fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

If your thinking about your safety now.....why would you want to go there???? Think of your family and yourself....the photos are not worth the risk. Their are plenty of other places that you can go to.

cthahn

Situations can change over night. I would not go to any of those countries.

harolnick

Having lived several decades in Thailand, I visited Burma countless times, and--like visiting South Africa before its Mandela-change--always felt guilty. For the Burmese government was among the most ruthless in the world.And while they have changed, that same ruthlessness of the Army are being exercised in the remote areas of the country today.
As for your trip, those ethical doubts must be balanced with the Photographer's aims. The countless temples of Pagan are starkly beautiful, you may discover (as did I), a remote island off Mandalay with the ruins of temples, you can dine and shoot in the Burmese markets to your heart's content, and the fishermen of the mirrored Inley Lake are timeless. I doubt if safety should be an issue, since the tribal wars are on the borders with Bangladesh, not in the interior where "indigenous Burmans" are the main populace. Yet bear in mind that you are visiting (and giving money to) a country which is far outside the moral strictures of the world today. No, safety is not an issue (I hope and believe), so let your conscience be your guide

ckayakne Loc: Wolfeboro/Portsmouth, NH

You might be able to check the US Government travel advisories to foreign countries. I was in Chaing Mai and Bankok Thailand this past March and you want to talk about photo ops! Felt really safe there. The locals seem to smile and Wai (hands together and bow, there are 3 versions, believe it or not) to greet you, which you should do in return. I was walking down the street in Chaing Mai and a local saluted me, I was caught off guard and smiled at the younger man. I asked my stepson, who is teaching there, the meaning. He said it was a sign of respect to older people. I was impressed. Would that happen ANYWHERE in the U.S.?
One word of caution is that you should NEVER, EVER speak in a negative way about the royalty there. They are a proud people and the King's (sometimes the Queen's) photos are displayed around every corner on signs and billboards.

One last comment would be to learn the basic words for "please", "bathroom" and "thank you" in their language. There are phone apps that could help you as well.

I was more fearful of the flight over the middle east than visiting Thailand.

Good luck and where ever you go, have fun and take lots of photos!

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

1. from Trtip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294190-i9408-k8248024-Is_Myanmar_safe_to_travel_to_right_now-Myanmar.html

altho I keep hearing Myanmar is not safe, it is not on the State Department's list: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/KenyaTravelAlert.html



or, Forbes list: https://www.forbes.com/sites/priceonomics/2017/03/21/ranking-the-most-dangerous-countries-for-americans-to-visit/#4213903e28a7

berchman Loc: South Central PA

"Those countries"? Which ones, Burma and India? People were horrified when I told them I was planning a trip to Iran. But I went there for three weeks, my guide/driver drove 3,000 miles throughout the country, and it was a great trip with the most hospitable people I've ever encountered and they knew I was an American. No, I wouldn't go to Somalia, but I'm glad that I went to Burma, India, and Iran and I will soon be visiting Egypt and Jordan on tour. I got some terrific photos, ate some delicious food, met some impressive people. One can choose to huddle at home, sheltered from imaginary dangers, but one has only one life to live and I don't want to live it totally confined to south central PA.

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Go! The country is one of my favorite places in the world. The troubles are in a very limited geography and nowhere near where you are planning to visit. The people are wonderful and the sights are superb!

This is not the place to argue about the political difficulties in Myanmar, so I'll leave that alone except to say that I vehemently disagree with the military "solution" to the problem and that Ang San Suu Kyi is between a rock and a hard place with no authority over the military. Sigh. I love Myanmar and hate to see their image sullied.

oldpsych Loc: Indianapolis

Do you really want to go a place that appears to be engaging in ethnic cleansing? We decided to go to Cambodia instead.

Harry_in_England

Here's an idea that no-one else seems to have come up with:
You live in the USA and there must be many, many, many thousands of fantastic places you could visit in perfect safety. Why go abroad at all? I live in the UK and my bucket list has more than enough places within this small island to last me the rest of my life. The USA is vast and I doubt anyone could see it all in two or three whole lifetimes.
Just a thought.

JosephSF Loc: Sonoma County CA

I spent a couple of weeks in Myanmar last spring and it is one of my favorite places to visit on earth. The people are extremely friendly and I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable in either the cities like Yangon or the rural, undeveloped places like Bagan. I did not have a guide or driver but you can hire those if you wish. If you have an opportunity to visit and don't I predict you will live to regret it.

dpfoto Loc: Cape Coral, FL

In this day and age, there would have to be TWO things that would make me consider a trip to that part of the world:
(1) Hell freezes over
(2) Pigs fly

berchman Loc: South Central PA

There must be thousands of fantastic nooks and crannies in one's home town and surroundings to spend a lifetime exploring, so there's no need to travel at all. How many alleyways, streets, rock outcroppings, meadows, tree stands, doorways, building facades, gardens, shops, window displays, churches, municipal buildings, warehouses, factories, hospitals, nursing homes, (have I left anything out) that one can spend one's entire life exploring. Stay at home; bring your macro lens.

Harry_in_England

Exactly. Loads of photo opportunities within walking distance.
Oh, and you missed out public parks

cbruice

No way. Why travel where there is civil war and complete unrest. Find a safer place for you and your wife

AndyGarcia

Personally I would make my decision on whether my trip supported the regime or not. For me it would be a resounding NO but you'll have to make your decision on what your priorities are. Likewise I would not visit many other countries for the same reason.