Product Description

the most comprehensive guide to Myanmar on the market dedicated chapter outlining the current political situation with balanced, informative text detailing the pros and cons of independent travel to Myanmar special section on the Temples of Bagan written by two experienced, Southeast Asia authors brand new suggested itineraries chapter with hot tips on the best way to get around the country be it on a classic route or off the beaten path, including detailed suggestions on how to avoid supporting the military junta while travelling Myanmar means "first people in the world" Myanmar contains much of the world's teak the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is covered with gold and diamonds, is one of the world's most important Buddhist shrines, containing eight hairs of Buddha yellow powder, made from bark, is worn on the face as a protection against the sun there has been a prohibition on western music but young people like heavy metal bands although songs must be in Burmese

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #208083 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 404 pages

Customer Reviews

Myanmar
As an avid traveller and user of Lonely Planet for as many years as I can remember, I was DISGUSTED by this new edition..it proved to be a tirade against the regime rather than a travel guide. It is so obsessed at telling us how wicked the regime is that it fails to fulfill its purpose as a travel guide. Sadly though I have recommended Lonely Planet guides throughout my life I would strongly advise travellers NOT TO BUY THIS BOOK.

Excellent
This is a superb little book with everything you need to know when visiting the country. The restaurant and hotel descriptions are very accurate, and the maps and site guides excellent. One of the best features of the book are the Rangoon and Mandalay walking tours, which both take you on fascinating routes through colourful and architecturally interesting parts of the city and off the beaten track away from the more touristy sites.

I would have liked a more detailed history, particularly of British Burma, but that aside it's an invaluable travel companion.

The book is certainly political in its opposition to all things government but having now been there and seen how awfully the country is governed, this is no bad thing. People should definitely travel to Burma but make every effort to ensure their dollars don't end up in the pockets of the government. This guidebook provides you with the information to achieve this while offering superb travel advice.

I would have been lost (in every sense) without it.

Travel guide?
I am a keen reader of Lonely planet guides and they are usually my first choice every time I backpack in a foreign country; usually well written and plenty of useful suggestions. I am sorry to admit this was NOT the case. As another reader wrote (certainly better than I could do with my poor English..), this guide " is so obsessed at telling us how wicked the regime is that it fails to fulfill its purpose as a travel guide". After the first few pages you'll learn you'll be stressed for the rest of the chapters to make your best to avoid supporting the regime; which is good to a certain extent, but not when it becomes the leitmotiv of the whole guide.
Hotel reviews are well written as usual ( and that's what kept me to give 1 star), but places suspected by the reader to have connection with the regime or accessible only through government agencies they won't simply be covered, such as Padaung (long neck) villages or mountain tribes in the extreme north; I'd prefer to have all the info and make my mind up about what is worth or what is bad to visit..