Road from Burma/Miama to TL and airticket to Manila???

[linktolinh]

I plan to go for a trip from VN to Miama/Burma - Thailand - Philipine in November.

I have never been in Miama before, please advise if there is any chance I can reach Thailand from Miama by road/ bus/train??? and is it safe?

From Thailand I plan to continue to Manila and visit some islands in Phil.
It's quite expensive for me to fly with Thai Airways or Philipines airlines, is there any one of you experience a cheeper Air to fly from BKK to Manila?

Please advise, I want to plan the trip and set up budget from now.

[Guess]

Linh,

As far as I know there is no bus service from Thailand to Myanmar (Burma).
In fact there are very few road crossings and most of them, if not all are not open to foreigners. Even if there was a way you would need to travel through at least one hundred kilometers of hostile and rugged terrain.

There is definitely no railway.

The good news is that there are some cheap airlines here in Thailand that offer flights in and out of Burma.

[buksida]

Echo the above, the only way in or out of Burma if you intend to travel is by plane to Rangoon. Suggest you go to the local consulate and get the visa details as its not an easy country to travel in for foreigners.

[Bamboo Grove]

It is rather expensive to fly to Manila from Bangkok. I checked the price recently for Thai Airways and it was something like 16,000 baht return. Philippine Airline is somewhat cheaper though but can easily get fully booked. Cheaper alternatives might be to fly with a budget airline first to Singapore and then from there to Manila.

[linktolinh]

Singapore is a heaven to go chopping...Thanks for your guys suggestions, plz continue.

I want to go to Myanmar before leaving Vietnam in December. Maybe after 3 years i will lose the sense of a free traveller, I heard so many stories of Myanma and it like an open invitation for me. I should consider it carefully I know. Everybody tell me so...

Should you go to Myanmar?
The decision as to whether or not to travel to Myanmar is best made after an appraisal of the pros and cons of such a visit.

Reasons Not to Go: Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to; the government used forced labour to ready tourist-related sights and services; international tourism can be seen as a stamp of approval to the Myanmar government; the government forbids travel to many areas, particularly in areas inhabited by minority groups; it's impossible to visit without some money going to the military junta (visa, departure fee, tax on purchases); and Activists claim that tourism dollars fuel government repression directly.

Reasons to Go: Tourism remains one of the few industries to which ordinary locals have access - in terms of income and communication; vast majority of locals want you there; human-rights abuses are less likely to occur in areas where the international community is present; the government stopped mandating foreigners change 200.00 into government notes upon arrival; the majority (possibly over 80%) of a careful independent traveller's expenses goes into the private sector; and Keeping the people isolated from international witnesses to internal oppression may only cement the government's ability to rule.

If You Decide to Go

In order to maximise the positive effects of a visit among the general populace, while minimising support of the government, follow these simple tactics:

Stay at private, locally owned hotels and guesthouses; Avoid package tours connected with Myanmar Travel and Tours; avoid MTT-sponsored modes of transport, such as most Yangon-Mandalay Express trains, the MTT ferry between Mandalay and Bagan, and Myanma Airways (MA) flights; buy handicrafts directly from the artisans, rather than from government shops; avoid patronising companies involved with the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings. Companies with solid links to the Tatmadaw (armed forces) are often called Myawadi or Myawaddy; write to the Myanmar government and to the Myanmar embassy in your country expressing your views about the human-rights situation there.

[linktolinh]

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[lomuamart]

Only you can make that decision, Linktolinh. It's extremely political to say the least.
I go regularly to Ranong and over for my visa. A good friend who's a journalist with Reuters has always been sickened by the fact that I'm in any way supporting the junta. (He's persona non grata there now because of what he's written about the country).
It is opening up, however and some people can be fortunate enough to see some pristine locations before they eventually get touristy.
I suppose that's the decision you've got to make. On the one hand, seeing a part of the world where time has stood still since WW2 and knowing that you may be supporting one of the most repressive regimes in the world, set against the experience.
I'm not really sure about the travel info you posted. "Buy from locals, stay at local hotels/guesthouses etc". I'm not convinced that you'll have much choice once you're there.
Just my opinion.

[linktolinh]

The info I posted is copy paste from Lonely Planet website

[linktolinh]

Hi it's me again. Since there is no chance to reach Burma by road, I changed my plan

I drawn another route for my trip which suppose to take me 2 weeks I start it up by taking a bus from Hanoi to Vientian in the night of 18/11/2005 and arrive home around 30 Nov. Since I don't have much time I can only make it to main attractions which I normally reach by plane ( how boring)

The route will look like this. I definetelly need your guys suggestion to make it more efficiency:

Hanoi - Vientian ( Bus )- Vientian - Xieng khoang ( Plain of Jars) - Luong Phrabang (Bus) - Chiang Rai ( I don't have infomation about this routine yet Please advise) - Chiang Mai - Bangkok ( by bus or train) - Siem Riep

From Siem Riep there are 2 alternatives:

1. Back to Bangkok and fly to Hanoi

2. Bus or hydro boat to Phompenh - Tay Ninh (vietnam) - HoChiminhCity - Hanoi

- At the moment the group is 2 girls: me and 1 of my friend from Univ. Could you please help me with some information:

1. Budget Hotel in Luang

2. How to get from Luang to Chiang Rai ( with prices will be great)

3. Budget hotel in Chiang Rai

4. How much does train/bus ticket cost from Chiang Mai to BKK and which transportation is better?

[Guess]

Sorry can not help much but give you couple of pointers on Laos and Thailand.

1. ttp://www.resorthotel.net/laos/hotels/luangpr ... cation.htm
I have found hotels in Laos to be moreexpensive than Thailand but you can save money if you have USD. Might be worth checking into one first and dumping luggage before talking a walk around.

2. Travel in Laos is difficult. According to the site below its is possible to do this journey in a roundabout way. It will definitely be by road and very lengthy. A very good alternative would be boat as both destinations are on the Mekong. What I am not sure of at the moment is what Laos/Thai crossings are available to foreigners.

The alternative via Thailand is: back to Vien Chan, cros over bridge to Nong Khai, bus or train to Khon Kaen, bus to Pitsanalouk, bus to Sukhotai, bus to Chiang Rai. Again this is a roundabout route.

Bus fares usally work out between about .6 Baht and 1.2 Baht per KM.

http://www.resorthotel.net/laos/maps.htm

3. Many cheap hotels in Chiang Rai. Use the Lonely Planet Guide 200 up for fan room, 350 up for air-con.

4. Travel by train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok has to be the best option. Here is the timetable http://www.railway.co.th/timetable/N_N.html

You should be able toget the fares from the same site. It all depends on train type, class and whether or not you want a sleeper. Obviously you save a night in a hotel if you use a sleeper. The last timeI did it three years ago it was 1,100 Baht one way for a 2nd class sleeper. Journey takes between 12 and 14 hours depending upon train type.

Two things to be aware off though. November is high season so book as far in advance as possible. Maybe from an agent in Chiang Rai at the same time as booking your travel to Chiang Mai. In November it can get very cold up there so you won't need air-con.

I find buses scary on mountain roads. Overtaking on blind bends and all that stuff with tired drivers. You may save a little bit of time and money though. Also buses are uncomfortable and the toilets are bad. You can not move around or eat when you want.

Another bonus of the train is that you can stop off in Ayutthaya on the way to Bangkok. Well worth seeing.

Good luck

[linktolinh]

Thanks Guess, all information are very usefull.

Btw what is "roundabout road" mean?

Crossing Thai-Laos friendship it's OK for me but then I have to go back from Luang to Vientian again, and I'm trying to advoice it. I heard about ferry trip from Luang to Huai Xai ( Laos) and reach Thai border in Chiang Khuong???

I like Sukhothai, and the atmosphere there, the night market, last time I stayed in a very remote resort and in the morning there is a man ( look like a farmer) in a green boot prepared our eggs... It's so great to see him playing around the kitchen and I will never forget him.

Still if anybody experience any boder gate from Luang to Thailand please let's me know.

[Guess]

Thanks Guess, all information are very usefull.

Btw what is "roundabout road" mean?

It means not in a direct or even close to direct line. Directly from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai is only abour 250KM. The way I have sugested is more like 1250KM

Crossing Thai-Laos friendship it's OK for me but then I have to go back from Luang to Vientian again, and I'm trying to advoice it. I heard about ferry trip from Luang to Huai Xai ( Laos) and reach Thai border in Chiang Khuong???

So have I but I do not know anybody who has actually done it.

I like Sukhothai, and the atmosphere there, the night market, last time I stayed in a very remote resort and in the morning there is a man ( look like a farmer) in a green boot prepared our eggs... It's so great to see him playing around the kitchen and I will never forget him.

Still if anybody experience any boder gate from Luang to Thailand please let's me know.

Have you tried the Thai consulate in Hanoi. I guess they have a site. Most do.

[Wanderlust]

I heard about ferry trip from Luang to Huai Xai ( Laos) and reach Thai border in Chiang Khuong???

I did this trip about 6 1/2 years ago but that doesn't mean it is still running, although I should think it is. You basically had a choice of a slow boat, which was really really slow, or a speedboat, which was really really fast, or you could combine them by doing one half of the journey in one, and the other half in the other, which is what we ended up doing. We got the slow boat, a chugging old diesel thing, and it took 1 1/2 days to get from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng (about 160 km), when we were told it would be less than a day. We were pretty fed up by then as the fumes from the engine were really choking. We took the speedboat from there to Huay Xia (about 140 km), which took about 2 or 3 hours and is quite exhilerating! You have to wear crash helmets and life jackets and you realise why when you are speeding along. We then crossed out of Laos into Thailand to Chiang Kong, and got a bus from there to Chiang Mai. Prices for all of this will have changed so I can't give you a clue on that. Hope that helps.

[Guess]

I did this trip about 6 1/2 years ago but that doesn't mean it is still running, although I should think it is. You basically had a choice of a slow boat, which was really really slow, or a speedboat, which was really really fast, or you could combine them by doing one half of the journey in one, and the other half in the other, which is what we ended up doing. We got the slow boat, a chugging old diesel thing, and it took 1 1/2 days to get from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng (about 160 km), when we were told it would be less than a day. We were pretty fed up by then as the fumes from the engine were really choking. We took the speedboat from there to Huay Xia (about 140 km), which took about 2 or 3 hours and is quite exhilerating! You have to wear crash helmets and life jackets and you realise why when you are speeding along. We then crossed out of Laos into Thailand to Chiang Kong, and got a bus from there to Chiang Mai. Prices for all of this will have changed so I can't give you a clue on that. Hope that helps.

I am surprised that with Deidre Wanderlust on board that the journey was so fast.

Anyway it ties up exactly with what I have PMed and additionally it seems that it may be possible to split the journey between slow diesel and speedboat.

BTW Pakbeng is known locally as Muang Pakbeng and Huay Xia in French/Lao is known as Ban Houayxay. That is the name of the village across the Mekong from Chiang Khong.

I hope this information helps. Don't worry about me keep making fun of Deidre Wanderlust. He knows I love him really.

[Jaime]

LinktoLinh, I know you have changed your plans but for future reference you can drive over the mountains in Tak province to Mae Sot. It is a long, winding road but the surface is good. It takes about 3 hours from Kamphaeng Phet (45 minutes from Sukhotai), which is where I usually start. From there head to the Thai border town of Rim Moei a couple of km away. It has a kind of wild west feel to it. It used to be full of teak workshops but the last time I went they had all been cleared and there were lots of repatriation lectures being boomed out to groups of Burmese about to be sent back. Once you cross the bridge over the River Myawaddy you arrive in ... Myawaddy! Spot the wet backs in the river below crossing into Thailand from Burma on their huge tractor inner tubes. The biggest difference is the sound of bicycle bells everywhere - very few motor vehicles. Never been to the Ranong Burma crossing - does this sound similar to anyone that has done that crossing? Myawaddy is how I imagine Thailand 50 years ago. It is dirt poor. I remember thinking "This is about as close to India as I want to get." It used to be that foreigners could not stay more than a day and could not go beyond the town of Myawaddy but I think that has recently changed and it is now possible to travel inland at least as far as Moulmein. I am not sure about the visa arrangements for such a trip but last time I did it I paid 5 US dollars on the spot and the immigration officers kept my passport until I returned!

If you do sort out visas etc. and enter Burma by this route you should note that it is Karen bandit/freedom fighter country. It is also the main conduit for the supply of Yaa Baa from Burma to Thailand. There are therefore frequent army checkpoints on the Thai side leading through the mountains to Mae Sot and I guess the same on the Burmese side. I have not done it but judging by the state of the roads in Myawaddy, I imagine the Myawaddy - Moulmein - Rangoon (Yangon) route would be long and uncomfortable.

Best of luck!