Myanmar (Burma) - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 520

MYANMAR OR BURMA?
Arguing that Burma was a colonial name, the government renamed the country Myanmar in
1989, and that is the name used by the United Nations. Yet some governments - including
those of the US and the UK - still o cially call it Burma. Just to confuse things, the US has
recently been using Myanmar on occasion as a “diplomatic courtesy”.
So which of these is right? The usual argument is that the unelected military regime had no
right to change the name, and this is why Burma is preferred by the National League for
Democracy (the main opposition party). On the other hand, many members of ethnic
minorities prefer Myanmar because they see Burma as referring to the dominant Bamar ethnic
group. This isn't really true, since Burma and Myanmar actually both come from the same
etymological roots. If anything, Burma is historically more informal and Myanmar more literary.
The fact is, though, that in everyday usage most people you're likely to meet in the country
will call it Myanmar. In this chapter the default name used is Myanmar, with Burma used in a
historical context and Burmese used to describe the food and the language.

7

Bicycles are available in many places for
around K2000 per day. In some parts of
the country you can also rent a motorcycle ,
typically for K8000-10,000 a day plus
fuel. Before renting a motorbike, check
that your travel insurance covers you for
riding one.
here are numerous hazards for cyclists
and motorcyclists: tra c can be very
heavy in the cities, while in rural areas the
roads are often in poor condition. Adding
to these dangers is the fact that most cars
are right-hand drive even though people
drive on the right, meaning that cars have
large blind spots.

tend not to overcharge as outrageously as
in many other Southeast Asian countries.
Expect to pay around K1000-1500 for a
decent trip, such as from a bus station on
the edge of town to a hotel.
Tricycles are still in use in many towns,
although they are being edged out by
motorcycle taxis , which are much faster
and normally around the same price
(around K500-1000 for a short ride).
Most of these forms of transport can
also be hired for a day including a driver ,
which can be arranged direct, through
accommodation or via travel agents;
you'll need to bargain to get a good
price. Motorcycle taxis may not work out
much more expensive than renting a
self-drive motorcycle.
In small towns, horse carts are used as a
key form of transportation, and they also
ferry tourists around in a number of places,
notably Bagan, Inwa and Pyin Oo Lwin.
he horses are not always well looked after.

LOCAL TRANSPORT
Local transport in Myanmar is usually
some mix of public buses, taxis, pick-ups
(adapted pick-up trucks with seating in
the covered back portion), motorcycle
taxis (where the passenger rides pillion)
and cycle rickshaws. Public buses run only
in the largest cities, including Yangon and
Mandalay, and are very cheap. It can be
hard to work out the routes, but if you
aren't in a rush, then riding on the buses is
certainly an experience. he same can be
said of pick-ups , which cover set routes
and pick up and drop people off on the
way; they usually depart when full - which
may include passengers riding on the roof.
If you want the most comfortable seats, in
the cabin, then you can pay a little extra.
Taxis are available in large towns and
cities, and range from 1970s Toyotas to
occasional new left-hand-drive Chinese
imports. here are no meters but drivers

ACCOMMODATION
Just a few years ago, accommodation in
Myanmar was considered among the
most affordable in Southeast Asia. his is
no longer the case, thanks largely to a
combination of steeply rising tourist
numbers and a lack of new budget and
mid-range places to stay. While
international companies are rushing to
build luxury hotels, things are stagnant at
the lower end of the scale where profits
are smaller and getting a permit to
accommodate foreigners is still a hassle.