Dave and Coz's Guestbook

Kyat Exchange Rates
The best rate I got was 1120 to the dollar at the art market in Yangon. Count your Kyat carefully before you hand over any greenbacks. None the less you should show them the dollar bills before as to get top rates you need pristine 100 US dollar bills. PRISTINE. It's not dangerous in the art market as you can count it in private. They'll give you a chair to sit on and probably offer you a tea. Pretty relaxed. Avoid chaning in a busy street in the open as you may well be conned. What to bring? Lots of dollars as there are no ATMS! I would also bring some oatmeal (oats) as fried eggs everyday gets on my nerves. Take a sachet of powdered milk aas well. Stay in the Homelands guesthouse in Yangon. The best value for money, clean and so friendly. If you plan to use buses then ok but fly as much as your budget will allow and definately between Mandalay and Bagan, 25 mins on a plane vs 9 hours on the bumpiest bus in Asia. Reasons for FX rate differences.(see below)... Without doubt, the nicest people in Asia Have a great trip. Dave. These revenues make next to no impact on the country’s official fiscal accounts, however. The reason is simple: Burma’s U.S. dollar gas earnings are recorded in the government’s published accounts at the local currency’s “official” exchange rate of around six kyat to a dollar. This rate overvalues the currency by nearly 200 times its market value and undervalues the local-currency value of Burma’s gas earnings by an equivalent amount. Recorded at the official rate, Burma’s gas earnings translate into less than 1% of budget receipts. By contrast, if the same gas earnings are recorded at the market exchange rate, their contribution would more than double total state receipts, and largely eliminate Burma’s fiscal deficit. The motivation for this sleight of hand is probably to “quarantine” Burma’s foreign exchange earnings from the country’s public accounts, thereby making them available to the regime and its cronies. This accounting is facilitated by Burma’s state-owned Foreign Trade Bank and some willing offshore banks. Flush with these funds, Burma’s military rulers have embarked upon a spending binge of epic proportions, including indulging themselves in the creation of a new administrative capital named Naypyidaw, or “abode of kings.” They are also buying nuclear technologies of uncertain use from Russia and possibly from North Korea.

Hi mum, the trains were VERY different from the ones in India!! Lol. I ate 2 eggs at Mount Fuji and Dave ate 3 (plus my whites!!!). So our life expectancy has definitely increased! ;-) Love and miss you too xxxx

Hiking costs
Hi Nils, we used a company called Paramount Adventure, based in New Manali (near the Chopsticks restaurant). It cost about $25 a day without a cook. However, we would definitely recommend a cook, as you will be too tired at the end of each day (especially with the altitude!). Enjoy!!! ;-) Thanks, Dave and Corinne

Skirts
I take it from your comment that you don't wear skirts all that much yourself? I've actually got 3 in the closet, 2 shortish ones and one full length one for going out.

Hi Kelly Really glad you're enjoying the blog. How's Indya doing? Have you got any photos you could send us? Lots of love to the 3 of you xxx