The YH3 organisational capacity will be stretched to breaking point to mount this event. We will try and get a web site up and running (with a little help from some of our Hash friends in countries where they have things like Internet and the Web) and post appropriate information there. We will also try and get a credit card payment system launched so that we can collect your rego fees (probably around $50 - based on the last event in Chiang Mai). However, these things will take time and so that Hashers have appropriate information well in advance, we will try to put out a series of Bulletins to allow you to surmount the logistical obstacles that will be put in your way if you try to visit this wonderful country.

On On
BoBo
P.S. I would appreciate it if you could feature an advertisement for the 6th Mekong/Indochina Hash in your local Hash Trashes. We are somewhat Internetually challenged in Myanmar and getting information and publicity to the outside world is not easy!

Bulletin 01
Visas
All visitors to Myanmar need a visa. THERE ARE NO VISAS ON ARRIVAL! Tourist visas cost $20 and you will need to submit your passport together with two application forms and three photos to your nearest Myanmar embassy. Visa applications usually take two to three days to process. Business visas have some advantages (see below) but cost $36 and you will need an "Invitation Letter" to be sent to the embassy from an appropriate organisation within Myanmar.

Myanmar embassies in and around the SE Asia region are located in:
Brunei Darussalam
Bangkok, Thailand
Beijing, China
Kunming, China
Manila, Philippines
Jakarta, Indonesia
KL, Malaysia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
New Delhi, India
Singapore
Tokyo, Japan
Vientiane, Laos
Note: We can provide contact details for any of these embassies if required.

Flights
Flights to Yangon are infrequent and tend to get fully booked during the months November to February because this is the cool dry season when visitors (such as they are) arrive. It is imperative that you book as far in advance as possible to ensure that you get a seat.

Bangkok offers the most frequent connections (three flights - sometimes four - per day) but these flights are invariably fully booked weeks in advance. At the time of writing, there are also one to two flights per day from Singapore, four per week from Kuala Lumpur, two per week from Chiang Mai and occasional flights from Beijing, Taipei, Kunming and Dacca. Note that flight schedules and routings can vary from time to time. We will try to publish a complete listing of flights to and from Yangon in future Bulletins.

Money
Tourists holding Tourist Visas will be asked to exchange US $200 into FEC on arrival at the airport. Business visa holders are exempt from this rule (as are members of organised tour groups - about which we will try to provide the necessary information in due course).

Myanmar has a complex currency system. There are three currencies in circulation - US dollars, FEC and Kyat. It is technically illegal for most Myanmar people to hold US dollars. FEC (Foreign Exchange Certificates) have a face value equal to that of US dollars and are legal tender. Kyat is the local currency and the exchange rate with the US dollar varies on a daily basis. Currently the exchange rate is hovering at over 1000 Kyat to the dollar. You will get slightly less if you exchange FEC (the differential varies but is currently close to 100 Kyat, i.e. you will currently get a little over 900 Kyat for 1 FEC). Retail outlets that are authorised to accept dollars (essentially just a few large hotels and restaurants catering for foreigners and travel agencies) will usually accept either US dollars or FEC on a one-for-one basis.

You are advised to bring hard currency with you (preferably US $). There are NO ATMs in Myanmar. Credit cards are not in general use although a few large international hotels do accept them.