Internet in Myanmar

Internet on the Trip [by Larry]

Hotels - Joido Hotel, Seoul, Korea; Victoria Angkor Resort, Seam Reap, Cambodia; and The Park Royal, Yangon, Myanmar.
All the hotels provided internet was very good, with very little contention for bandwidth.  At the Park Royal they had both wifi which was fine, and in the rooms there was a direct cable  connection.  The direct connection provided response that was just about as good as cable provides at home, and I was able to upload all photos from the trip during the Oct 2/3 layover..

Amapura - The ship technically provided wifi in the lounge area.  The ship info indicated that the wifi was spotty along the Irrawaddy River - varying from "not at all" to weak and slow.  Reviews on Cruise Critic by passengers of earlier cruises indicated that service was poor or non-existent.
    So being the sort that suffers severe deprivation if the internet is poor (not to mention the need for internet to upload Janice's blog postings). I did some research before the cruise and found the following via reports on the net.
   There are 3 companies providing internet service for cell phones: MPT, Telenor and Ooredoo.  MPT is the original government company, reported to have the best coverage but with older technology and slower service. Telenor and Ooredoo are new private companies which initiated service and expanded quickly in Myanmar over a very few years.  From subjective user reports I chose Ooredoo, a company based in Qatar. Click here to get a comparison of the companies operating in Myranmar
     Based on my expectation that others on the trip would want to have access to the internet while on the Amapura, my plan was to bring both Janice's and my unlocked cell phones to provide service by rigging the phones as "hot spots".  From internet advice, I knew that at the Yangon Airport there would be booths that sell SIM cards.  Ooredoo had such a booth in the baggage area, and offered SIM cards with a month's credit to access 2.7Gbs of data.  At home I pay $5 for each 100mb of data - that would amount to $135 for 2.7Gb - so  getting a SIM card and $135 of data for $7 amounts to phenomenal deal.  The tech at the booth installed the SIM cards in place of the ones from our Canadian provider (Koodoo) and taped our Koodo cards to the empty Ooredoo SIM card holder.  
   So how does the internet package on our cell phones help provide wifi service to our travel colleges on the ship and in tour buses?  Well, most phones have a function called "Tethering".  This means that the phone can be set up as a "hot spot" providing wifi service to other computers, ipads or smart phones. My phone was set up as "Intrepid_1" and Janice's as "Intrepid_2" so our travel friends could sign-on if they were nearby.  
   The Ooredoo service on the Irrawaddy River seemed to be much better and more consistent than the ship service. The ship uses MPT, but on the ship the service is shared with everyone on the ship and was not very available  The Intrepid service was mostly restricted to a smaller number users so there was usually a great advantage of using our hotspot  Ooredoo service.  The service was a little spotty but not too bad, depending on our location.  At times our phones would indicated a strong cell signal but no internet service.  Hard to explain that.
  The happy Intrepid users used up the 2.7Gb on each phone fairly quickly.  During a couple of stops along the way I was able to purchase "Top Up" cards which enabled recharging the phones with more data.  Janice's phone was Topped Up very little but mine received several.
   In summary 2 Top Ups were purchased for a total of about Cdn$28  (ie 30000 kyats)Intrepid user contributions covered all the costs.  Total data used on the buses, on the ship, and at some airports was:
Larry's Phone: 13.7 Gb
Jan's Phone:     4.3 Gb  for a total of 18 Gb

   Man, that is a lot of data! - an ebook is roughly 1Mb of data.  So all of us used the equivalent of 18,000 ebooks. (oh, yes I did give the password to a couple of non-Intrepids so usage is not all ours!!...and do you think that some Netflix use occurred!!?)

   With the Intrepid_1 and Intrepid_2 phones giving wifi hotspot service some interesting phenomenon occurred around our cabin. Internet "Lurkers" accumulated outside our door on the ship.  We invited them in when we saw them...but "Lurkers",  were found to be shy, bashful, focused and reluctant to leave their place.
  

As well there was a mysterious message left on our Florida phone number by some of these Lurkers:

Click to hear the Phone Message from a Well-known Internet Lurker 



Trip Outline

KOREA, CAMBODIA AND MYANMAR

September 13-October 4, 2016
Escorted by Cathy Wilkes of Humber Valley United Church

Trip Designed by Exotic Destinations
980 Bathurst St., Suite 100,Toronto Ontario M5R3G6 Phone: 416-214-2235 

(Description below is condensed from the trip description by Exotic Destinations)



Tuesday September 13                                                 TORONTO - SEOUL
Fly Toronto to Seoul          
                                               
Wednesday September 14                                           SEOUL
Arrive Seoul KE 3:10PM or  AC 4:20PM
Accommodation: Yoido Hotel (1 night)  Phone: +82-2-782-0121

Thursday September 15                                                SEOUL- SIEM REAP                                                         BL
4-hour afternoon sightseeing tour  ending at the airport.
Fly Seoul to Siem Reap KE 687 7:00 Pm / 10:25 Pm
Accommodation: Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa (5 nights )  Phone:(855 63) 760 428
Friday September 16                                      SIEM REAP                                                                       B                           
Siem Reap Half Day Sightseeing’s
- Banteay Srei Temple (90 Minutes)
- Balance of the day and afternoon at leisure.

Saturday September 17                  SIEM REAP                                                                                                     B
- Morning at leisure. 
- Angkor Wat Half day                                                                                                        

Sunday September 18                                    SIEM REAP                                                                                      BD

Siem Reap 4-hour sightseeing.                          
- Ta Keo (30 minutes)
- Thommanon
- Chau Say Tevoda
- Afternoon at leisure.        

Monday September 19                   SIEM REAP                                                                                                     BD
Siem Reap 4-hour sightseeing.
- Srah Srang (30 minutes)
- Ta Prohm temple (2 hours)   
- Prasat Kravan 
- Afternoon at leisure.

Tuesday September 20                                  SIEM REAP – YANGON via Bangkok                                             B
Fly Siem Reap to Bangkok PG 906 12:20 P /1:35 P                                                              
Fly Bangkok to Yangon PG 703 4:45 P / 5:35 P
Accommodation: Park Royal Hotel Yangon (2 nights) Phone: +95 1 250 388

Wednesday September 21                                           YANGON                                                                          BD
                                                                                                      
Sightseeing in Yangon by Circular Train (non-air conditioned) (3 Hours)
Sightseeing in Yangon
- Shwedagon Pagoda


Thursday September 22                                           YANGON-PYAY                                                                     B
Transfer via motor coach overland to Pyay to join the AMA Waterways vessel.             (6 hours)

Friday September 22-Oct 02 Cruising                      AMA WATERWAYS
GOLDEN TREASURES OF MYANMAR (PYAY TO MALANDAY)
Ship: AMAPURA
Emergency Contact Through
AmaWaterways
26010 Mureau Road, 200
Calabasas, CA 91302  
Toll Free: 1-800-626-0126

The journey begins in Yangon, followed by a 10night upstream cruise embarking in Pyay.  Visiting sacred sites, small villages, craftsmen’s workshops, markets and Buddhist monasteries, and enjoying a full day tour of Bagan and its rich collection of stupas, temples and pagodas. Taking in the stunning view from atop Mt. Popa and visit the Golden City of Malanday and then returning to Yangon. 
CRUISE CRITIC REVIEW
Itinerary:
Day 1
SEP 22
YANGON-PYAY-EMBARKATION
Welcome Dinner. ( D)

Day 2
SEP 23
PYAY Walking tour of Pyay,  the ancient Sri Kestra City Gate, the Sri Kestra Museum and the Payagi Pagoda. (B, L, D)
Day 3
SEP 24
MINHLA – MAGWE
Ship stops at Minhla,. Later, visit Magwe - coach tour of the Mud Volcano in Minbu. The General Aung San “Bogyoke” Statue and the Myathalon Pagoda. (B, L, D)
Day 4
SEP 25
SALAY
Visit Yokesonekyaung,  the region’s oldest surviving wooden monastery, Also see a  colonial-era house and the 13th century Man Pagoda, which contains the largest lacquer Buddha in Myanmar. (B, L, D)
Day 5
SEP 26
THANT KYI TAUNG – BAGAN
Excursion up Tant Kyi Taung Mountain to visit its famous pagoda, circa 1059. Later, see the plain of Bagan,  from the ship deck. At Bagan, two tour options. 1 an observation tower for a sunset view with cocktails. 2 is a transfer to a local temple to participate in a candle lighting ceremony. Or alternatively watch the sunset from the top of Guni Temple  and then meet at the temple for the candle lighting ceremony. (B, L, D)
Day 6
SEP 27
BAGAN
Three sightseeing choices 1. Climb to the observation deck (250 steps) or  2. The top (777 steps) of Mount Popa, followed by a stop for lunch with free time to shop and explore the Mount Popa Resort or 3. An excursion to some of the  pagodas in the Bagan Archaeological Zone, like Shwezigan Pagoda and the Ananda temple. Afterwards,  time at the  Nyaungoo market ( local handicrafts, and colorful textiles). Later a visit to the 13th century Gubyaulgyi Temple, which is situated near the Wetkyi-inn Village, and the Pyathada temple. (B, L, D)
Day 7
SEP 28
BAGAN – YANDABO
See a last sunrise over Bagan before the ship departs for Yandabo, (terracotta wares and a pottery-making demonstration) (B, L, D)
Day 8
SEP 29
INWA – AMARAPURA – SAGAING
 Inwa, a former capital of the Burmese kingdom ancient ruins  by horse-drawn carriage and  the Bagaya monastery.  Later drive to Amarapura to Sunset at the world’s longest teak wood footbridge, the U-Bein Bridge. Optionally skip the Inwa village visit and  take the U-Bein Bridge excursion only. (B, L, D)
Day 9
SEP 30
SAGAING – MINGUN – MANDALAY
AM the  former royal capital of Sagaing.  Visit monastic school and the Soonuponyashin Pagoda. Later to Mingun to see a 12-foot high bronze bell and the  ruins of Pathodawgyi (the “unfinished pagoda, the world’s largest brick pagoda). Alternatively, a tuk-tuk ride through Mingun. Visit the Myatheindan Pagoda, (1816). Another option in Mingun to the Pathodawgyi, the Mingun bronze bell, and also a chance to climb to the top of Myatheindan Pagoda (77 steps). (B, L, D)
Day 10
OCT 1
MANDALAY
In Mandalay a full-day tour. including the bronze Mahamuni Buddha, the workshops of skilled craftsmen making thin sheets of gold and a stop at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, and Shwenandaw monastery.  Option - a half-day city tour of Mandalay which includes the Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery, and Mahamuni Buddha and a local school in Mandalay. In the evening there - a Farewell Dinner on board the (B, L, D)
Day 11
OCT 2
MANDALAY-DISEMBARKATION-YANGON
After breakfast aboard the AmaPura,
Sunday October 02                                          MANDALAY – YANGON                                                               BD
Transfer from the port to the airport.
Fly Mandalay to Yangon – AIR TBA
On arrival transfer to  hotel.,
Park Royal Hotel Yangon (1 nights) Phone: +95 1 250 388
Wander at leisure.  Visit the night market in Chinatown.
Return transfers provided for self-guided tour in the market which is open 5-9pm..
Farewell Dinner at Le Planteur Restaurant.

Monday October 03                                        YANGON – SEOUL (FLY HOME)                                                   B
Enjoy a morning at leisure. Optional late check out at hotel
Transfers to local shopping Centre or handicraft Centre.
The private coach will be available to transfer you within city limits.  
Transferred to the airport late this afternoon.
Korean Airlines KE 472 Yangon 11:30PM arrive Seoul at 7:50am (October 4)  

Seoul - Toronto

Option #1 Air Canada AC 062 depart Seoul at 3:15pm arrive Toronto 3:05pm

Option #2 Korean Airlines KE 73 Depart Seoul 9:35am arrive Toronto at 9:40am
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