Although we
have started dating since 2008, Mister has not been to Myanmar, not even once.
Of course, that is not acceptable yea :D So we planned!
Since I was already planning to go
home for a short visit after my final exams in the NUS (National University of
Singapore), I asked him to go with me. As we were planning his trip, he had doubts
like "would he be granted a tourist visa because he held a US
passport". [Nope, I am not dating an Ang Moh. He is just an ABC - American
Born Chinese :D] I had to repeatedly reassure him that he would be given a visa
and there is nothing to fear at the immigration. Of course, as I told him, he
easily obtained a visa. By the way, Myanmar Embassy (Singapore) is located near Orchard
Road. The address is 15 St Martin's Drive, Singapore 257996.
Luckily, just as we were thinking
of buying air tickets for him, MAI (Myanmar Airways International) was having
promotions. Mister just ended up paying less than S$300 for his return ticket
with a full service airline! For a 3-hour-flight! So worth it, right?
For those of you who are thinking
of going to Myanmar but are discouraged by the expensive ticket prices, do
check out MAI Facebook Page and websites of Jetstar, Silkair and SIA. Sometimes,
you can even fly with Singapore Airlines (SIA) for S$400! For MAI promotion
tickets, I guess you will have to buy from any of the travel agencies in
Peninsula Plaza (near City Hall MRT).
Thai Airways fly to Myanmar too
but I am not sure about their ticket prices. The good thing is Thai
Airways not only fly to Yangon (biggest city in Myanmar and the commercial hub
of the country), but also to Mandalay (second biggest city in Myanmar and the
cultural hub?).
If you wanna save more money, you
can fly with Air Asia. The downside is Air Asia does not fly direct from Singapore to
Myanmar. You gotta transit at KL Budget Terminal and it was not exactly a
pleasant experience for me. The prices are super cheap though. In 2011, I paid a total of
S$123 for 4 flights! Yes, you read it right. FOUR Flights (Singapore -> KL,
KL -> Myanmar, Myanmar -> KL, KL -> Singapore). BUT I would not
recommend it as the KL budget terminal is not exactly conducive for resting and
all these transits would really waste so much of your time! So unless you
really really really need to save money, please don't choose Air Asia.
Okay, back to Mister's visit.
Visa - checked
Air Ticket - checked
Myanmar Currency - change in
Myanmar [Very few money changers in Singapore have Myanmar currency. Even if
they do, the rate is not so good. So you should just change at the
Yangon International Airport. There are a few banks at the airport's arrival area.]
So away we go! He was in
Myanmar for 10 days (from 19 May 2012 to 28 May 2012). Our itinerary is as
follow:
Day 1 - Yangon [take overnight Yangon-Mandalay
bus, approximately 9-10 hours]
Day 2 - Pyin Oo Lwin
Day 3 - Mandalay
Day 4 - Bagan
Day 5 - Bagan & Mount Popa
Day 6 - Kyaukse [take overnight
Mandalay-Yangon bus, approximately 9-10 hours]
Day 7 - Yangon
Day 8 - Yangon
Day 9 - Motorcycle lessons for
Mister!
Day 10 - Back to Singapore with
8am flight
I will be sharing more details about our trip in my next few posts!
Adios!
xoxo
Miss N
No comments:
Post a Comment