotiable. Most towns, including Mandalay, use horse carts and trishaws. Alternatively, bicycles can be rented for a small price. Domestic highway bus terminals are Aung-Yadanar and Sawbwargyi-Gone, both about 10 miles (16km) from downtown Yangon.
Tourist OfficeMyanmar Tourism Board, Yangon: +95 1 242 828 Ext: 6462 or www.myanmar-tourism.com
EmergencyEmergencies: 999.
Embassies
Embassy of Myanmar, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 3329044.
Embassy of Myanmar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0) 20 7499 4340.
Embassy of Myanmar, Ontario, Canada: +1 613 232 6434.
Embassy of Myanmar, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6273 3811, 6273 3751.
Embassy of Myanmar, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 341 2557/2556.
United States Embassy, Yangon (Rangoon): +95 1 379 880/1.
British Embassy, Yangon (Rangoon): +95 1 370 863.
Canadian Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand (also responsible for Myanmar): +66 (0)2 636 0540.
Australian Embassy, Yangon (Rangoon): +95 1 251 810.
South African Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand (also responsible for Myanmar): +66 (0)2 250 9012/14.
New Zealand Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand (also responsible for Myanmar): +66 (0)2 254 2530.
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