Burma Travel Forum

This is not a question but just for everyone info for after cyclone.

Tourist Main Site.

Except from Yangon and Golden Rock, other area are not effected. Most of the telephone lines and power are down but today, 6 th May, I just get back my internet and e-mail.
Price are sore due to panic buyer and fuel also look shortage but still keep supplying from government , usual 2 gallons per car per day is going on but fuel price going up from 6000 kyats to 10000 kyats per gallon and some price going up about 50% more at present. For example, 1 water bottle cost 300 kyats to 500 kyats.
Taxi are hard to get at present due to gas station can't open yet.
Yangon International Airport is reopened and all flight resume back.

Thank you for this information. Do you live in Burma? We are being told in Australia that there are up to 15,000 people who have died and that the Burmese gov. may not let aid in. Can you keep us informed as to what is actually happening?
Thanks again,
Kel

I think the Myanmar government has decided now to let aid come and help the thousands of people who need it. It's a wise move on their part.

I hope the people know that the rest of us in the world are thinking of them in this terrible time.

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Yes, I live in Burma , Yangon, and it is true that a lot of people die in Irrawaddy region. Now, more than 25,000 die and 40,000 more are missing and the dead toll will be more since some are difficult to access .
Some of the aid arrive yesterday from Thailand but government is very caution about politic. Yesterday, they announce that BBC news man coming with tourist visa and they send back to Bangkok. So, they are delay in issuing visa to UN aids personnel.
Yangon is slowly return . Electricity is not get back but water supply is back.Hospital and some important area do access the electricity back. Today , I saw more taxi due to some gas station opened back yesterday. Most of the mobile phone are working and now some internet and e-mail is working. That the reason , I am able to write back.

thank you for your update

The Bangkok Post has much on the disaster (and we watch CNN, BBC anbd Al-Jazeera just to get as complete a picture as possible). There is tons of aid and aid workers ready to be of to Burma but they don't get visas. The government wants the goods and money but not the people with the expertise to distribute it

I had contact with a collegue and she told me that many of the teachers are leaving Burma since they can't cope with the situation. Today (the 9th) there is still no water and no electricity other than wth the generators is Yangon (so imagine what the situation is outside Yangon). But we have had no news yet of KK's family and of many of our friends.

I don't know yet if i will get my visa again on time (we're due to fly back next friday).

I think that if you don't already have a tourist visa in hand, it's going to be difficult (at the very least, you'll have to wait longer) or impossible to get one this month. I know one woman who got her visa at the Myanmar embassy in Sri Lanka last week, and a French friend who has had his visa for a month already. Both are still planning to visit the country next week; the first friend going specifically to take money and medicine to people in the Yangon area.

Once the situation returns to something resembling "normal" I think it will be very important for tourists to go back and visit the country as soon as possible. Outside of the Yangon area, the rest of the country remains unaffected by the damages from the cyclone. Bagan, Mandalay, and the Inle Lake area are okay. But even in Yangon I would hope (cross my fingers and knock on wood) that the infrastructure will (slowly) get back in working order. I've already been getting e-mails from friends in Yangon the past 3 days.

From reports I've read, the city is a mess, but knowing the teamwork and spirit of the local people, they will do all they can to get their city back in shape (with or without the help of the authorities). I plan to go again and visit in late June. Right now, I think I'd just be in the way of the relief efforts. I want to help the people more but it's frustrating not being able to do more at this point.

you are well off out of it mique - and i hope you find things as well as can be expected when you get back

it is just such a terrible thing - quite a shock to your families system I expect

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I don't know about other school but in "Yangon International Educare Center" the school term is till May 23 but they decided to closed from 7 May .The YIEC informed to the students that they have to close the school because , they have no electricity and have to run their own generators and their teachers have to leave the country due to embassy instruction.
As per their teachers , mostly from native english speaking country, USA or Canada , they have to go back not because of they can not copy with the situtation in Yangon. According to them, they do not want to leave but embassy instruct them to leave. That is what information from YIEC. My son is in that school.
Most of the place get back the water but no electricity and they can not pump up to the apartment . Some of the place get back the electricity , phone line and internet. One of them is my office. On the 7th we got back the electricity , on the 8 , we got the phone line back and internet and e-mail was back since 6 (broadband).
You still can see broken trees , broken electricity post and telephone post all over the place but somehow, some place is back to normal but we still have very difficult time ahead. Most of the the place especially in Irrewaddy Delta need to re-build. Yangon is not that bad.

I see you are saying it is not that bad in Yangoon, but if so many people have died and lots of houses are gone, how can it be ok? Maybe Yangoon is ok but surely many other parts of Burma need help at the moment and in the near future. The rest of the world is ready and waiting to come to the people's aid, just like after the Tsunami. I really hope the aid can get to those who need it.

I mean for Yangon area only.

Please read this .. http://burmadigest.info/2008/05/09/cyclone-aid-impasse-it-takes-two-to-compromise/

I am VERY keen to get more info from you as you are the only person I can contact in yangon - my friend is not answering her phone - she lives in Mayangone township - do you know if they still have no phones - i am worried i have not heard from her. I have a tourist visa and booking at Kandawgyi palace for 23 and 24 may - I cannot contact the hotel - do you know if it is open for business and if I will need to bring provisions?
I want to come and not cancel - what things can I bring for my friend to distribute - clothes? toothbrush? please tell me what is needed as I want to fill my bag.
I was hoping to go to Thanbyuzayat also - do you know if I can get there and what form of transport - I have return flights with Silk Aor - it seems from the internet they are flying and no reduction in flights. Please keep me up to date as you are my only contact at this stage

thanks for those updates. I've been getting e-mails from friends in Yangon the past 3-4 days. I hear that some parts of the city are starting to get electricity again, and most roads have been cleared of tree debris. But I think a complete cleanup and rebuilding will take many months. Two friends of mine from France just left Bangkok today to travel to Myanmar. They will spend one day in Yangon and the rest of their stay (about 8 days) in Mandalay and Bagan. Their main concern while travelling is whether or not domestic flights might be cancelled. Evidently fuel is being rationed to the extent that it MIGHT cause some flight cancelletions. That makes some sense, but I don't know that for sure. I have also heard some hotels are not answering their phones. Whether or not that indicates that they are temporarily closed, I don't know. If I hear any more details I'll post them.

As far as I know for International Hotels, only Governor's Residence (Former Pensea) will closed down for renovation since they have some damage. (Their announcement is 2 months).
Most of the phone lines do not work yet. Only a few work. Only mobil phone work but tide.
For Mingalarbar , I will check with Kandawgyi and will let you know. I was passing by that hotel and seen to be still in operation. Just to make sure, I will check and will let you know.If you
Fuel price is back to pre-cyclone time, about 5500 per gallon but others price going up.For Yangon, you can get everything as usual. Most of the store opened back , so do super market like, ocean, citymart. For provision for your friend in Yangon, I don't think you need to bring , but cash (Ha. Ha !). All the domestic flight and international flights are in normal operation too.
For Thanphyzayat, you have to go by bus or with taxi. I think you can go because that site is not much effected by Cyclone. Arrawaddy division is very badly damage.

I just met with the friend who run restaurants in Chaung Thar Beach and NgweSaung Beach.According to him, Chaung Thar and Ngwesaung beaches is not much damage although they are in Arrawaddy Division.

I reazd in the bangkok post that the owner of the kandawgy hotel (a thai) has closed his hotel since even though the hotel was ok there weren't any tourists or even possibilities to get to the hotel. I have no idea when it will be opened again.

My former colleague told me that people wanted to leave, not because their embassy told them to. Then again, only 3 are native english speakers.

Yesterday, I dropped by and ask the door man at Kandawgyi Hotel and he answered me that the hotel is opened as usual.

I read from some articles that the military is confiscating the aids and in turn give out inferior quality rice and biscuits to the survivors, while the confiscated goods are retained at the military/govt official...

thank you for such updated info this is so helpful