I have a few minutes at the airport so let me write a bit about the money. It's about 1300 kyat to a dollar. But the largest bill is 10,000 kyat, about eight dollars. So I ended up with quite a stack of bills when I changed $200. Some guy next to be had a stack two inches thick!
They don't really use credit cards here except in high-end restaurants and hotels. So you're stuck with cash. There are ATMs and a friend used one, but the fees are high.
Things are cheap though especially if you go to a local place. Wet had a big bottle of a stout (Black Shield, a local beer) and it was 2000 kyat, about $1.50. They recommended $50-100 a day in cash, but I don't think I'll come close to that, although they expect $15/day in tips between the driver and guide.
There still is the disparity between tourist wealth and local incomes, though. A local government official only earns $200/month so that beer wouldn't be too cheap for them...
Okay time to board a flight to Mandalay.
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