Comments on: Burma: The WTF Money Situation http://dragonhunting.com/2009/burma-the-wtf-money-situation/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:21:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: james http://dragonhunting.com/2009/burma-the-wtf-money-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-2343 james Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:41:50 +0000 http://dragonhunting.com/?p=201#comment-2343 Mark, The money situation has definitely changed since you were there. It's because of the rapid inflation thanks to the governments heavy increases on fuel prices. That was what those massive protests were about last year. Stuff is still cheap for the middle income westerner, but for backpackers I don't think it's as cheap as it used to be. Coming from Yunnan, everything seemed more expensive. Mark,

The money situation has definitely changed since you were there. It’s because of the rapid inflation thanks to the governments heavy increases on fuel prices. That was what those massive protests were about last year.

Stuff is still cheap for the middle income westerner, but for backpackers I don’t think it’s as cheap as it used to be. Coming from Yunnan, everything seemed more expensive.

]]> By: hek http://dragonhunting.com/2009/burma-the-wtf-money-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-2339 hek Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:01:56 +0000 http://dragonhunting.com/?p=201#comment-2339 That is the nastiest bill i have ever seen in my life. You may need rubber gloves and tongs to handle that thing. Hek That is the nastiest bill i have ever seen in my life. You may need rubber gloves and tongs to handle that thing.

Hek

]]> By: Mark http://dragonhunting.com/2009/burma-the-wtf-money-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-2328 Mark Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:13:17 +0000 http://dragonhunting.com/?p=201#comment-2328 I was in Burma about four years ago, just for a month, but I don't remember having those sorts of money issues then. Other than the guesthouses (especially in Rangoon) which I remember insisted on payment in USD. I didnt travel by taxis, but I remember the bus from Rangoon city centre to the airport was less than 2 US cents. For a 1.5 hour bus ride that was the cheapest journey I've ever experienced! The main thing I didnt like about the money was how to exchange it. I arrived in Rangoon with USDs and had a choice of being ripped off by my hotel or talking to people and then being taken to the back of some clothes shop to do the exchange. Had to use my instincts, trusted the guy and the notes were good and at a good rate, so I cant complain. Just a bit dodgy! I was in Burma about four years ago, just for a month, but I don’t remember having those sorts of money issues then. Other than the guesthouses (especially in Rangoon) which I remember insisted on payment in USD.

I didnt travel by taxis, but I remember the bus from Rangoon city centre to the airport was less than 2 US cents. For a 1.5 hour bus ride that was the cheapest journey I’ve ever experienced!

The main thing I didnt like about the money was how to exchange it. I arrived in Rangoon with USDs and had a choice of being ripped off by my hotel or talking to people and then being taken to the back of some clothes shop to do the exchange. Had to use my instincts, trusted the guy and the notes were good and at a good rate, so I cant complain. Just a bit dodgy!

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