Tom's Travels: Burma/Myanmar 2008 Mandalay puppet show, Amarapura & Saigang

In Easter 2008, I visited Burma (Myanmar) - home to a totalitarian military dictatorship. This video documents my travels in Mandalay, Amarapura and Saigang including footage of Mandalay hill, a traditional puppet show, temples, Kuthodaw Pagoda (the world's biggest book) and U Bein's teak Bridge.

As a tourist, I was careful to minimise any money going to the government infrastructure and was welcomed by the Burmese people throughout the country. I felt the US$1 spent on the Circular Railway was worth the interactions it bought with local people from all around the city - I spoke to journalists, students, military-men and ex-civil servants about the situation in the country.

There are no right or wrong answers in response to whether or not foreigners should visit Burma - but all who choose to go should ensure they do extensive reading before and during their travels. See: http://www.freeburma.org/ and http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/

My own Burma page: http://www.globalcitizen.co.uk/travels/myanmar/index.html for photos, journals and more videos.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• burma
• tom
• grundy
• travel
• backpacking
• myanmar
• Mandalay
• Amarapura
• Saigang
• teak
• bridge
• Bein's
• puppet
• puppetry
• marionette
• Kuthodaw
• Pagoda
• temple
• buddhism
• buddhist

[MMABJJ1987]

Im going there in march next year, cycling from Yangon to Bangkok. Any advice about geting into Burma or any helpful tips?

[mod83]

@MMABJJ1987 Happy travels. Just be sure to boycott all government hotels/transport/infrastructur­e and direct your money towards the locals.

[Travel3]

Excellent.

[etonelay]

Thank you! This video reminds me of back memories.

[nopember]

Very good.