88. CHRISTMAS 2012 TOUR TO MYAMNAR Dec 26 to 31, 2012 Myanmar Tour for Singaporean

UPDATE AS AT OCT 23, 2012

This Christmas 2012 tour is advertised in the Straits Times, Saturday and in the webpage of www.designtravelpl.com 


26 Dec 2012.   Arrive Yangon. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the Yangon airport.
27 Dec            Yangon -Bagan(domestic air flight)
28 Dec             Bagan - Mt Popa- Bagan
29 Dec             Bagan - Heho - Inle (domestic air flight)
30 Dec             Inle- Heho- Yangon (domestic air flight)
31 Dec             Yangon- Departure to Singapore

The tour price will be 1099 USD/pax (based on 2 pax)

TREKKING UP AND DOWN HILLS NEAR INLE LAKE CAN BE ARRANGED FOR THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND ADVENTURERS

Hotel used

3-star hotel used

Inclusion

- All hotel accommodation with breakfast.
- All transfer and sightseeing with private A/C Car.
- Domestic flight fare
- Entrance fee and Zone fee.
- English Station Guide.
- Boat fee in Inle
- Government tax and our service charges.

HISTORY OF KINGS AND EMPIRES COMES ALIVE IN BAGAN'S TEMPLES & PAGODAS

Exclusion

- International Air Fares and International Airport Tax
- Meals
- Personal expenses
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- Camera and Video fees
- Porter fees
- Other services not mentioned herein
- Visa applied in Singapore

For your information, there is a Compulsory Christmas Eve Dinner at all the hotels.

PYIN OO LWIN - NOT PART OF THIS TOUR. ANOTHER TIME. IT IS A COOL HILL RESORT FORE TRHE EX-BRITISH MILITARY OFFICERS WHO ESCAPE THE HOT SEASON BY HOLIDAYING IN THIS TOWN. A GARRISON TOWN, BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND FLOWERS 

 

 

As Myanmar has not been fully developed as compared to Australia and Europe, there are many interesting places to sight-see and many scenes for memorable and fun photographers. Try and visit Yangon and Mandalay in the next few months before it becomes urbanised due to large investment flows from foreigners.

MOUNT POPA IS THE MOST FAMOUS MOUNTAIN OF THE GODS (SPIRITS) EQUIVALENT TO THE MOUNT OLYMPUS OF THE GREEKS. THE LOCALS BELIEVE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRITS (CALLED NATS) AND CLIMB UP THIS MOUNTAIN TO PRAY. AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN MOUNT POPA AND TO VIEW THE SUNRISE IS NOT PART OF THIS TOUR AS THERE IS NO TIME TO DO IT. ANOTHER TIME. 

INLE LAKE'S FAMOUS FLOATING FARMS AND HOUSES

ANY READER INTERESTED IN THIS TOUR

Tel 9668 6468 or email judy@designtravelpl.com if interested. As December is the peak tourist season, please book as early as October/November 2012.



MESSAGE FROM DR SING KONG YUEN, FOUNDER OF DESIGN TRAVEL PTE LTD

Yesterday, Oct 10, 2012, a prospective client asked whether I have any brochures about Myanmar. Nowadays, the internet has more images and videos of Myanmar than any travel agent.

Myanmar is a very beautiful peaceful country with old colonial buildings still existing in their origin architectural form unlike other cities like Singapore where such heritage buildings have been re-modelled.

Visit downtown Yangon and see these buildings before they get demolished by foreign investors and developers. The buildings used to house government officials but since the new capital Naypyidaw is built, such British colonial buildings are vacated and will soon be gone.

Property prices in Yangon have shot up by as much as 5X due to intensive development and purchases by cash-rich jade sellers and foreigners buying and building condos and hotels.

For those who love history and appreciate the cultures of multi-ethnic communities, go to Myanmar now before the investors knock off the impressive historical downtown colonial buildings to build hotels and condos as in Singapore.

Yangon has many interesting residents.  The picture below shows student nurses in Yangon. I thought they were student teachers. Teachers wear dark green skirts. Singapore teachers are not required to wear uniforms unlike Yangon's teachers.

YANGON DOWNTOWN - STUDENT NURSES

Lake Inle in the Shan State has more interesting scenes and places for digital photographers as illustrated in the picture taken by me. Spend at least 2 nights in Lake Inle as this popular tourist spot is very serene to city dwellers who live hectic lives and seldom sees the sunset. Lake Inle by boat tour at around 5-6 pm will enable you to appreciate the golden setting sun and the whispers of the birds flying home.

 INLE LAKE'S FAMOUS LEG-PADDLING FISHERMAN. THE LADIES DON'T PADDLE THIS WAY 

For amateur photographers, Myanmar provides lots of interesting street photography. Tip: You may have a theme to practise your photography. You may need a zooms lens. I have this theme of taking pictures of flower sellers in the markets of the towns I travel to in Myanmar and the following is one of them. 

INLE LAKE'S FLOWER SELLER AND MARKET AT 7 AM WHEN YOU LEAVE INLE LAKE ON A MORNING FLIGHT BACK TO YANGON

From Bagan to Mount Popa, the tour guide may show you the local farmers and their cattle and way of living as in this picture below:

 SERENE COUNTRYSIDE WITH PALM TREES AND FARMS YOU WILL SEE FROM BAGAN TO MOUNT POPA

For urban residents like Singaporeans, such scenes are no longer present, although some 70 years ago, there were bullock carts to transport people. Some 60 years ago, there were pigs roaming fee in Redhill but now Singapore's problem is to cull the wild boars in the Pierce Reservoir and Thomson Road areas!

87. Dec 2012 tour Yangon-Bagan-Inle

Dec is a peak season, prospective travellers please note that payment of 100% within 7 days of approved quotation is important to secure a place and to fix a price.

THE FOLLOWING IS ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE SINGAPORE-ORIGIN TRAVELLERS

   

On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 6:25 PM, @gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Judy,

I would be interested in going on a 6 day 5 night tour to Yangon-Bagan-Inle for 2 persons via silkair between 26-31 December 2012 for a couple (age 29). We would like to join a group tour if available, otherwise we would be interested in a private tour. We are keen to explore, but not too much trekking. Kindly advise on the availability and cost. Thank you.

 

EMAIL REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL DATED SEP 25, 2012

Thank you for your email. It is best you book Silk Air yourself and we provide the customised Myanmar tour. Let us know when you have confirmed your Silk Air travel dates and we provide the itinerary for Yangon Bagan Inle. Pl let me know soon as Dec is peak tourist season for Myanmar. The cost is subject to changes in December unless you are willing to pay 100% within 7 days when the quotation is given to you and agreed to by you. Pl let me know if you need more queries.


 

86. October is peak tourist season in Myanmar

On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 1:34 PM,  <n...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi Judy

Will you be replying to my email?
I think we would prefer Mandalay comparing to Bagan.

Thank you
XXX

--- On Mon, 9/17/12, > From: ...@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Travel to Myanmar
> To: "judy@designtravelpl.com" <judy@designtravelpl.com>
> Date: Monday, September 17, 2012, 4:07 PM

> Hi Judy
>
> We have 4 to 6 paxs (2 not confirmed). We want to travel
> between 21 to 26 October 2012.
> We have elders in our group so the trip cannot be too
> hectic.
> Can you please propose an itinerary for us? We are
> interested to visit Shwenagon temple, market and see their
> culture and lifestyle. We don't mind Manadalay or Bagan.
> Please let us know what is there to see in these places and
> if the roads are bumpy and difficult to walk.

> For hotels, we would need elevator for elderly. Prefer clean
> and quiet hotels.

> We also need English speaking guides.
> Please let us have your itinerary and quote with and without
> air tickets.
>
> Thank you.
> xxx
 

EMAIL REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL DATED SEP 20, 2012

As time is short, it is best that you know exactly how many people are going and the hotel and places. Otherwise, it is not practical to keep changing and quoting again and again as I need to connect with my Myanmar agent to make proper arrangements. They have to phone the hotels to make bookings

Oct is is peak tourist season and a high demand for "affordable" hotels, it is just not possible to quote for you when your number of travellers is NOT confirmed (today being Sep 20, 2012).

I hope you can understand that quotation takes a lot of time and phone calls nowadays when demand is extremely high for hotels and air tickets. I will quote without Singapore-Yangon air tickets as time is too short. You have to book your international flights.

Pl note that you have to pay in full within the next 7 days of getting the quotation if you are interested. It is just not possible to get part payment as all our Myanmar hotels don't reserve. Pl buy travel insurance. My phone no. is 9668 6468 and it is best to contact me by phone since time is so short.

 

85. Email query from a student for 10-day Myanmar tour

On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 2:14 PM, ...@hotmail.sg> wrote:

Hi Dr Sing,

I'm a local student and would like to visit Myanmar with my friend. I came across your website online while doing my research and is excited to learn that you specialised in Myanmar tours.


I'd wish to visit Myanmar at least for a period of 10 days (to make my $35 visa worth it) and would like to visit parts including Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle lake, Heho, Kalaw and Pindaya Cave. I would like to include cycling and some trekking in my trip as well. I wonder do you provide customization services?


I've source out some tour agencies that provide day trip and was intending to book a my outbound and inbound flight to Yangon from Singapore 10 days apart, so that I can slot the different day trips in between, while I travel via train or domestic flights to transit between the cities.

Is there anyway you can help? Thanks and look forward to your reply! =)


Name given



E-MAIL REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL DATED SEP 16, 2012 

Thank you for your email. Please provide me the exact dates and your proposed visits to the cities/towns. There are various examples of itineraries in my blog at www.designtravelpl.com to guide you.



I suggest 2 days/city or town as a guide as the distances require a few hours of road transport. You will then be able to appreciate your travels. Pl let me know as soon as possible.

84. Quotation for air fare to Mandalay from Yangon

Dear Mr David Sing

We would like to go to Mandalay from Yangon as follows. Please quote us the airfare and hotel accommodation for
the following guests (2 persons). We will revert to you on our confirmation upon receipt of your quotation :-

1) Airfare from Yangon to Mandalay (return)
     ETD Yangon    : 9-Oct-2012  (morning flight)
     ETD Mandalay : 10-October-2012 (evening flight)

2) Hotel Accomodation (2 Single Rooms with breakfast)
     Prefer to stay at Novotel Mandalay Hotel or other better hotel upon your recommendation
Looking forward to receiving your quotation soon.
Note : The above 2 guests have a valid visa for this trip

Regards
S... (Ms)




EMAIL REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL TO PROSPECT DATED SEP 13, 2012

Kindly see flight fare and hotel price as follow:

 9-Oct-2012 Yangon-Mandalay-134 USD/Pax
 10-Octo-2012 Mandalay-Yangon 134 USD/pax
Ayarwaddy River View Hotel (Deluxe 50 USD/r/n,)
Royal City Hotel (Superior 50 USD/r/n)
Royal Guest House (Standard 35 USD)

4D/3N - best advice will be Yangon + Bagan for folks over 80 years old

 

On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 9:23 PM, ...singnet.com.sg> wrote:

Dear Mr Sing
As we have not been to Myanmar, it would be good if you could help propose an itinerary. Mandalay sounds interesting but do we fly or drive from Yangon?
We are looking at maybe 21 Oct to 25 or 26 Oct? We dont intend to cramp too much into the itinerary like the group tours.

Do you think doing yangon, mandalay & Bagan is too ambitious?
Would appreciate your advise.

 

 

REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL DATED SEP 11, 2012

You need to take a plane to Mandalay from Yangon to save time. For 4D/3 nights, with older folks over 80 years old, it is best just to spend 2 days & 2 nights in Yangon and 2 days 1 night in Bagan to appreciate the local cultures, food and the sunset. This is because there is waiting time wasted at the domestic airports.

Ideally, Yangon reach in the morning. Stay one night. Next morning goto Bagan by air. Bagan stay one night. Next afternoon, back to Yangon. Stay one night in Yangon. Next day - Yangon at leisure. Afternoon flight to Singapore. If 5D/4N, you may stay overnight at Mandalay and just explore the surroundings but it will be much of a rush due to domestic air flight schedules not being at regular hours. 

82. DT_Oct912_Airfare+Hotel Accommodation_Mandalay

ENQUIRY DATED SEP 7, 2012


Go to Mandalay from Yangon as follows.

Please quote us the airfare and hotel accommodation for
the following guests (2 persons). We will revert to you on our confirmation upon receipt of your quotation :-
1) Airfare from Yangon to Mandalay (return)
ETD Yangon : 9-Oct-2012 (morning flight)
ETD Mandalay : 10-October-2012 (evening flight)
2) Hotel Accomodation (2 Single Rooms with breakfast)

Prefer to stay at Novotel Mandalay Hotel or other better hotel upon your recommendationPl reply urgently. Thank you.

81. DT_Dec2512​_3nights_2​pax_Yangon​_only. December 2012 in Yangon

1.  PROSPECTIVE CLIENT

Sep 4. 2012

DT_Dec2512_3nights_2pax_Yangon_only
To quote and give me an itinerary of places of interest and hotel accommodation (3-4 star) for a Singaporean wife of a Myanmar husband visiting from Dec 25, 2012 for 4 days 3 nights to visit Yangon only. 3 nights in Yangon to visit nearby places of interest for her

2. QUOTATION AS AT SEP 9, 2012

4 D/3 N tour program
25 Dec, Arrival Yangon
26 Dec, Yangon sightseeing
27 Dec, Yangon sightseeing
28 Dec, Yangon - Departure
The tour price will be 425 USD/pax ( based on 2 pax with 3 * hotel )
The tour price will be 525 USD/pax ( based on 2 pax with 4* hotel)
Inclusion
  
   -    All hotel accommodation with breakfast.
   -    All transfer and sightseeing with private A/C Car.
   -    Entrance fee and Zone fee.
   -    Government tax and our service charges.
 
 Exclusion
   -     International Air Fares and International Airport Tax
   -     Meals other than breakfast at the hotel
   -     Guide
   -     Personal expenses
   -     Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
   -     Camera and Video fees
   -     Porter fees
   -     Other services not mention herein


3.  ITINERARY

Design Travel 4D/3N tour program for Yangon tour

25 Dec 2012. Arrival Yangon (evening arrival)

 

Arrive at Yangon International Airport (the main gateway to Myanmar), we will welcome and

 

transfer you to hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Yangon.

26 Dec 2012. Yangon sightseeing

After breakfast at the hotel, start Yangon sightseeing include: Kyaukhtet Kyi Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, downtown area, colonial style building, City Hall, Maha Bandhuhla Park, Sule Pagoda, In the evening, visit Shwedagon Pagoda, which is one of the wonders of the world and enjoy sunset there. Stay overnight at a hotel in Yangon.

27 Dec 2012.  Yangon sightseeing

 

After breakfast at hotel, relax and sightseeing includes; Kaba Aye Pagoda, Maha Pasana


Cave, Buddah Tooth Relic Pagoda, White Marble Buddah Image and White Elephant House. After


that do free shopping at Bogyoke Scott Market formerly known as Scott Market. Other places to be


visited will  include "Little India" and "China town" as well as surrounding residential areas. Then


back to  hotel. Stay Overnight at a hotel in Yangon.

28 Dec 2012/ Yangon – Departure

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure to Mandalay on your own

******** End the Tour ********

QUOTATION IS VALID FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2012. PRICES MAY BE DIFFERENT NEARER TO DECEMBER.  CONFIRMATION IS ADVISED TO BE MADE IN SEPTEMBER



 

80. DT_Oct2012_5D4N_3adults Ygn, Bagan, Mt Popa

Sep 9, 2012
To: Ms Lim

DT_Oct2012_5D4N_3adults
Thank you for your query. I will email to yo the quotation within 5 days from today referring to:
 5D/4N tour for 3 adults, 2-bedroom, 3-4-star hotels, English-speaking guide + driver, visa application
Yangon (2 nights), Bagan (1 night), Mt Popa (1 night). Two adults are in their 80s and a more comfortable accommodation and good quality air conditioned car will be preferred.
David Sing
+65 9668 6468
judy@designtravelpl.com

79. Air Mandalay tickets for 3 places confirmed

Sep 6, 2012. Email to confirm air tickets to 3 places in Bagan

 

As Air Bagan cannot confirm all 3 places you want to visit but Air Mandalay can, I have quickly got the tickets booked by Air Mandalay. The tickets will be issued 7 days brefore departure and I will get you the confirmation letter from Air Mandalay as soon as possible.

For your information, we have all the flight sectors confirmed at Air Mandalay as followa:

14 Oct,2012: Yangon - Bagan - 6T 401 06:30 - 07:50 - 2 pax - confirmed

15 Oct,2012: Bagan - Heho - 6T 401 08:05 - 09:30 - 2 pax - confirmed

18 Oct,2012: Heho - Yangon - 6T 402 09:45 - 10:55 - 2 pax - confirmed

Pl reply this email to confirm you have received my email. Thank you.

78. Yangon Dec 25 12, 4D 3 N - 2 pax

 

 

 

Sep 4. 2012

DT_Dec2512_3nights_2pax_Yangon_only
To quote and give me an itinerary of places of interest and hotel accommodation (3-4 star) for a Singaporean wife of a Myanmar husband visiting from Dec 25, 2012 for 4 days 3 nights to visit Yangon only. 3 nights in Yangon to visit nearby places of interest for her. Thank you.

77. Where you want to visit in Dec 2012?

INFO FOR PROSPECTIVE TRAVELLERS TO MYANMAR
Readers will need to let us know which places or towns they want to visit for 4 days/3 nights to Yangon because it is difficult to quote without knowing what you want. An example is shown below:

On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 10:12 PM, ..@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi Judy,


We have 5 adults + 1 child (5 years old) would like to travel to Yangon on 22 Dec 2012.
Please quote us accordingly to the departure date above.
Hope to get your quote soon. Thanks.

EMAIL REPLY FROM DESIGN TRAVEL DATED SEP 4, 2012

Thank you for your email. Pl let me know which towns you want to visit for 4 days 3 nights. Will it be just Yangon only or will it be Yangon (2 nights) & Mandalay (1 night)?











Or will it be Yangon (2 nights) & Golden Rock (1 night)? Pl let me know as Dec is a peak season and you will need to decide where you want to visit. Thank you.

76. Domestic airline ticket booking in Myanmar

Singaporean residents are used to e-ticket issues and online booking. However, domestic airline booking of Bagan Air is not done by e-tickets.

The following is the process for Design Travel Pte Ticket to buy Bagan Air tickets for Singaporean residents:

1. Full payment is made.
2. We will send you a scan copy of tickets as soon as they are issued.
3. The flight ticket center issue the tickets 5 days prior the flight departure day.