Burma in mid Feb

Hi Maggie, good to hear from someone on the same trip. My husband & I are travelling out on the group flights on the Saturday. Getting quite excited now especially as visas have now arrived. Look forward to meeting you. By the way my real name's Sue & hubby is Pete x

Dear Sue & Peter - how great to hear from you as I was beginning to wonder if I would be on my own in Burma !    I decided to stop over in Thailand for a couple of nights to catch up with some sleep before flying onto Burma Saturday 16th.   Well done with the visas both of you - great peace of mind when they are back.  Are you both planning any other travels whilst your out there?  Like you I'm now really excited about it all and so very much look forward to meeting you both there.  Now long now......  Maggie x 

 

 

Maggie Roberts

Hi Maggie, how sensible having a stopover in Thailand to get over the jet lag, I wish we had the time to extend the trip but unfortunately work commitments prevent any longer away. I know we'll be shot away for a couple of days as have flown this route before - be gentle with us when we arrive, we'll be very sleepy!!!! Just got the packing dilemmas to get through now and we'll soon be on our way. Look forward to meeting you. Enjoy Thailand. See you soon ... Sue & Peter x

Now why did you mention the packing - it's a complete nightmare!  Also currency - it seems it's US$ and they have to be clean, crisp and pristine.............  I've also been to the travel clinic again today who put the fear of god into me with suggestions of more innoculations oh, don't forget the anti malaria tablets..... it goes on.  One thing we can be sure of - it's going to be worth it all for us I just know it.

 Cannot wait to meet you both soon.  Maggie ps if you get a moment to reply to this Sue & Peter, what are your thoughts on currency ie will you take all your money is US$, amount to convert etc xx

 

 

Maggie Roberts

I think our bags will be full of pills & potions - no room for clothes at the rate we're going!! We've got all US$ nice crisp clean ones, all later than 2006 issue - fortunately the young girl at the Sainsburys travel money desk was very accommodating of my demands - just got to keep them flat now!! We will only take US $ as nothing else appears to be valid and have got quite a few $100 bills as they attract a better exchange rate apparently, tho have got some smaller denominations too possibly for tips etc. Just over 3 weeks to go now whoop whoop!! x x

Thank you so very much both of you for your really good email on the currency situation in Burma.

 I am going to do mine this week but it's complicated as I need other currencies in addition to the US$.  I had read about the need to take 'clean/crisp/pristine' dollars and knew it wouldnt be too easy.  Please do forgive me for asking this and I am only asking to make sure I have been careful enough with all the trip detail, but very approx how much do you think we will need in US dollars - excluding spending money?   I was wondering whether a figure of around £800 in sterling (maybe more do you think) ?  That comes to around US$1288 very approximately if this calculator works!

Please forgive my asking you both, but I know there are no ATM's there.  I as 'tap' this message to you I am wondering if this really isnt enough.  Cannot wait to meet you - it's going to be an amazing trip we all know it !  So good to hear from you xx

 

 

 

 

Maggie Roberts

How much currency to take is always a problem isn't it, especially on this trip with no ATMs for emergencies. I think the figures you are working on are very generous and wouldn't have thought you would need more than £800 for meals & drinks as well as some of the excursions. Unless you are planning on doing the balloon flight (which I believe is best booked with exodus before you go) I think you should have plenty. We're taking £1300 (in dollars of course) and I'm expecting that to cover souvenirs as well (though we're not big spenders!!). We took that amount to Cambodia & Vietnam a couple of years ago and came back with plenty left over. I'm hesitant to advise you on what to take as its such a personal matter - if we run short we'll have to cut back on the beer consumption!! Obviously you'll need more than us as you're going out earlier so will have extra days but ours works out at £650 each for the 15 days. Sorry to have prattled on a bit, hope I've been some help. By the way are you taking walking boots or a cycle helmet? We weren't planning on doing so, figured good trainers should do for the walk & our cycle helmets would be very large to pack. What do you think? Less than 3 weeks to go now - whoop whoop!! See you soon. Sue x

Ah thank you so much for that reassurance Sue.   Two weeks without an emergency trip to the nearest ATM has caused me to over estimate.  I've been sat with pen and paper for hours trying to work out a budget.  I suppose my trip is more complicated as I have two months long haul booked.

 Sue, I also saw the 'suggested items to bring' included a cycling helmet & walking boots!  I've since read that the helmets can be hired and weeks ago decided that I just cannot haul my walking boots around with me so compromised by thinking I'd wear some trainers on the flight out and they would do.  They are well worn which means I won't have any quarms throwing them whilst I'm out there.   The thought of everything that has to travel with me weighing less than 20kg is keeping me awake at night Sue!  Now it's my turn to apologise for 'prattling' on.......    Thinking about the packing it's not helped when it looks like we also have to allow for colder temp's in Burma plus additional medications etc. Were you also advised to take your own syringes/needles & lines just in case!   So much easier if we'd booked 2 weeks in Spain Sue!  Seriously though, I know I keep saying it and promise I won't repeat it again - but we've going to come home from Burma with some of the most amazing experiences ever I just know it.  So look forward to meeting you both and Sue, thank you so much for your advise on budget & currency.   PS  Don't even consider 'cutting back on the beer consumption' !x

Maggie Roberts

Ok so now I've turned a very nasty shade of green with envy that you're gonna be travelling for 2 months - how marvellous that's going to be. We shall be very upset when we return home to work & you continue on your adventures - sounds fabulous. Glad we agree on the trainers & helmets front - we can blame each other if we sprain our ankles or fall off our bikes!!! We have got a medical kit with syringes etc but only because we've used it before on other trips, not sure whether you need to buy one especially, although I'm not sure healthcare facilities are too great in Burma. Anyway, as you say, it'll be a great trip, we're counting down the days now & looking forward to a bit of warm weather & sun. See you soon Sue x

Damn good to read your message Sue.  It's a real task trying to sort out all the stuff that needs to packed and what you can do without to be frank!  No helmets and just no space for trainers.  Sue, are you 'stuffing' it all into a backpack?  I am almost convinved now to pull a lge carvas back that has two small wheels on the back.  My small backpack will be used as my handluggage and more valuable bits like currency etc etc.  Not only will this give me a little more space but I remain convinved it will be as mobile - any thoughts yourself.  Time is really 'ticking' away for us all now and all those amazing experiences await.........   Sue, thanks for your thoughts on the syringes & lines - I've now pulled my own ones out and thrown it on the 'mountain' of stuff that just seems to get bigger and bigger.  If I don't hear from you before your flight out - I so look forward to sharing what is sure to be experiences of a lifetime for us all.  See you very soon. Maggie xx

 

 

Maggie Roberts

Stop talking about packing - it's filling me with dread!!!! We're gonna start looking at stuff this weekend but I know I'll end up putting it off until the very last minute & then have a major strop over what to take - poor old Pete he's used to me now tho!!! We're gonna take wheeled canvas bags this time rather than our rucksacks. As much as I love my rucksack I think it's the kind of trip where a wheeled bag will be ok, plus I can squeeze more in that than my rucksack! Like you, will take a small backpack for everyday use & valuables. I guess I'll work on my usual packing system of getting everything out, trying to shove it in, finding I've got way too much & then discarding most of the clothes as everything else will be an essential (chargers, spare batteries, medicines, first aid kits, iPod, kindle, loo rolls, torch, insect repellent etc etc etc ............ Happy days!! Still, am getting very excited now and keep twittering on at work about the trip & driving everyone up the wall!! Looking forward to meeting you - safe flights. Sue x x x

Hi to you all - am booked on this trip too and looking forward to a break away from work and seeing if Exodus are a good company - was advised to go with them from friends who use them.

Can see you are at the same stage - the dreaded packing!!! 

Am travelling down to Heathrow Fri night and staying over as I live in North Yorkshire.  Hope to meet you all soon.

Val

Just brilliant to hear from you too.  I'm travelling out Weds 13th (Weds) to Thailand to get a couple of good nights sleep before I join you all in Burma.  I've said it a few times now Val, but I just know we're going to return to the UK with some amazing memories and experiences.  I shall miss travelling out with you all but am still content to catch up with some sleep before it all starts.  I want to start packing Val, but just know it's all going to be 'turfed' out again and again so will knuckle down on Monday or Tuesday !  So much to think about and take that it's hard to know where to start.  Sounds like we're all in the same boat.  Again Val, lovely to hear from you and if I don't see any messages from you before we fly out, so look forward to meeting you.  Incidentally, with your journey down from North Yorkshire you've done the best thing with a Friday night sleepover near Heathrow.  Maggie  

 

Maggie Roberts

Well, that's four of us who are going - where are all the others? Good to hear from you Val. Personally I think Exodus are a great company, we've been with them several times and have no complaints. It all depends on your expectations though - usually just bring a great sense of humour, a sense of adventure and a whole lot of patience for when it all goes pear shaped, and you'll have a great time! We'll be flying out from Heathrow on Saturday morning so we may well see you in the check in queue - look out for the Exodus luggage labels. Right now let's get packing!! Safe flights Maggie - see you all soon Sue x

 Dear Sue, Pete & Val - all I can say is that it's just fantastic to know you already ! Have a good flight out and I cannot wait to meet you!  I've just driven home and it's just below freezing my little car shows me.   We have so much to look forward to - colour, light, some warmth, and much much more.........   the clock is ticking away x

 

Maggie Roberts