A tour operator from Asia tells of his recent experience travelling in Burma

by Mizzima News

Friday, 24 October 2008 12:21

Dear Editor If things weren't already strange enough in our industry, here's some information you might like to be aware of. After days of hassle, we finally gained permission to travel by ferry to Pathein in Burma's Irrawaddy Division. No one knew if it was okay for foreigners to travel to Pathein yet or not. But eventually, following many trips to local offices and a lot of talking, we were allowed to travel on an old boat that I don't think had been cleaned since my last trip. Once in Pathein we found that none of the guest houses in the city are allowed to have foreign guests anymore and that busses are being stopped on their way here and any foreigners travelling without travel papers are asked to get off the bus and are sent back to Rangoon. Additionally, one couple got sent back on the road from Pathein to the beach resort of Ngwe Saung. Even diplomats have been hassled. We feel lucky to have gotten on the ferry, and then because we rode bicycles from Pathein to Ngwe Saung no one thought to stop us along the road. We were hoping to stay in an inexpensive guest house as we'd be in Pathein for 10 days, but instead we had to stay in a government hotel. So, in case any tourists are thinking to travel here, make sure you have your travel documents and hotel reservations in order, as some of the hotels are demanding travel permission documents as well. Everyone, essentially, is covering their butts and collecting money along the way. < Prev   Next >