Going to Myanmar....last minute thoughts....any advice

Leica All Day

Leica All Day

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Hello everybody......I am leaving on saturday and this is going to be a "photo trip" (no girlfriend, no relaxing on the beach, etc...)...I am exicted that I will have some personal time to work on nothing but photography...I have already decided on what lenses I want to bring and what film that I want to shoot...I have spent the last week running around Bangkok buying film, getting my m6ttl's top plate tightened down and visiting embassies and getting visas, re-entry permits, etc..

I am all set now....so....I am curious to hear from any members that have been before...any "tips" or helpful advice....I am flying into Yangoon if that helps...

..I went to northern Myanmar 2 years ago , I spent 2 weeks in a remote town (Kengtung)..... but I was not allowed to venture anywhere outside that town because it is in Shan State and the government restricts places that tourists can go, so my experience is very limited of the country...

This time it will be different...I am going to be travelling around the country and visiting a couple of different places....

any suggestions or helpful advice?

BTW, here is my kit....I debated on whether to bring the 35mm 1.2 nokton, but I decided it is coming with me...even though I plan on using my 28mm most of the time.....

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cheers....michael......


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Don't go for a lovely evening swim and end up at Aung San Suu Kyi's house ;)

also, since you are shooting tri-x, dont forget that if you clearly mark your rolls, you can shoot some at 400 speed for d76 or rodinal or whatever, but if you need 1600 speed at any point, trix in diafine is 1600.
 
Well, you live in SEA. You've apparently been there before so you know what you're getting into. It would seem to me that tourism gives tacit support to the regime though. OTOH, how else to give any support to the local people? A hard choice that I'd not care to make - my own with our adoption in Vietnam was quite easy in comparison.

Tell you what - I'll look forward to the pictures :) Take care & may you have good light.

William
 
I'm also curious what you do for a living and how you sold this trip to the Burmese authorities. Just tourism? You might think about registering with the American Embassy in Yangoon, they can give you tips and that way there is someone looking out for you if things go wrong. Just a thought.
 
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I've been over there a couple of times. People are really lovely and real and willing to talk. Women are sleek and beautiful and many have special "tanaka spots" on their cheeks. You'll propably get a fixer or driver who's reporting your doings to someone, but that's the name of the game over there, no reason to get upset about it. The place in my photo is Bagan. Definitely a place to spend a few days taking sunset and sunrise views. Another good place to spend a few days is Mandalay and the ancient villages around it. Yangoon is sort of nice but the old part of the city is badly in need of restoration. Lonelyplanet has a good Myanmar guidebook. You'll find used copies of it in Khao San district in Bangkok, check sellers on Soi Rambuttri first. Buy a few copies and leave them discreetly in small hostels in Burma. People there just adore to read what the outside world thinks about them. The sad fact is that they know very little about the world where we live.

Food is generally bad as you already know. Take along some medicin you might need. In case you get ill get back to Thailand as quick as you can. Your mobile or internet will not work and credit cards are useless so carry a reasonable sum of 10 to 50$ bills with you. Take the bumpy train or bus instead of trying those Chinese "flying Tuk Tuks" they have. They really are dangerous.

Hope this helps. Have a great journey and please show us some photos :)
 
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One more photo. This is from Mandalay Hill. These little monk boys had propably never seen a foreigner before.

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Hope you have fun, Michael! Nice set of lenses... That 90 deserves some use after carrying it... Smoooth... Looks like you're selling some Tri-X there, ha ha... Remember to show us your great 35 1.2 shots... Good luck!

Mablo, the shot with the woman is really great!

Cheers,

Juan
 
Thanks for all the replies and the information....

I don't plan on swimming to anybody's house when I am there....no way...

I do have some more film that I am bringing that is not in the photo...

I think it is easy to get a tourist visa for Myanmar in Bangkok if you are a traveler, unfortunately, it was a little difficult for me because I work here (legally) and I needed to show some "extra" documents that most people don't have to show...

I am going to register with the U.S. Embassy and even possibly stop by for a visit...For some strange reason, whenever I am in other countries, I like to visit my Embassy ...I have made some good contacts before and for some strange reason, it is interesting to me... but I am hoping that i don't have to use them for "any reason" while I am there.

Hey Mablo, thanks for the info...I appreciate it....

cheers, michael
 
Your gear is very good. But I think you do need a camera bag which can be fully zip closed. There are plenty of bugs which can enter it otherwise!
 
One more thing now that I remember it. Try to avoid placing your belongings in the luggage compartment below when traveling by bus. Not because of thieves (there aren't many) but sometimes a bridge or two may have vanished and the bus will have to swim across the river. I found this out in the hard way.
 
Can't give any useful advice (apart from the obvious "more Tri-X") but am looking forward to your pictures... Am going to Bangladesh myself shortly but Myanmar / Burma is definitely on my list of places to visit.
Cheers
Vincent
 
Thanks again for the information guys.....

I am bringing more ti-x, about 40-50 rolls total...I am also going to bring a couple rolls of slide film and some color print film as well....I plan on shooting tri-x most of the time, but I want to have some color film in case I want to shoot it...I am bringing a small backpack in addition to my camera bag....I travel light...I am just hoping that immigration doesn't look at me funny when all I have is a couple of cameras and lenses, a bunch of film and a toothbrush......

I am leaving in 20 hours and I am super excited......I totally need a "photography trip" right now.....one more thing, I found out there aren't any atm's there and credit cards are useless, so I have to carry ALL my cash on me....yikes...

....cheers, michael
 
Enjoy your trip and get back great photos. I have read so much about Burma that I'd like to do a photography trip there. But, it's one of those countries where being an Indian gets you on the blacklist for visas... forbidden fruits *sigh*. Although, I know of a friend who snuck in from Chiang Rai...
 
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