Burma - the missing link?

[Simon Harby]

For reference, we crossed Burma last June.

Visa's took two months to get in Delhi ( and a lot of hassling the embassy staff!)

Key admin point is - they must issue a "road permit" as well as the visa - if you do not have the Road permit the Indian Authorities will not let you approach the boarder.

Once you have these two docs. you need special permits for Nagaland and Manipur (india). We had our applications refused by the delhi authorities, but heard through the grape vine that you could get them in Calcutta. We were not dissapointed as calcutta issued them in three hours...but did ask for our marriage cert!!

Fianlly, all went OK though Burma but, getting out took 17 days!! No kidding! The Burmese Immigration insisted that we could not drive a 250km section near the Thai boarder and that we must send the bikes by truck and fly ourselves. Once the bikes were loaded the army refused to let the truck leave!! Eventuially it left and then dissappeared for the next 10 days! no information for us whilst we waited... all very very frustrating. But it did arrive eventually!

Good luck for anyone else trying to cross this military dictatorship...

[This message has been edited by Simon Harby (edited 29 September 2004).]

[Cameron]

Thanks for the info, Simon. I have been to most of the Thai/Myanmar border crossings and could have ridden in Myanmar illegally a few times, but not worth the risk...Good to know firsthand that someone has done it.
The North Comet bike club in Chiang Mai Thailand are organizing a trip through northeast Myanmar to Kuhnming China this Nov.
Info on gt-rider.com .Wish I could go...


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[Simon Harby]

Interesting to hear that the Chaing Mai gang are en-route to Eastern Burma...
If you have a chance to go that way again, they have opened the boarder at Tachilek and you are permitted to drive to Keng Tung (100ks) and I guess with a little effort be allowed to do what the guys in Chaing Mai are doing...
THe challenge that needs sorting is the crossing to Taunggyi... I think Burmese would let you go if its was dry season?? and they (the Burmese) are not in the height of killing the tribes people up there... The Burmese army really are b*stds.

Hope this helps

Simon

[David and Cheryl Laing]

We would have loved to go through Burma on our last trip and this trip it would also make life a lot easier but am not sure that we want to finance them as long as they have the political attitude that they have there.
Better to spend our money in other countries and to hell with the b's.

[Simon Harby]

Not too sure that going through Burma would have made your life easier.... Have a look at the note about "getting out"

Re: your comment about financing them... well, we spent our money as far as we could with the local non-govenmen run guest houses. And, would you believe it, we were hassled by the police at midnight for staying in a non-tourist approved g-h.!!
I think there is a case for visiting Burma but spending your money with the locals and in that way supporting them....

[spiritsofadventure]

Hi Guys

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION - BURMA

Monika and I will be trying to cross Burma after visiting Nepal in the late spring of 2005 enroute Australia.

Some good information is enclosed here which we will be of use to us.

Will comeback here with latest details and on how we got on.

Happy New Year to everybody and to Grant and Sue

Simon and Monika
www.spiritsofadventure.com


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live the dream and encompass the spirits of adventure

[DaveSmith]

If anyone helps on this through email, please send me a copy. I'll be in Japan 2005 and part of 2006 and I'd like to ride to Italy for the Motogiro in June (I think that's when it is).

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

[strikingviking]

I am currently in Karachi waiting for my missing motorcycle to show up. No communication from shippers or Jordan Air. Bike is now nine days overdue. Will post info as situation develops.
Looking to ride across India and Burma into Thailand next month. Appreciate any advice on procedure.
All the best amigos
Glen

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Around the World on Two Wheels www.strikingviking.net

[juni]

Hi Simon,
I´m new here and just find your postings. We (my girlfriend and me) are planning a trip from Germany to india via russia-mongolia-china-vietnam-laos-burma. Right now I´m in contact with the burmese embassy and they told me to apply for the travel-permit.Like you did in dehli, I guess!? My question now: How do I verbalize it and what kind of detailed contents are needed to be indicate ?
Hoe you can help me
cheers
Juni

Originally posted by Simon Harby:
For reference, we crossed Burma last June.

Visa's took two months to get in Delhi ( and a lot of hassling the embassy staff!)

Key admin point is - they must issue a "road permit" as well as the visa - if you do not have the Road permit the Indian Authorities will not let you approach the boarder.

Once you have these two docs. you need special permits for Nagaland and Manipur (india). We had our applications refused by the delhi authorities, but heard through the grape vine that you could get them in Calcutta. We were not dissapointed as calcutta issued them in three hours...but did ask for our marriage cert!!

Fianlly, all went OK though Burma but, getting out took 17 days!! No kidding! The Burmese Immigration insisted that we could not drive a 250km section near the Thai boarder and that we must send the bikes by truck and fly ourselves. Once the bikes were loaded the army refused to let the truck leave!! Eventuially it left and then dissappeared for the next 10 days! no information for us whilst we waited... all very very frustrating. But it did arrive eventually!

Good luck for anyone else trying to cross this military dictatorship...

[This message has been edited by Simon Harby (edited 29 September 2004).]

[vincent danna]

hello
i did not manage to drive through burma. this was in spring 2004.
but i put some practical info on burma (and other countries) on my website :

http://vincent.danna.free.fr/infos/birmanie.html

http://vincent.danna.free.fr/infos/index.html

good luck
happy trails

[Reinhart Mazur]

You will find a very interesting account of people who REALLY managed to cross Myanmar by car from one side to the other (India) in August 2004:

http://www.bootsnall.org/datw/archives/000877.shtml

Reinhart



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www.tlc-exped.net/

[Simon Harby]

you say a group REALLY crossed Burma, you may want to ask an Native English speaker, what the connotation of the word "really" is in this context.

Have you crossed Burma your self?

[This message has been edited by Simon Harby (edited 15 July 2005).]

[vincent danna]

simon,

thanx for your first very interesting and detailed post, and others.

could you give more info please about the delaies, authorities you met in india for the paperwork, on the way near the border, in india and burma, kind of paperwork at the border, eventual problems and advice, etc ...

how much did this paperwork etc ... cost you , did you have to pay a day expensive pass , like in china for example, or just the paperwork ?

nb : i m not debating you about financing burma debate :-) , just to know as i failed going there
cheers
and congratulations for determination