362
DIRECTORY A–Z
Customs
Regulations
For the vast majority of visi-
tors, clearing customs is a
breeze, but it’s important to
be aware of the restrictions.
Any foreign currency in ex-
cess of $2000 is supposed
to be declared upon entry.
Besides personal eff ects,
visitors are permitted to
bring duty free:» (^) 400 cigarettes
» (^) 100 cigars
» 250g of tobacco
» (^) 0.5L of perfume.
It’s not a problem to bring
a camera, video camera,
laptop or mobile phone. You
cannot bring in antiques,
pornographic materials or
narcotic drugs (obviously).
Export Restrictions
The following items cannot
legally be taken out of the
country:
» (^) prehistoric implements
and artefacts
» fossils
» (^) old coins
» bronze or brass weights
(including opium weights)
» (^) bronze or clay pipes
» (^) kammawa or parabaik
» (^) inscribed stones
» (^) inscribed gold or silver
» historical documents
» (^) religious images
» (^) sculptures or carvings
in bronze, stone, stucco or
wood
» (^) frescoes (even fragments)
» (^) pottery
» national regalia and
paraphernalia.
Technically you have to show
approval from various gov-
ernment agencies to bring
out books, videos or DVDs,
though this is very unlikely to
be enforced.
E l e c t r i c i t y
.
230V/50Hz
230V/50Hz
Power outages occur every-
where, Yangon and Mandalay
included. Many smaller towns
have short scheduled periods
for electricity, usually a few
hours in the afternoon and
evening (power always seems
to be available if Myanmar TV
is airing a premiership soccer
game!). Many hotels and
shops run generators 24
hours, others keep them on
only a few hours (eg 6pm to
midnight, and a few hours in
the morning)
Embassies &
Consulates
The generals moved the
capital from Yangon to Nay
Pyi Taw in 2005, but foreign
embassies and consulates
stayed behind in Yangon.
Check the government’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(www.mofa.gov.mm) for more
information.
Australia (%01-251 810,
01-251 809; fax 01-246 159; 88
Strand Rd)
Bangladesh (%01-515 275;
11B Than Lwin Rd, Kamayut)
Cambodia (%01-549 609; 25
New University Ave Rd, B3/4B)
Canada Affairs handled by
Australian embassy or Cana-
dian embassy in Bangkok
(%+66 (0)2 636 0540)
China (%01-221 281; 1 Pyi-
daungsu Yeiktha Rd, Dagon)
France (%01-212 178; fax
01-212 527; 102 Pyidaungsu
Yeiktha Rd, Dagon)
Germany (%01-548 951; fax
01-548 899; 9 Bogyoke Aung
San Museum Rd)
India (%01-243 972, 01-391
219; 545-547 Merchant St)
Indonesia (%01-254 465,
01-254 469; 100 Pyidaungsu
Yeiktha Rd)
Israel (%01-515 155; fax 01-
515 116; 15 Kabaung Rd, Hlaing
Township)
Italy (%01-527 100; 3 Inya
Myaing Rd)
Japan (%01-549 644; 100 Nat
Mauk Rd)
Korea (%01-510 205; 97
University Ave Rd, Bahan)
Laos (%01-222 482; A1 Diplo-
matic Quarters, Taw Win St)
Malaysia (%01-220 249; 82
Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd)
Nepal (%01-545 880; fax 01-
549 803; 16 Nat Mauk Rd)
Netherlands Affairs handled
by German embassy or Neth-