361DIRECTORY A–ZCLIMATE^local counterparts. It may,
however, be confusing for
some children seeing young
locals working at restaurants
and teahouses.
Practicalities
» Due to Myanmar’s overall
low level of public sanitation,
parents ought to lay down
a few ground rules with
regard to maintaining their
children’s health – such as
regular hand-washing – to
head off potential medical
problems.
» (^) Children should especially
be warned not to play with
animals they encounter, as a
precaution against rabies.
» (^) Nappies (diapers) are hard
to come by outside Yangon,
and it’s wise to bring all the
nappies or formula you’ll
need for the trip from home.
» (^) Most high-end hotels and
restaurants will have high-
chairs available.
» (^) When travelling with
children, it may be more
comfortable getting about by
private car (p 378 ).
Sights & Activities
» (^) Kids often get a thrill from
little things such as rides on
trishaws and in horse carts.
Inle Lake boasts trips in dug-
out canoes, and the ancient
cities outside Mandalay also
off er fun, brief boat trips.
» (^) Big Buddhist sights and
ancient ruins can make for
good learning experiences,
including Yangon’s Shwed-
agon Paya, the reclining
buddhas in Bago, or the
10-storey buddha in Pyay.
You can climb into the back
of the lacquered buddha
image at Nan Paya in Salay.
» (^) Some kids might dig ruins
of old palace walls and moats,
which you can see at places
like Bagan and Mrauk U.
» Indulge in some face paint-
ing by trying on thanakha
(yellow sandalwood-like
paste), which is sold and
applied from sidewalk stands
around the country.
» (^) There are zoos in Yangon,
Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay
as well as excellent bird-
watching at the Moeyungyi
Wetlands near Bago.
» Traditional puppet shows
are performed in Yangon,
Bagan and Mandalay as well
as other places.
» (^) The beaches at Ngapali,
Chaung Tha and Ngwe
Saung are all sure to be
winners with kids wanting to
splash in the sea and play on
the sand.
» (^) Myanmar’s festivals, such
as Thingyan in mid-April with
its throwing of water, and
Taunggyi’s fi re-balloon festi-
val in October or November,
can be a lot of fun.
» (^) Consider asking about a
local orphanage – there are
many – so your children can
play with kids their own age.
The local kids would love it.
PRACTICALITIES
» Connect (when it’s working) to the electricity supply
(230V, 50Hz AC). Many hotels have generators (some
run at night only). Local power sources in many towns
are scheduled for night hours only.
» Read the English-language newspaper Myanmar
Times, which offers some useful travel and entertain-
ment information, and the government mouthpiece
New Light of Myanmar.
» Bring a short wave radio and listen, like many locals,
to BBC and VOA broadcasts.
» Watch satellite TV rather than the state control-
led broadcast channels – you’ll often find CNN, BBC
World and other news and entertainment channels at
hotels.
» Petrol is sold by the gallon; distances are in miles,
not kilometres; 1 Burmese viss or 100 tical = 3.5lb; 1
gaig = 36in.
J FDM A M J J A S O N
Mandalay
°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm
0
12/300
8/200
4/100
10/50
0/32
30/86
40/104
20/68
Climate
J FDM A M J J A S O N
Yangon
°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm
0
12/300
8/200
4/100
10/50
0/32
30/86
40/104
20/68