Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
Public displays of affection, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are frowned upon; a
local woman walking with a foreign man will raise more eyebrows than two same-sex trav-
ellers sharing a room.
»
Check Utopia-Asia (
www.utopia-asia.com
) for some Yangon scene reports; it also pub-
lishes a gay guide to Southeast Asia, including Myanmar.
»
Agencies offering gay-friendly trips to Myanmar include
Purple Dragon
(
www.purpledrag.com
)
and
Mandalay Travel
(
www.mandalaytravel.com
).
Insurance
A travel-insurance policy is a very wise idea, though not all companies cover travel to My-
anmar. There is a wide variety of policies and your travel agent will have recommenda-
tions.
Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel_services
.
You
can buy, extend and claim online anytime - even if you're already on the road.
Internet Access
Online access has improved, with wi-fi becoming the norm in big cities - most hotels,
guesthouses, restaurants and cafes will have this and it's usually free. We even found in-
ternet access in relatively remote locations such as Mrauk U.
However, with tightly squeezed bandwidth and power outages it can often be a frustrat-
ing exercise to send and receive emails or check the internet, particularly in rural areas.
Forget about streaming or big downloads.
Legal Matters
You have absolutely no legal recourse in case of arrest or detainment by the authorities,
regardless of the charge. If you are arrested, you would most likely be permitted to con-
tact your consular agent in Myanmar for possible assistance.
If you purchase gems or jewellery from persons or shops that are not licensed by the
government, you run the risk of having them confiscated if customs officials find them in
your baggage when you're exiting the country.
Forming public assemblies of over two people without the prior permission of the au-
thorities is illegal. Drug trafficking crimes are punishable by death.
