1) Make an appointment via online
http://visa.mesgservice.com/
2) Get an email reply and fill up the application form
http://www.myanmarembassy.sg/downloads/Tourist_Visa_Form.pdf
3) Go to the Myanmar Embassy to submit the application forms and the required documents in the morning. Collect in the late afternoon.
$45 for the visa
Changed USD at the rate of 1.3565 SGD to 1 USD
Good reference:
- https://www.youtube.com/user/BurmaBites
- http://migrationology.com/2014/08/41-photos-of-yangon-myanmar/
- http://www.southeastasiabackpacker.com/10-must-try-foods-myanmar-burma
- http://www.go-myanmar.com/
- http://grrrltraveler.com/sightseeing/getting-around/things-to-do-yangon-myanmar/
- 旅行日記
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Flight details:
I paid the high price of the flight due to Chinese New Year period and at the very last moment. The price could have been cheaper
Flight Details | Booking Date: 6 Feb 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Singapore to Yangon International Airport (Credits to Google Maps) is about 2.5hours.
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18 Feb 15
Departure 3K583
Good bye Changi Aiport
I love the beautiful clouds
Nice sunset
Arrived at Yangon International Airport at about 6:50pm and I had to rush to catch my bus for Bagan which will depart at 8pm. A very risky move indeed.
Originally wanted to get the Ooredoo SIM card for Internet, but due to the rush, I decided to quickly grab a taxi. Very lucky to make it in time.
Bus to Bagan from Aungmingalar Highway Bus Station by JJ Express
Nice lightings in the bus
Light snacks
It is amazing how the staff were able to serve hot drinks on the bumpy bus
At pitstop
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19 Feb 15
Bagan
Arrived at the Bagan bus station at about 4.50am, having a hot coffee to warm the body first.
A bad choice of not booking an accommodation in advance, I had to settle for a very basic room for USD$12 a night
No wifi, not even hot water shower
Was told there's free Wifi at the nearby Shwezigon Pagoda
Emptiness
Morning coffee again
Smoking
Burning rubbish
Monks queuing up
Shwezigon Pagoda
E-Bike rental for 8,000 kyats
Lunch
Bagan Nan Myint Tower, entry for USD$5 with a welcome drink at level 9 restaurant which has good Wifi.
Panoramic view at level 11
Mani Sithu Market
Ananda Phaya
Applying Gold leaf
Shwesandaw - The famous location for sunset
Sunset
Dinner that cost only 2,500kyat and a 500kyat for Coke.
GPS track for the day
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20 Feb 15
Bagan to Mandalay
Pioneer Cruises Travels & Tours, Check-in time is 5:00AM and departure time is 5:30 AM. USD$35
http://www.mgrgexpress.com/
MGRG jetty
Boarded the ferry
Hot coffee, tea and toast were available for breakfast
Sunrise
Burmese flag
Ayeyawady Bridge (Pakokku)
Lunch
Planning for next destination
Testing depth of water
The Inwa Bridge
Arriving at Mandalay
Assorted skewers for BBQ
Met a fellow Singaporean, Dinner for 3,700kyats
Cat at YoeYoeLay homestay
Night walk to see the life at Mandalay
Petrol
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21 Feb 15
Mandalay
Nice breakfast at Yoe Yoe Lay
Meow
Cat who loves beehoon
Motorbike tour
Sandamuni Pagoda
Found cute puppies
Kuthodaw Pagoda
Atumashi Kyaung
Mandalay Archaeological Zone fee of USD$10 that can be used at various sites
Shwenandaw Kyaung
Going up the Mandalay hill. Although reviews state that it is possible to go up by foot, I wouldn't recommend that.
Camera fee
Nice view
Meow
Su Taung Pyi Pagoda
Royal Palace
View from the watch tower
King Galon Gold leaf workshop show room & Sale Centre
Lunch at Amarapura area
Silk making workshop, but was quite empty
Took a 5min boat ride for 800kyats to Innwa
5,000kyats for a motorbike tour around for more temples, Payas, Stupas and Pagodas. Horsecarts are available at 8,000kyats
Field
Bagaya Monastery
The Watch Tower (about 30m), too bad cannot access up due to unstable structure
Mahar Aung Mye bon San monastery
Made use of the Adidas app to track the motorbike tour (5,000kyats) at Innwa
The Irrawaddy Bridge (also Ayeyarwady Bridge, Yadanabon Bridge, Yadanar Pone Bridge or New Ava Bridge)
Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, Sagaing Hills
Little monks
U Bein Bridge
So many people waiting for the sunset shot
Chicken briyani dinner at Karaweik Cafe.
Girl at YoeYoeLay
JJ Express Bus station location: D- 4, Kywesekan Bus Station which is further away from what I expected
Overall movement in Mandalay, Amarapura, Innwa and Sagaing. The day motorbike was 25,000kyats by Kung Naing (09256121312), excluding the meals I paid for along the way
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22 Feb 15
Inle Lake
having to swap bus half-way... at about 4.10am
Outside temperature is so cold
Arrived in Nyaung Shwe about 5am
Pay fee again
Walking around to find a place because we didn't make any reservation
We finally settled for Friday Inn
Breakfast at the rooftop
The room (25,000 kyats)
Boat ride for 18,000 kyats. Managed to split the cost with Michael and Niti
The boatman
Interesting structure
Fisherman posing for photos and asking tourist for money
Houses
Silverware making
Hand-made cigar
Lunch - Chicken noodle soup
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
Artist at work
Children leading us up the hill
Improvisation on a broken slipper
Inn Thein
Men repairing the water walls
Long neck
Floating gardens
The Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery (Jumping Cat Monastery). The kitties no longer jump to entertain tourists.
Sunset
Toast to new friends
BBQ
Dinner
Back to Friday inn
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23 Feb 15
Morning
Street snacks
Fresh tomatoes
Spider webs
Local market walk
Fish stall
Young girl cooking our lunch
Lunch (7,100 kyats divided by 2)
Took a bicycle (1,000 kyat) rent to the Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery
Bubbles
Meow
Watermelon fo 1,000 kyats
Dinner for 2,500 kyats
JJexpress bus to Yangon
Simple meal at the pitstop
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24 Feb 15
Taxi drivers crowding around the bus the moment it arrives which can be quite overwhelming
Arrived at Yangon's Aung Mingalar Highway Bustop
Simple breakfast
Walking toward Mingalardon Railway Station
Misty...
200 kyats for the Circular Train
Connecting the trains
The train ride started off quite empty
Starting to get crowded...
Arrived at Yangon Central Railway Station
High Court
Backpacker Myanmar - take note that the Google is different from the exact location
Panoramic view
They say "all roads lead to Sule Pagoda"
Sule Pagoda: 3,000 kyats entry fee
Roundabout of Sule Pagoda
Independence Monument, Maha Bandula Garden with Yangon City Hall in the background
Lunch
Bogyoke Aung San Market
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Unfortunately, unable to enter the Pegu club
National Museum
Bogyoke Aung San Museum
Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha
Burmese royal barge at Karaweik garden, Kandawgyi Park
Twilight
Skipped dinner, going to sleep early... Fell sick...
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25 Feb 15
Breakfast
Market place at 26th street
Meat store
Yangon General Hospital has a nice building
Park next to Shwedagon
West entrance of Shwedagon Pagoda
Going up the escalator to security check with x-ray machine and walk-through-metal-detector
Shwedagon Pagoda
Collecting water for blessing
devoted
Sunset
Moving to the night
Mini Ferris wheel
Chinatown
Dinner
Watermelon
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26 Feb 15
Taxi to airport
Yangon International Airport
Prepare to take off
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More pictures:
- Bagan, Myanmar (18 & 19 Feb 2015)
- Mandalay, Myanmar (20 & 21 Feb 2015)
- Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake, Myanmar (22 & 23 Feb 2015)
- Yangon (24 - 26 Feb 2015)