MYANMAR
May 8, 2010 | 11:40 am
#2
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May 8, 2010 | 11:46 am
#3
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But I'd second the Bagan recommendation. The temples are amazing (though some have been poorly restored). Yangon / Rangoon is worth a day or two too, particularly the Shwedegon Pagoda. I really liked the Strand hotel in Rangoon.
May 8, 2010 | 5:00 pm
#4
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I actually walked there from Thailand. 
Just north of Chiang Rai is the town of Mai Sai. You can fill out a form, pay a fee (can't recall how much but it wasn't expensive) then you just walk in to Burma. They even paint a line on the sidewalk so you can tell where the border is. And yes, I took the obligatory tourist pic with half of me in Thailand and the other half in Myanmar.
On the other side of the border was the city of Tachileik. I knew of course that I wasn't seeing the "real" Burma but it was interesting nonetheless.
You'll be able to find more info on Burma once you're actually in BKK.
Just north of Chiang Rai is the town of Mai Sai. You can fill out a form, pay a fee (can't recall how much but it wasn't expensive) then you just walk in to Burma. They even paint a line on the sidewalk so you can tell where the border is. And yes, I took the obligatory tourist pic with half of me in Thailand and the other half in Myanmar.On the other side of the border was the city of Tachileik. I knew of course that I wasn't seeing the "real" Burma but it was interesting nonetheless.
You'll be able to find more info on Burma once you're actually in BKK.
May 8, 2010 | 8:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Frankly, for a day or two, don't bother going at all. With the exception of the border excursion like the one described above, flying from BKK to RGN just for a short period is unrewarding. You need a minimum of a 5 days for a quick peek at Yangon + Bagan and that's with flying between them. To make the effort to get to Burma and rationalize visa, flight, and other costs in a worthwhile way, 10 days minimum for 3+ destinations in Burma is better. You must always keep in mind that things there don't run like clockwork.
May 9, 2010 | 10:32 pm
#6
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Frankly, for a day or two, don't bother going at all. With the exception of the border excursion like the one described above, flying from BKK to RGN just for a short period is unrewarding. You need a minimum of a 5 days for a quick peek at Yangon + Bagan and that's with flying between them. To make the effort to get to Burma and rationalize visa, flight, and other costs in a worthwhile way, 10 days minimum for 3+ destinations in Burma is better. You must always keep in mind that things there don't run like clockwork.
May 11, 2010 | 2:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
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How far is Bagan from BKK/RGN/northern Thailand? Is taking a flight only option?
I've been trying to see the place ever since saw these pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcaur...7623921035532/
I've been trying to see the place ever since saw these pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcaur...7623921035532/
May 12, 2010 | 6:16 am
#8
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How far is Bagan from BKK/RGN/northern Thailand? Is taking a flight only option?
I've been trying to see the place ever since saw these pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcaur...7623921035532/
I've been trying to see the place ever since saw these pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcaur...7623921035532/
The Strand is certainly nice in Rangoon - but it's shockingly expensive !!!
May 12, 2010 | 7:17 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Flying is your only option. Pagan is about an hour from Rangoon if I remember correctly - they're all propeller flights. Choose your domestic airline carefully. Air Mandalay came highly recommended to us and we were not disappointed. I don't think there are any direct flights from Pagan to Bangkok or other international destinations.
The Strand is certainly nice in Rangoon - but it's shockingly expensive !!!
The Strand is certainly nice in Rangoon - but it's shockingly expensive !!!
May 12, 2010 | 9:33 pm
#10
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http://www.orient-express.com/web/rt...o_mandalay.jsp