Burma vs. Laos

[Doggy Lover]

Doggy Goes to Myanmar

Okay, now that I have recovered from my Myanmar trip sufficiently, let me give a report on the scene there. First off many thanks again to all you bros in this forum for the help especially Craig Less.

Myanmar as you all know is in control by a repressive military junta. Therefore I was not expecting very much except maybe the border towns near Thailand. However I was very much surprised.

First off, forget about your mobiles. There is no roaming service in Myanmar. So guys, sorry, no contacts whatsoever as it will be a landline and a shared one at that. Plus not everyone speaks english.

Secondly, currency. The Kyatt (pronounced as Chet) is officially listed as approx. US$1 to Kyatt 6 but at the official money changers in Yangon you can get US$1 to Kyatt 450. As you can see there is already a big difference. However when I visited Mr. Thoe at the Central, I got US$1 to Kyatt 850/900 depending on the day as it fluctuates. However I did not quibble over the difference as I was already getting a good deal.

I stayed at the Traders Hotel which was fantastic and booked via a travel agent so I got the room at US$50 which was higher than the rate that Craig's agent can get ot for but it was done by my office so no complaints there. There is two other hotels that I visited that was as good as the Traders, Plaza Park Royal (which charges US$65 from midnight onwards including guest fee) and the hotel next to the Dinner Theatre (forgot the name) which charges US$100 per night and there is a guest fee (did not bother to ask as the rate was too high compared to Traders.

Of the hotels, Traders was situated within walking distance of all the interesting places. So I recommend that you stay there. The Plaza is okay if you visit the discotheque there, which is a great pick-up joint for free-lancers (more about that later)

Food is cheap even at the classy places so you don't have to worry about it. One of my clients treated me to a 10 course Chinese Dinner at a 5 star restaurant and the bill worked out to be around US$9 per person.. I mean I had Sharks Fins, Abalone, Suckling Pig, Peking Duck, Prawns etc... a similar meal in Kuala Lumpur would have set me back at least US$40

There are lots of places of interest to visit but I did not have the time and souvenier shopping is great. Wait for my report on the nightlife.

Cheers.

DL

[Craig Less]

Hello Doggy Lover,

I am glad you had a good time and that Mr. Toe came through. he is indeed a genuine soul. I will be coming to SEA next summer and the tour will include the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand along with time spent in the Fairtex school in Bangkok.

Yes I would like to take you up on your offer to have some suds and make a detour to see Kuala Lumpur. I will pm you a couple of months prior. Right now I have been enjoying the Dominican Republic and will be in Cartagena, Colombia from Nov. 8th to Nov. 16th. I also plan on visiting Honduras and Nicarauga during the winter so let me know if you require any info on these places in the future.

Best regards,

C

[Feast]

Doggy,

I will be travelling to Yangon again end of this month. Good to hear you have great time. Will try and pick up bits and pieces from yr and craig reports hope to get nice time too there. By the way did you have any chance to take any pics of the local chics? If you have established any contact, do u mind sharing the phone number with me?

Thanks,

Feast

[Doggy Lover]

Hi all,

Just got back from Myanmar. Had a fucking great time (if you'd excuse the language). Craig, you the man, saved me a lot of time and grieve, your contact and info was spot on. Many many thanks. If you are ever in Kuala Lumpur, let me buy you a beer.

I'll post my FR after I have recovered sufficiently to think straight ;-)

Happy Hunting!

DL

[BJ Love]

Just come back from Myanmar, a lot of girls in Asia Plaza, entrance fee is ~3 USD(including 1 beer), for a girl all night, the cost is 30UDS, expensive compare two years ago, that wat 15 USD.

[Craig Less]

StormLtng

Sorry about not including the price range in the previous report. It can range anywhere from between $10,000 to $22,000 Burmese not including tip. Which is about $11.50 to $26 US. The exchange rate was $850/1.

Good hunting

C.

[Felrops]

I was in Rangoon last week. In the disco (basement floor) of the Asia Plaza Hotel I scored with a nice girl of Indian origine. A nice GFE experience. The girl stayed with me for 2 Hours. Total cost: 30 USD. But the scene in Rangoon is indeed very different from Bangkok. Girls always have to worry about the police. It also seems impossible to convince the girls staying overnight or even taking the out for dinner. So the scene is very different from Bangkok, and having fun with local girls should not be your main resaon going to Burma. Don't stay in the Asia Plaza Hotel. It's dirty and they charge a joinerfee of 10 USD. A much better option for only 25 USD is the Panorama Hotel, just around the corner of Asia Plaza Hotel. The Panorama is clean and no joinerfee.

[Craig Less]

Hello StormLtng,

There is no set rate for the ladies. They are all freelancers and as such, set their own prices-what they assume the market will bear. I believe that you will pay more for the fair skinned women as they are more prized.

A suggestion, when you enter into the disco and after paying a nomial fee there are several gentlemen dressed in white shirts and black pants located and walking around the disco. Their job is to make sure you are supplied with beer and cigarettes even though you can just go to the bar and get what you want. However a few of them speak limited english. Find one and stick with him, look for the younger men as they are at the bottom of the ladder and will hustle on your behalf to get what you want Tip him well about $500/burmese dollars which is about $.60/US evderytime you leave the club and you will have a friend for life. For this he will go and speak to the ladies of your choice and bring them over-the ladies speak little if any english. He will tell you the going rate per lady so they cannot bullshit you (he needs to make money so his gain is their loss).

Now, there are featured dancers, quite a few of them. They travel from disco to disco doing their routines. They are available but not that night. Arrangements must be made for the next day. This is where your little buddy come in again. He can make the arangements for you. Naturally these featured dancers are cuter and hotter than the talent available nightly.

Please note girls can only work at one club unlike the featured dancers who do the circuit of the five discos. This is so if there are any complaints you can return to the club and *****. I never had to.

Moneychangers in the street will try to rip you off. The exchange rate is 850/1 and they will give you bills of all denominations. Try counting that with 5 guys standing around talking to you. For example, change $100.00US, That will get you $85,000 Burmese. Now they mix up all the 1000, 500, 100, notes etc. when they give it to you, thus you have to sort and count while they distract you.

At the central coffee shop, no one pulls any of that stuff. The money changer there I believe is connected. As such I have seen piles of money left on tables in the shop and no one touches it.

Doggy Lover and StormLtng, have you by chance visited Cambodia(Phmon Phen), Philippines(Angeles City, Makati), China(The souther part) or Taiwan. I

[Lakers04]

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[StormLtng]

Craig Less,

Enjoyed reading your informative post. Good advice from a seasoned traveler.

Could you tell us:

1. What is the going rate for the girls?
2. What's wrong with the moneychangers on the street?

I've been wanting to travel there my next trip to Thailand in October.

Happy Hunting!

[Craig Less]

to doggy lover

contact this gentleman in rangoon. his name is uhla toe. he is extremely knowledgeable of rhe history and places of intrest in his country. he speaks very good english and will take you anywhere you want to go. he knows all the safe restaurants to take you to so you do not get sick. he is a freelance guide working for himself, as such you will have to take care of him financially but given the fact that the exchange rate was $850.00 burmese to $1.00 u.s. this will not be a problem, ( this was the going exchange rate in january 2004 when i was there). his e-mail is bation@mptmail.net.mm

mr. toe hangs out in a coffee shop in the central hotel on the ground floor. his friend owns the place and is also a money changer-forgot his name. this is where you change your money, you will always get a fair price and it is also safe to eat here. do not change money on the street. the better hotel to stay at which is a 5 star (by their standards) is around the corner. this is a business man's hotel and it is where all the rich chinese stay, it is right in the heart of the city and has a pool, gym, security etc. by the way, no problem with company.

to book the hotel contact mr. panga in thailand at world travel services. his number is (66 2) 2335900-9. his e-mail is tours@wts.co.th. i believe if you try to book this hotel over the web you will pay in excess of $125.00/night. by going through mr. panja i paid $46.00/night. word of warning-do not stay outside of downtown, if you do you will severly limit your nightly choices and besides you will end paying much in taxi fees.

the name of the hotel is traders hotel and it puts you within walking distance to all restaurants, sites and nocturnal activities. please note, the nocturnal activities begin early. there are five main 'discos'. for the biggest and best selection go to "emperor's disco". get there around 9:30pm. all the places clear out around 11:30pm give or take 30 minutes. by the way the music selection is, well you have to experience it.

please be aware that the burmese ladies are not as service orientated as the thai ladies, as such choose wisely and without 'beer goggles'. in fact some can be downright bitchy but do not let that throw you. the following statement is in no way meant to slander any ethnicity but i was rejected by one of the ladies ( the best of the bunch in my eyes) because i was not chinese. apparently it stands to reason, theirs, that since i was not chinese i would have a 'big banana' and that i would either hurt the person or more work would be required on the part of the paramour for me to achieve 'le petit mort'.

all standard operating procedures are in effect in this country. do not eat salads, drink only bottled water and stay away from peeled fruit. do not drink any coffee or tea from the hundred's of little street cafes that spring up on the streets after dark. although the cofee/tea is hot the utensils are not washed in running water but dipped in large containers of standing water. ask me how i know this, good thing i carried cipro-as a matter of fact carry some. it is taken twice a day 500mg/per. take 20 tabs. this will eradicate most diarrehea problems.

happy hunting,

c.

[Doggy Lover]

Will be in Yangoon during the 2nd week of September for work. I've read with great interest your contributions. Are there any recent updates? The last post was over 3 months ago.

If anyone can help with contact numbers or just direction, will be much appreciated. Cheers.

Happy Hunting!

[Shergar]

Hi Feast,

Just scroll down and you will good info, probably all you need!

[Feast]

Hi guys,

I will be visiting yangon on the 16/5. Can anyone please tell me where is the place for some actions. Is there any number where I can call for the girls?

Pls PM me if you guys have any phone numbers to call in Yangon.

[Traveler Tom]

Timmer

Sorry to hear of your bad deals.

Strange the 'Car' element is still going strong - it seems to be the Burmese equivalent of the 'line-up'.

I had better luck (although some time ago) and my good memories were kicked off by my having an extraordinary romp in a graveyard outside Rangoon (nowhere else to go!). Whilst I was returning the girl to her village (the product of a helpful taxi driver) a black car pulled up with three girls in it. All spoke excellent English and started to argue with the unfortunate family whose daughter had been so cooperative. I was then pushed into the car and told that I should not be dealing with 'girls like that'. Fully in agreement as I was squeezed between these smart and pretty lasses the driver was directed to go to a house where two of the girls were dropped off. I was then alone with this very cute girl who somehow moved around the capital in this chauffer driven car - we made a visit (I stayed in the car) to her parent's house (A modern villla overlooking the capital) and then travelled around in a clandestine way to restaurants and local sights - all very strange. The nights were spent on the floor of a large house in a huge garden which was all boarded up (she had the key!) - very uncomfortable on wooden floors without bedding but what the hell. I had booked into a Russian built hotel - the Inya Lake Hotel which was a complete dump (No. 1 at the time!) where the aircon insisted on blowing out heated air and one could not turn it off. Anyhow they did not seem to worry that I never showed up inspite of very strict gov. controls as to where everyone was and what they were doing. Went to a movie with the girl - again very interesting as the cinema's roof was corrugated iron and it rained the whole time so hearing anything was out of the question; sub-titles where in Burmese so the whole experience was a bit different.

I think that, from other feedback, this country is, probably, one of the best places for activity - finding it is something else, it would seem and sadly I have not been back for several years; the danger is that it will soon get on the circuit which will diminish the chances of the 'new experiences' that we all look for. My graveyard and the Minister's (?) daughter were a good start and perhaps hard to beat for an introductory offer!

Hope your next encounters will be more fruitful if you give it another go - it seems that the Mongla area has quite a bit to offer - slightly more 'wild-west' I think. I plan to return in June - not the best time but then there is no season for P4P - I have encountered several Burmese girls in Thailand and once in gear my experience is that they tend to outperform their neighbours, but that is a personal view and perhaps I am biased!

Keep an eye out for ladies in black limos!

TT