Chairman's Program: Off the Map Burma

Itinerary

2012 Itinerary – Off the Map: Burma

Day 1 (Tuesday):
You will depart the United States today on Rustic Pathways’ escorted group flight. You can use the flight time to get some sleep, meet your fellow travelers and relax in preparation for your upcoming adventure!

Day 2 (Wednesday):
You will arrive in Singapore today and spend the night at a nice hotel before continuing on to Yangon in the morning.

Day 3 (Thursday):
Today will be your first day in Burma! Get ready for the adventure as you arrive in Yangon and meet Rustic Pathways’ Chairman and your trip leader, David Venning, who will be waiting for you at the airport.  From here it will be a short ride to the beautiful Savoy Hotel—just steps from the world-renowned Shwedagon Pagoda.

After getting settled in your room, you will have dinner at the hotel. Everyone is sure to be exhausted after the long flight, so you will head to bed early tonight.

Day 4 (Friday):
Today you will head out into Yangon to explore. You will tour some of the city’s most famous sights, including the beautiful golden Shwedagon Pagoda.  Then have a traditional Bamar lunch at one of the most famous restaurants in town. In the afternoon, you will head over to the Scott Market to buy a longyi and paint your face with thanaka. You will feel right at home in no time!

Days 5-8  (Saturday - Tuesday)
This morning you will leave the city behind for the tranquil archaeological zone of Bagan, and you will be amazed at how much the landscape changes after just a one-hour flight.

Your hotel here sits on the banks of the Irrawaddy River and is built amongst ruins that are 1,000 years old!
During your days here you will hang out with villagers, visit monks we know and students we support, eat in a small vegetarian restaurant as well as a Burmese pizza shop, hang out with young Burmese men and women who make sand paintings, ride around in a horse cart, and groove slowly into Burma. 

The temples of Bagan are small and wide open to visitors, and you may often find that the group has a temple to itself. As you wander the dusty plains exploring the hundreds of temples that dot the landscape, you will be amazed at the ingenuity and skill of the ancient craftsmen who created these incredible structures.  

This trip is about much more than simply seeing the sights – incredible though they are. So in addition to checking out the temples of Bagan, you will get to know the local people. You will be different from almost any other tourist who finds their way here because of the many friends we have. Owners of tea shops, tour guides, teachers, students, boat drivers, goat herders, cane growers, Buddhist monks, and a group of really cool Burmese football players will all help you get to know their country. 

As a side trip from Bagan, you will head out to Mount Popa, which is about an hour’s bus ride away. Spiritually one of the most significant places in the country for the Burmese, Mount Popa is home to the nats, or guardian spirits that look over the people in their daily lives. The setting of Mount Popa is spectacular, and indeed all of Burma is like a series of a thousand pictures waiting to be taken and  a thousand stories waiting to be heard. At Mount Popa you will climb to the top of the peak, pay respects to the nats, and chase off the monkeys who come to hunt for food. On the quiet road to and from Mount Popa, you will stop to visit with friends, sample fresh sugar cane juice, and explore villages that are off the beaten path. 

Days 8-9 (Tuesday - Wednesday):
A 30-minute flight will bring you back in to the urban heart of Burma – Mandalay. It would be possible to drive here, but the road conditions in Burma are so bad that this drive of 150 miles can take as long as twelve hours. 

You will touch down in one of the most famous, and intriguing, cities in all of Southeast Asia. Mandalay is cooler, calmer, and much more colorful than Yangon.  It is also home to 70 percent of all the Buddhist monks in Burma – that’s a lot of monks!

You will spend some time here visiting with novice and teaching monks, meeting the young women and men who work on the ships on the banks of the Irrawaddy, sampling Shan food and gourmet Burmese fare, and hanging out in Burmese tea shops. Your home in Mandalay will be the Mandalay Hill Resort, a stunning hotel set atop the tallest mountain in town. This perch will afford an incredible view as the sun sets over the Irrawaddy River. 

Your time in Mandalay will offer many fascinating history lessons and also introduce you to a new group of friends who live in and around the city.  

Days 10-12 (Thursday - Saturday):
Traveling out from Mandalay by car, you will head into Shan State, home to the Shan or Tai Yai people.  As the car climbs high into the mountains, you will leave the town and most of modern Burma behind.  If visiting Burma feels like stepping back 50 years in time, then the trip into the Shan Hills feels like moving back another decade. 

You will be based in Pwin Oo Lwin or ‘Maytown’ while you are here and will stay in a charming country hotel owned by a very interesting doctor and his wife. The place is lovely and clean and will provide a great base as we explore small Hill Tribe towns, visit Burma’s most famous gardens, swim in waterfalls, visit elderly monks at an old Shan monastery, and catch up with more friends.

Maytown is also home to a small monastery with four teaching monks and 32 novices from poor families who come to learn in the temple.  We know these monks well and will spend hours with them during our stay. Making your visit even more interesting is the fact that Burma’s equivalent of West Point is situated just outside of town, with more than 10,000 young Burmese officers-in-training in residence. They just happen to visit the same tea houses as we do, allowing us some interesting contact with the young side of the Burmese army. Maytown is also home to a very cool Shan market (full of exotic souvenirs!) and a small, very good café that serves croissants and makes pizza to order. 

Days 13-15 (Sunday - Tuesday):
After a few days you will come down from your cool perch in the mountains and wind your way back to the airport in Mandalay for the one-hour flight to Inle Lake. The flight path will skirt the edge of the Shan State before turning east into the homeland of the Tai Yai people.

Inle Lake is spectacular and ringed by mountains and small villages that are accessible only by boat. We have our own group of boats and will head onto the lake for the half-hour trip to the hotel, which you will enter by water gate. The setting here is dazzling and the air is crystal clear – the perfect place to settle in for several days.

You will spend your time here exploring the area by boat. Stop off at exotic markets where various tribal groups sell everything from brass buffalo bells to handmade fabrics, clothing, and antiques. Visit ancient monasteries, watch jumping cats, check out floating farms, and learn about life in San State.  You will also see lots of Inta people here. They are the largest tribal group on the lake and are famous for rowing their boats with one foot while standing – you have to see it to believe it! You will also meet Pa-Oh and Shan people, as well as those from various smaller tribal groups that live in the area. 

One afternoon you will take a trip high up into the mountains to visit Taunggyi, the last town open to visitors in Shan State.  Beyond this pretty mountain town, the Burmese military has closed the road and effectively locked up the rest of Shan State. 

Day 16 (Wednesday):
At the end of the trip, you will fly back to Yangon to make an offering at Shwedagon Pagoda before leaving the country.  This is one of the most auspicious places in the country, and all Burmese people hope to visit it at least once in their lifetime.  Then – after lunch with friends – you will board the flight back to Thailand.

Day 17 (Thursday):
If you are returning to the United States today, you will join the escorted group flight heading home. If you are connecting to another Rustic Pathways adventure, you will meet with your new leaders today.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Off the Map Burma Packing List
Photo Equipment, Thoughts / Ideas

·  Any type of camera is fine, just plan on getting better!
·  Staff carry computers and portable hard drives to edit and back up your photos.
·  I do recommend rechargeable batteries and extra memory cards. 
·  Film can also be purchased in larger cities.  However you may have to wait to get    home to process it.
·  Southeast Asia is a wet environment so please have a good case that keeps your camera safe from elements like rain and dirt.  Keep a couple of small plastic grocery bags in your camera bag just in case. 
·  We do a good deal of exploring on foot.  So however much or equipment you choose to bring make sure you have a comfortable way of carrying it around.
·  If you are traveling with expensive equipment, I’d strongly suggest you have it insured. We do our best to stay in safe areas, but theft and accidental damage are always possible. Ask your parents for help!  If equipment isn’t already covered by an existing insurance policy, Personal Articles Policies are a great inexpensive way to protect your gear against just about anything.

Carry-On Luggage: A small backpack is the best carry on bag.
• Passport and Wallet *Travel Wallet that can be hidden under clothing is a good idea.
• Photo Copy of Passport  (2 additional photocopies should be carried in checked luggage)
• Sunglasses
• Journal and Pens
• Good Book (trade with buddies)

• Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry on regulations of the TSA: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Checked Luggage:A medium sized duffel bag or large backpack work best.  Wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried like a duffle over rough terrain.  15 kilos is often the weight limit on SE Asian airlines overage costs are the responsibility of the student

CLOTHING ITEMS *Please bring at least a few items appropriate for temple visits, (knees and shoulders covered)

• 1 long pants or skirt
• Underwear (5 to 7)
• Socks (7 to 8) * Lightweight quick dry athletic socks like Smartwool are the best.
• T-Shirts and tank tops and sports shirts (3-5 cotton t-shirts + 3-5 quick dry shirts like capilene or polypropylene) approximately 10 t-shirts total
• 1 light sweater/sweatshirt
• Rainproof Jacket (1)
• Shorts (3-5 pairs of shorts)
• Swim Suit (1 or 2)
• Athletic Shoes *Shoes that dry quickly, you can hike short distances in and protect your feet are best.  Shoes will get muddy and dirty so don’t get too attached to your footwear.
• Sandals and/or Flip-Flops *it is recommended to have a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water (Teva or Chaco brand sandals work great) YOU WILL LIVE IN THESE SHOES IN SE ASIA
• Hat for Sun
• towel (NOT white) *Large travel towels are great!
• One nice casual outfit.

TOILETTRIES (Please pack all items that could leak in a PLASTIC or ZIPLOCK bags)

• Shampoo and Soap (preferably with little or no fragrance because of bugs) *you can find non-fragrance and biodegradable soap at natural food stores and outdoor adventure stores. Dr. Brauner’s and Mountain Suds soaps are both good.
• Non-Fragrant Deodorant
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush
• Sunscreen (2 bottles of strong Sunscreen)
• Insect Repellant (2 bottles 35% DEET)
• Anti-itch Cream (1 Benedryl Anti-itch Gel works great)
• Hand Sanitizer (1 or 2 small bottles per week)
• Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia PLASTIC BAG

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries (to read at night or in the case of power outages)
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2) *for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)
• Medications (must tell staff about)
• Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a small personal kit is always helpful)
• Band aids
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment
• Medical Tape
• Moleskin or preferred blister care
• Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
• Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
• 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
• 2 Gauze dressing
• 5-8 After Cuts and Scrapes Wipes

*Note: See the following link for ideas on small, personal first aid kits:
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/kit_detail.asp?
series=300&seriesNav=Dom&kit=302&kitNO=0125-0292
OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Burmese or Shan/English dictionary
• Deck of Cards

 

Off the Map Burma FAQs

What is unique about Off the Map Burma?
First- BURMA.  Burma itself is extremely unique, exotic, and untouched by the outside world.  Burma is unlike any place on earth due to its lack of tourism over the years, and it is almost like traveling back in time, where life is simpler, the land is pure, and the people are kind.  Second- OFF THE MAP.  The relatively few tourists Burma has seen over the years have stuck to the tourist path, thus this trip delves even deeper into traditional cultures, village lore, and back in time.  Third- CHAIRMANS PROGRAM.  This trip is led by David Venning, the Chairman and Founder or Rustic Pathways, who has decades of experience in experiential learning, working with teens, and traveling in SE Asia.  Accompany David anywhere and you’ll bump into old friends and people he’s supported over the years, making it like a family affair!

What do students generally like most about this program?
Students love Burma and its people.  It is an exotic land of unspeakable beauty, and the people share that beauty in their own nature.  Kind, welcoming, and fun-loving, you’ll quickly make friends with many of the Burmese people along the way.  Our local staff waits for this trip all year, and unleashes relentless jokes, smiles, and laughter throughout these two weeks.  This trip visits some beautiful sights, and allows the time to sink into those places and cultures.

Do we need to get visas for this program?
Yes.  You are responsible for getting your own visa to Burma well ahead of the departure date.  The following link will take you to the application form: 
http://www.mewashingtondc.com/visas_passports.htm 
We will be sending you more information regarding your visas as we get closer to the summer.

Are any of the places we visit dangerous?
There is amazingly little crime and violence in most of rural Asia.  These are small, friendly communities where everyone knows each other, and they truly act in a communal fashion.  Additionally, Rustic Pathways longtime aid and presence in these regions has earned a certain amount of respect within these communities and our visitors are welcomed with open arms.  Many of our staff come from or have family in the villages we visit.

What will the accommodations be like?
We’ll stay at hotels and guest houses. There will be a range of accommodations on this trip, including nice hotels with beautiful swimming pools and all the amenities you could hope for. We also stay at a couple of simple guest houses owned by our friends along the way.

How often will I have the chance to do laundry?
Students will have the chance to wash their clothes at least a few times during the trip.

Are the mosquitoes a problem?
There are mosquitoes. They’re usually not too bad, but you will want to have a long sleeve shirt and long pants in the evenings. Students are also advised to bring a small bottle of insect repellent containing DEET at least 15%-20% DEET.

What will I need to spend my allowance money on?
There will be ample opportunities to shop!  Our staff will take you through some of the finest stalls, malls, and markets of Burma.  You’ll see all kinds of souvenirs and fun stuff to buy, so budget accordingly.  Prices in Asia are on average significantly cheaper than in the West, but be wary that a lot of great deals can add up.  Markets and local crafts are huge part of Burmese culture and a great way to support the local community.  Here are some approximate, sample prices (listed in US dollars) that should help you prepare a budget: hand-woven scarf = $3; hand-woven shoulder bag = $6; T-shirt = $6; small wood carving = $5; soccer ball = $10

What is the weather like?
It’s hot, and humid in the day and a little cooler in the mountains at night. Daily downpours are short and give way to sunny skies. Be prepared for heat and dampness. Synthetic fiber clothes are great because they dry fast much faster than cotton can.

Are there any extremely physical or strenuous activities on this trip?
No. But be prepared to do quite a bit of walking while exploring the country, temples, rivers, and lakes.  Plus you have to make it across the world’s LONGEST teak bridge, all while bartering for local goods!

How often will I have access to email and phones?
Phones are always available on an emergency basis.  Students will be able to use phones and internet in their free time almost every day, although we encourage our students to use the internet only for a limited time, and only for corresponding with their family and friends.

Who will the staff members be on the trip? How many staff members will there be?
This trip is designed and led by David Venning, the Chairman and Founder of Rustic Pathways, through some of his favorite places on earth.  In general, each trip is staffed by a combination of western (American) and local leaders, and in most cases each team will include a nationally licensed guide, a western man and a western woman. We never have fewer than one staff member for every five students. 

What kind of food will I eat? What if I have certain dietary restrictions?
One word… delicious! Burmese food is something similar to a wonderful mix of Asian and Indian cuisine.  Traditional curries, fresh fruit and Shan noodles will all be on the menu!  There will also be access to the occasional pizza.  Almost all dietary concerns can be accommodated, but please alert us of any relevant restrictions beforehand just to make sure.  Vegetarians Welcome! 

What water will we be drinking? 
We will be drinking all bottled water.  Bottled water is safe and readily available.

Where is the nearest healthcare?
The major cities in Burma offer decent healthcare, and in the event of any serious issue we can quickly transport students to Bangkok for some the world’s finest medical care.  For the short time we will be in more rural areas farther from top-quality medical care, our staff will have a clear plan and route to the nearest healthcare depending on the severity of the situation. 

Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards. 

What immunizations do we need to get for the trip? 
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. You will need to visit your local travel clinic and discuss your specific itinerary with a physician so that they can make medical recommendations for you.  For general information about travel around the world, please see the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

Will there be a flight leader to this country?
All flights departing from and returning to the United States will have flight leaders. In the event a student is connecting from another country, they may or may not have a flight leader. In such instances, we generally have coordinated with the airlines to escort the students from check-in through customs, and delivered to a verified Rustic Pathways staff member. 

How does this program connect to other programs?
All of our programs within Asia connect seamlessly.  All trips begin and end on Thursday, thus allowing for easy connectivity and convenience.

Did you know?
Burma or Myanmar?  Burma was the name given by the British during the colonial period.  In 1989, the government, considered by many nations to be illegitimate, changed the name to Myanmar.  Thus, the renaming of the nation remains a contested issue.