Online dating in Myanmar

Online dating in Myanmar
For lack of gay venues, all my activities were by online dating. I found most gay massage places through online dating as well, and the rest through social media.

Popularity of online dating apps
Mandalay distance of 12th profile two samples:
HeeSay 0.6 km, Grindr 1 km, Romeo 165 km, Hornet 350 km.
HeeSay 0.4 km, Grindr 1 km, Romeo 164 km, Hornet 351 km.
Yangon distance of 12th profile :
HeeSay / Blued 0.3 km, Grindr 700 m (last free profile is 3 km away), Gayromeo 3.0 km (but many have not been online for weeks); Hornet 7 km to 240 km (extrapolated from 8th profile 178 km, many profiles on Hornet show no distance), I checked several times, varies with time.

High activity
I would read all messages on gay online dating before going to bed, and the following morning wake up to unread messages from up to 20 profiles. That's more than in Pattaya. Comparable only to India, however in India all old/fat/ugly, whereas here some cute. Another similarity to India is the struggle for face pictures.

Reading these messages, and chatting with those who are online now and getting new messages, would take 30 min to 1 hour. In the course of the day further 30 min to 1 hour of chatting. One day I almost had a third date, but he cancelled.

The struggle for face pictures
Most profiles have no face picture or nonsense pictures or fake pictures. I recognize the fake pictures because I saw them elsewhere, there might be more that I don't recognize. It's so widespread, some state that pictures are theirs, others state that pictures are not theirs (screenshot below top row). Getting a face picture takes most of the work of online dating in Myanmar. And then for 95%, it's not my type.

With pictures that can be viewed only once, I need a code in case I come back to this chat after dozens of other chat. In following, "thank you" is my code "thank you, no, absolutely not"

I don't discuss activities before meeting someone and am quite flexible. My approach is, if I like the face, I can do anything in bed. However the following has different ideas:

Even though they know that due to slow connection, loading pictures can take seconds (per picture!), they have crap in their private pictures:

And a last one, to drive my point in, how tedious and what a waste of time it is for all parties:

Age/weight/height
Ages seemed to be correct, however numbers for weight and height were all over the place. You have to consider that Myanmar is one of the three countries that have not adopted the metrical system (Liberia and the U.S.A. are the other two). But the app would convert into metrical, the problem does not lie in conversion. I met one whose stats were 111 lb 5 feet 4 inch, which converts to 50 kg and 163 cm. But in real he was much slimmer, like 45 kg 163 cm, or 50 kg 170 cm. Many profiles state 122 cm tall, obviously wrong. On street markets you can have your weight measured, from which I assume that most Myanmar don't own a balance and don't know their weight and put whatever comes into their mind in gay online dating.

In summary, in online dating you can't go by profile pictures and not by stats either, it's mostly poking around in the dark and chatting with hundreds of profiles (half message me, half I would message) to find the few cute. I have all the chats (I guess 200), just don't know how to analyze them to draw a conclusion, if there is any regularity to detect.

Rejections in both directions
I have been rejected for various reasons (like being too old or not their preferred race), but this is new:

The above or similar I had before, but this is new:

Missed
Three boys I missed (i.e. we both were ready to meet soon and discussing the details). One slow reply (so I figured I would go to massage instead, and indeed no further message from him), two going offline when I'm getting ready to go out to meet them.

Money requests
Most boys are for free, those who want money usually clearly say so in their profile (“spa boy” or “offer boy” - their English expressions for “money boy”) and have face pictures. However, I have been asked for gifts or money by several in my room during or after our interaction. Depending on situation, I agreed or refused.

Videochat
In some cases where face pictures were not clear, I had videochats just before he or I would set off for a date. We had an internet speed that allowed videochat, however both cases turned out to be too fat for my standards, I had to abort the date. And a money boy missed because no clear face pic and refuses videochat, body pics promising. (Can be for any reason: no light, poor connection, with family or friends.) In Thailand as well, videochat saved me a few disappointments.

Various
Replies “inn” or “hok” in an otherwise English language chat is Burmese for “yes”. For sexual role they use T, B, V. Several encounters told me they haven't met a foreigner before.

Popular boys
The following two are popular, i.e. first step would be to ascertain I'm speaking with the boy in question and not a fake profile.

Khant Ko Ko (a generic name, I don't have any current social media or online dating profiles of him, those I had are all suspended or deleted). For You massage in Yangon shows his picture, but I didn't see him there and didn't ask because I learnt of this only later. I found a look-alike in Orchid Spa.

Kaung Htet Paing https://x.com/Kaunght77 I have his telegram and we exchanged a few messages, but when I asked to meet, no reply. With so many easily available around, I gave up.

Copyright 2025 ChristianPFC except boy pictures

Gay massages in Yangon

Gay massages in Yangon
The following lists has 24 gay massages in Yangon, of which I visited 7 and couldn't locate 2. Some might be gone, there might be more that I don't know of. The problem is finding the exact location and contacting someone there to meet me outside, as most of them have no signs (neither outside the building nor at the entrance door).
(weird formatting error here that I can't get rid of)
Some of them have more than one telegram channel or pose under different names. I try to clear the clutter up. Alphabetic list, incomplete but without finding out the location and going to the shop, there is no point in collecting names and links from online.

Fortunately, their names are all in English and some English in their texts, and pictures have name or abbreviation of the shop and number of boy (in Arabic numerals) and sometimes phone number. Customer base I assume mostly locals, and English proficiency poor, why would they name their shop in English and have some English words in their texts? There is only little cross-over of boys from one shop to another.

They can be classified in three groups: straight (no profiles on gay online dating, services limited to what straight boys would do) and gay (several of their staff have profiles, all service available) with massage skills varying, and Lime Spa (great massage, limited extra services). All massages I went to 2017-19 are gone, but new ones often nearby.

Chan Myae Guesthouse (the shop has no name, it's located in this building so I use it as reference) street 34 at 16.7777, 96.1605. Visit Sun26jan2025. I knew this place from Grindr, no other gay online dating or social media that I know of.

Crown Men Spa https://t.me/crownmenspa 09774622484
@CrownMenSpaYgnEng_bot leads to chat with admin from whom I get map: near 16.8468, 96.1906 (Warunar St 6 labelled as such in Google maps, but not found under this name when searching in google maps!)

DOMINO MAN SPA https://t.me/Domeno567 09783035710 and
Domino Men Spa (by bharlarlar) https://t.me/foryouhightclass 09972600204. Admin KHANT KO KO @khantkoko784 sends me directions (South okkalarpa Township, Yadanar Rode, Dawadaha bus stop) which is different from For You Men Spa, even though they have the same telegram and phone number.

Dream Light Spa https://x.com/dream_ygn

Favorite Spa (former Radiance Spa) 09792161664
https://x.com/john83278 and
https://t.me/favorite7921

For You Men Spa or For You Man Only Spa or Domino Men Spa
https://t.me/foryouhightclass 09972600204 and
https://t.me/foryouspa42402 Byamaso road 16.8492, 96.173. Visit 3feb2025 soso, but several cuties, repeat 5feb2025 good.
Colar Only Channel" 1 https://t.me/Colarchannel1
Colar only Channel" 2 https://t.me/colarchannel2
For You Men Spa Booking ph 09773833346 Viber ph 09679505986
Admin For you man Only spa @foryou6956 sends me directions.
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=WelDRn
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=mP1qEd
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=pVAEVE (account locked at time of writing)

Freedom Spa Yangon (username; no link) Ph-09783202526(viber) 09783202527(viber)

Golden Light Spa near Dagon Centre 2. Visit 2feb2025. No profile on HeeSay. Admin Nine Nine @glmenspaoffical sends me directions: above J'Donuts, No. 270, Pyay Rd, 3C; 16.805, 96.1373.
Golden Light Spa Offical (no link, but can be found @glspaoffical). Golden Light Spa Offical https://t.me/GoldenLightspaoffical 09.957 567 447

Harmony Spa HeeSay date_21 https://international.heesay.com/user?id=z0gMKo Thu Kha Street 38/B in Sanchaung 0978810423 sends location 16.7996, 96.1306; (Baho Rd / Thu Kha Street) their text in HeeSay translates as: Sukha Rd, near Asia Royal Hospital (100m from location he sent).

Lime Spa (Botahtaung) As such on google maps and signs outside building and at door. Visit 30jan2025.
https://web.facebook.com/Limespamyanmar for both branches.

Lime Spa (Old Yay Tar Shay Street) As such on google maps and signs outside building and at door. Visit 4feb2025.

Lucky Spa in Paw Taw Mu 2 Street about 16.8645, 96.1205
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=gXyL21
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=rnlgPR
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=voBeR7
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=JWNv9g 09777309525

Max Spa Hledan https://x.com/SpaNew3259 viber.09444731131.ygn.hledan (Account suspended 16mar2025)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573084142521 (address in pic, gone 26feb2025) https://t.me/maxspa0
update: https://x.com/HledanMax78877   

Nap Spa https://x.com/NapSpa1 (last post Jul 12, 2022) 
https://x.com/NAPspa2 (last post May 4, 2023) 09789922422 from which I assume there might be a https://x.com/NapSpa3, but This account doesn’t exist (neither 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
They advertised as near Sule Pagoda, without details. I was around and would have picked up the scent of a gay massage when walking around, there was none. Assume closed or moved.

New Boy Spa
https://t.me/YGNSPABOYS_1500 🇾 🇬 🇳 🇸 🇵 🇦 🇧 🇴 🇾 🇸 🇦 🇬 🇪 🇳 🇨 🇾 ( 🇭 🇴 🇹 🇪 🇱 & …) (my transcription: YGN Spa Boys Agency (Hotel & Home) Service Boys)
09650476868 Viber @KOPHYO476868
and https://t.me/newboyspa_1500 Ygn New Boy Channels
New Boy Spa ( Ygn ) Vb & Tg 09772544847 Vb & Ph 09650476868

Orchid Spa 16.866, 96.1157, 09780035028. Visit 31jan2025.
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=BDkzWY (manager?)

Real Man Spa Google maps Real Healthy Shop 16.7941, 96.1245, 09755522945. Visit 1feb2025.
https://t.me/RealManSpaOfficia (sic!).
Real_Spa_Owner https://international.heesay.com/user?id=LD8X8N
and Real_Man_Spa_Owner

RK Spa near Shwe Ohh Pharmacy Thukha Branch on Insein Road.
16.8397, 96.1273 Google maps RK SPA Couldn't find it on 31jan2025. Boy sends location, is here, but which floor, which door?
RK MAN SPA https://t.me/rkspayangon 09974124310
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=a8mXDE

RS Men Spa https://t.me/RSMenSpa (no address or phone number)

THB Reflexology near Hotel Royal King (no massage place nearby on Google maps). THB SPA Channel https://t.me/THB14523 Viber 09682382441 (Traditional Health Burma). Booking to Viber 09758417060. Admin Lin Khant Kyaw @thbkokhant8888 good English, I would have gone there but the chat was set to auto-delete after 1 day, and with that I lost interest.

Confusingly, Google maps THB Reflexology (546, kyimyintdine, Kannar Street, 16.8082, 96.1815, phone +959753731597) has the same logo as their telegram channel, but is completely different area from location they sent me on telegram.

The Feel Men Spa
A Little Lay (The Feel Spa) https://t.me/Alittle999
Admin A Little Lay @Alittle2025 sends me directions:
Thuminglar rd. In front of Hotel Thuminglar.
THE FEEL MEN SPA https://t.me/Thefeelspa777 09.68 69 555 15

Tiger Men Spa https://t.me/tigermen007 Booking 09766023536

VVIP Men Spa near Ngwekyal Guest House Bayint Naung Road
https://x.com/VVvipspa?s=09 near Thu Minglar Hotel.
COME BOOKING PH VIBER 09751524180 09881469901

Zuri Spa missed 3feb2025. No online dating profiles nearby.
YANGON MAN SPA UPDATE PHOTOS (no link!)
Near Yankin Center, somewhere on telegram (no copy, forward, screenshot allowed) I find address: 172_SayarsamRoad
(Google maps 172 Sayar San Rd 16.8248, 96.167 is 260 m by air from Google maps ZURI SPA)
Yangon Man Spa 1_Channel https://t.me/YangonManSpa1 zuri spa
🌐 ZURI SPA 🌐 t.me/ZuriSpa {{{ZURI SPA Information's Channel }}}
Yangon Man Spa -Official @YangonMenSpa +95 9783448552
Man Service 09406589585 ///Viber LadyService 09785983275 ///Viber

Some more here: https://www.gayguides.com/topic/47705-yangon-and-mandalay-spa-master-list/ Yangon and Mandalay spa master list By AsianExplorer March 20, 2024. However, armchair research is pointless here because the scene changes quickly and more importantly, you need a contact who picks you up near their shop as many have no signs or directions.

Sun26jan2025 Yangon
Massage is on upper floor of Chan Myae Guesthouse building on 34th street. As I was looking around for a sign, someone came out who looked like a massage boy so I asked him and he led me up.

Somewhere in here is a gay massage, and there is no sign where exactly:

Shop has no name and no business card. No clear hit among the available boys. Massage room has a lamp on wall, I can hang a towel over it to dim light (important, some places have poor light). Hooks and clothes hangers on wall (have to point this out as a positive, some massage rooms have no hooks or clothes hangers!). Massage starts in towel. Dry thumb presses on sole of feet. Oil massage legs okay, back okay, back to legs, back, getting repetitive, I turn around and take over. Good nipple play (general for Myanmar, rare in Thailand), slim but shapeless abdomen. Various tattoos. Warm dry brown skin. Nice short haircut neck and sides. Evades my kisses by turning cheek. Objects when I get fingers in butt crack. Takes him a while to get hard, average cock and balls. Lies down to wank, gets tissue, I cum triggered. Clean up and dresses. 20k for one hour massage and I tip 20k. I spent 17:20-18:03.

Thu30jan2025 Yangon
Lime Spa (Botahtaung) as on google maps, even a sign outside building on on their floor (5th floor). No obvious gay online dating profiles nearby. I ask to see who is present, but in the end select by pictures. Take 1 hour signature massage for 20k. Simple room with table and curtain. Take shower, cold running water and light. Start 13:45. Starts dry presses sole of feet, legs, back, then oil. All good, one of the best in a long time. Ulna on legs and back great. Says something like “Sex service?” - “Yes.” - “Okay.” and continues massage. Turn around, continue massage, thorax and abdomen good. Then takes off clothes and gets erotic (nipple play and kiss my neck, good). I can feel his beard stubbles, a small turn-off. Slim body, warm and dry skin, but I don't like feeling of oil on our bodies. Small cock and hairy balls, gets hard slowly. Doesn't let me touch his butt crack. Nothing more to do, and anyway shows me translation “time is over”, followed by “bread teacher”, which I interpret as request to pay his tip now here. I give him 20k for one hour massage and 20k tip, he shows me translation that his fee is 30k, so I give 10k more. 14:53 bye and dresses. Shower now hot water. I'm out 15:08.

One of the best massages and erotic I had in a long time. Just not clearly my type and limitations as a straight boy. Nobody I saw here clearly my type, but I look forward to visit their other branch.

Fri31jan2025 Yangon RK Spa and Orchid Spa
On google maps as “RK SPA” 16.8397, 96.1273 on Google maps next to Shwe Ohh Pharmacy Thukha Branch, and their advert in telegram says so (2nd floor over Shwe Ohh Pharmacy – this is a pharmacy chain, multiple branches all over Yangon). Arrive 15:00, no sign, walk stairway up, no sign in hallway. Check online dating, there are two spa boy profiles in 0.1 km distance, but not clear if RK Spa. Call three times, talk 3 min, 1 min, 2 min, but poor connection and despite the other speaking some English, we mostly don't understand each other. I asked to send someone out to pick me up. I can't message them on their telegram channel! They send me SMS, but I can't send SMS with my SIM-card. After half an hour standing there and calling and online work, I give up and continue. Update: next day get screenshot of Google maps, it is indeed around there.

Somewhere in here is a gay massage, but I don't know where exactly!

But there are other massages in that area and Orchid Spa is responsive on HeeSay with map. (Maps on HeeSay don't show my location, cannot open in Google maps, and marker moves when zooming in and out! Zoom in is the correct location. Whereas locations on Grindr open in Google maps.)

No sign of Orchid Spa at that location, call and message (send pic of where I am), and they send one out to pick me up. No sign on building or entrance door. The boy who picks me up looks fine, no need to ask to see more staff, and happens to be the one I chatted with on HeeSay. Pictures were not convincing, but in real a clear hit. Leads me to room, we pass another boy. Little English. Take shower with cold water, enter room 16:34. In room condoms and tissue in basket. Room basic, mattress on floor, aircon working, shared between two rooms. Boy shortly outside and back in towel (was fully dressed before). Massage dry presses on sole of feet, legs, then asks if I want oil which I decline. Boy had massage training, but not my favorite style of massage. Then turn around and quickly get into happy ending. Warm dry skin, good kisser and nice taste, his neck and cheek nice smell, my beard no problem. Gets hard slowly, average size, some hair on balls, but crotch very nice. Good hugging and nipple play. Can finger him and shows me condom, but I'm not in a position (ED and PE) to fuck. Power cut, no more light or aircon, but light through window okay. We have a lovely time and both cum by wanking. Clean up, hugging until time is up. Exchange Telegram to stay in touch. It turns out he can read and write Chinese, all subsequent communication in Chinese. Ask for price, 50k all included and I tip him 10k more. Three fully dressed and one more shapely shirtless on my way out, out 17:44.

That's 60k MMK = 460 THB for one hour massage, happy ending and a generous tip!

The following picture is not the massage boy I met (I don't have any suitable pictures of him) but a similar looking Myanmar massage boy:

Sun1feb2025 Yangon
Google maps Real Healthy Shop 16.7941, 96.1245 correct, call their online dating to send someone out to meet me. Their door:

They do have signs, but only once you are inside:

Reception:

Only 3 boys and 2 management. No clear hit, but go for the one with pockmarks on cheeks*. I want to take a shower, cannot, no water? But on the pretext of going to toilet, I get in their bathroom, and there is water. Start massage 18:45. They have spa music (all previous ones didn't). Aircon set to 16 C, shared for two rooms, condensate dripping in bucket. Good massage, but not my favorite style. Oil that completely dries on skin. Turn around, and we somehow progress to happy ending. Drops towel. Nice underwear (trunks with colorful Mickey Mouse print, nice to touch). Take off soon. Test kiss, positive. Nice low hanging hairless balls. Nice cock. I suck him and he gets in 69 to suck me as well. Can run my finger through butt crack. He would fuck me with condom, and I think I could fuck him as well. Cums on my body, I cum triggered. Clean up with tissue, then wets the towel with drinking water to wipe off. Joins for hugging and a bit of playing on his phone. Basic English, can write okay when he messages me on HeeSay. Originally I went for 1 hour massage, but nobody knocks on door when one hour is over, nor does the boy say anything, so we spend closer to 2 hours. 70k for 2 hours and tip 10k extra for outstanding activities. Out 20:37.

*I find pockmarks on cheeks a turn-on. A friend has an explanation: the pockmarks are a sign of high hormonal activity, which means the boy is horny, and my mind subconsciously connects pockmarks to good activities in bed.

Sun2feb2025 Yangon Golden Light Spa
Get close to Golden Light Spa and as expected, there are no signs so I message them on telegram and get directions. Take lift to 3rd floor (1st = ground), but there is a hallway with bends. Turns out the shop is away from road, right side in front of narrow stairway (for one person; stairway around elevator two people can pass). No signs, only find it because one of them comes out with a flashlight (stairway and hallway dark). This is what a one-way stairway looks like, I haven't see such thing before:

Arrive at Golden Light Spa 17:52. Staff poor English, shows me pictures, I ask who is there and to see them in real, about 5 boys and their number, one after the other. From seeing and pictures, select No. 12.

Ask for price list: 20k for shop and 20k for boy, 40k altogether. Take cold shower. Their bathroom is about what you can expect in these massage places. Here the added luxury of electric light:

Aircon in room a bit cold, ask to turn it off, a positive side effect the loud noise stops. I can't spot oil or tissue in room, only condoms and lube. A larger room is split in half by a curtain (right in picture), one half for massage, the other the boys' living quarters:

Massage starts 18:05. Sole of feet, legs, back. Has had some training, but doesn't put in any effort. Turn around and after a short moment waiting for massage to continue, I initiate happy ending. Boy slightly wet sweaty skin. Hard from start, beautiful and big, hairless low hanging balls. Can move foreskin up and down to cover glans, love it! Avoids my kiss by turning cheek, objects when I get to his butt crack. What a pity, such a nice butt! Oral and manual nipple play good, always one hand on my body for nipple play or massage. Get him in various positions, suck him. Then gets repetitive (because I have to do everything), ask to suck him and cum in mouth. He wants extra, I offer 30k, he asks for 100k total, I offer 60k, he counters 80k, I agree. Nice views when he got his phone and was sitting/kneeing during negotiations/translations. However boy watching porn and wanking (to cum on my face?) was not what I had in mind, and I have a PE, therefore don't make him cum. Clean up, have a few more hugs but little response. Pay him 40k (20k for shop and 20k tip). On way out there is one staff with okay English, exchange a few sentences. Out 18:54.

Mon3feb2025 Yangon Zuri Spa and For You
Get to where Zuri Spa is on google maps, but no signs. There is no online dating profile that obviously belongs to them, I guess all straight boys?) Call them, okay English, they will send location on Telegram, but I can't see it or am not in that channel? Call again, tells me they are all booked now (or just to get rid of me?) and hangs up. Give up and continue. There is a review on Google maps to the same effect (couldn't find the shop).

Get close to location For You sent me and there are online dating profiles of the spa within 0.1 km. I message one of them and send a picture where I am, he picks me up 17:34. This is a free-standing house, but no signs:

Manager speaks good English, shows me pictures of available boys. Fee for shop is 30k, tip for boy 20k. No clear hit, I ask for the one who picked me up.

Bathroom attached to massage room. Mattress on floor with towel that covers only part. That means everything that is spilled on the mattress will stay there forever, unless there is a service to wash entire mattresses. Boy in towel. Dry massage as usual: sole of feet and leg thumb presses and kneading, then back. Says something in English (?) but I can't clearly understand. Then turn around, and shows me time 18:34 and “time is up”.

Now my timekeeping comes in handy (we started massage 17:52) and discuss this with the boy as far as language barrier allows. It seem he counts 60 min from the time he met me outside? Not with me. I have a few gropes. Various issues (he feels hot without aircon, is thirsty, stomach problems). Gets out to get water and brings me a glass of water as well. Can finger him a bit before he objects, nice ass. Average cock and balls, gets hard slowly, then loses it. Can kiss him closed lips, then nibble on lip. But overall too fuzzy, distracted by phone and negotiations over time. I really have to tell him that by my timekeeping we started 17:52, and I expect 60 minutes until 18:52, that is 18 minutes more from 18:34 (not adding the time we lost for those negotiations)! I do this just to show him that I'm not easily fooled. This is a case where “not clearly my type” could be compensated by good activities, but here a complete fail, I lose all interest (just for research purposes see how far I can go). Low point this trip, actually low point for all my interactions with Myanmar boys.

While I'm still nude, he hands me my shirt 3 times, each time I take it and put it down. First, I dress from bottom to top, and I haven't started dressing yet, and second, I don't consider that helpful, but rather a way to say “get the fuck out of here!”. But while I'm dressing, he wants me to come back tomorrow, and later messages me asking for a repeat. He had his chance, and he thoroughly botched it.

50k pay him in room (30k shop and 20k tip), he wants 10k more and we go down together to clear the misunderstanding with manager, but he drops the issue. On way out over 5 boys present, nice looking! Out 18:59.

Tue4feb2025 Yangon Lime Spa
Lime Spa (Old Yay Tar Shay Street) easy to find, correct location and signs. Can select from 8 boys by pictures. I choose No. 14, which happens to be the one who is attending to me (looks good on pic, acceptable in real; I didn't recognize him). Shower with cold water. Room has massage table and curtain. Start 15:48. Quick but good dry presses on soles, feet, back, arms. Then oil massage legs and back good. Some erotic touches (lower back to legs fingers through butt crack, legs up to crotch; having thumb in my butt crack and two fingers on each side of scrotum and massaging that area), which I like. Same style as in other branch, they seem to have the same training. Turn around and continue oil massage chest and arms. Then asks me “service?”, while still fully dressed. I have a grope and find he is a bit on fat side and cold wet skin, so I say “massage only”, but he undresses and does erotic. Not bad, but not so much my type and too dark (poor lighting) and not cute. Can run my finger through his butt crack. Cock and balls average, slowly gets hard. Lies on me and fucks my leg hole, repetitive and I'm not horny. So I ask about the time, and time is over 16:46. Take shower. Pay in room, he says 40k, so I give him 40k, then asks for 10k more, so I give him 10k more. 20k+30k one hour signature massage + tip.

Ask manager, they don't have anyone on gay online dating. Ask how I can know who is top or bottom: that does not apply here, they don't provide that kind of service.

Summarize my massages in both of their branches: excellent massage and erotic parts and non-penetrative happy ending. Even though none clearly my type in both venues, I will be back next trip to Yangon, they might have someone who is my type and even if not, will have massage again.

Wed5feb2025 Yangon For you man Only
Repeat visit at For you man Only, specifically for F-22. Manager (different from last time) asks if I want T or B. Look at pictures, can't find F-22, then ask for him by his picture on HeeSay.

Standard rooms full? Manager leads me to VIP room (might be someone's bedroom judging by the stuff lying around). Take hot shower. Massage starts 17:25, boy in towel. As before, a mattress partially covered by a towel. Massage soso (has had some training, but low pressure and no structure, haphazardly moving from one part of my body to another), it becomes repetitive (the boys does not know how to continue), so I take over. Hugging and groping in various positions, in between cleans my glans with wet wipe, then with dry tissue. I thought he was going to suck, but no such luck. I do all the work, which becomes a bit boring and I can't get fully hard to fuck him.

He tells me time is over soon, and asks if I want to extend to 2 hours. No (too long and no idea what to do). I would leave it at that (no fucking, not even cum), but when he shows me translation that 90 min is 45k, I agree. Not really in the mood for fucking, but the boy seems horny and I need that data point. Can get fully hard and fuck him doggy (nice view of ass and shoulders). Take advantage of the luxury of hot, running water and light, and shower together.

45k massage 90 min in VIP room (attached bathroom, hot water, light), 40k tip, out 18:48.

Thu6feb2025 Yangon Real Healthy Shop
Real Healthy Shop and repeat with boy from last time. Take cold shower, here pics of their kitchen (bathroom to the right) and bathroom. Take note of the 6 toothbrushes stuck between wood and water tank.

In room 14:23. Good dry massage (I ask for no oil this time), feet, legs, back, shoulder, arms, neck, head. Then turn over, boy still fully dressed, but take off for happy ending. Light and temperature okay, no aircon. Good activities, warm dry skin until we lose the fight against thermodynamics: our bodies hot wet sweaty, except for soles of feet cold. Pay 80k altogether, out 16:42.

Summary
Except for Lime Spa which offers consistent excellent massage and good happy ending, the quality of massage and happy ending varies considerably. You can distinguish shops that have mostly straight boys or mostly gay boys, can tell from looking at their pictures. As far as I saw, all shops offer overnight. Prices are so low (average 50k MMK for massage and happy ending, that's 400 THB or 11 EUR or 12 USD or 10 GBP) that the limiting factor here is time. Whereas in Bangkok, I'm hesitant to spend minimum 500+1000 THB shop+tip, the limiting factor is money. I would say that massage and happy ending in Myanmar is 4 times cheaper than in Thailand, and the service provided is 2 to 3 times better than in Thailand, which makes massage in Myanmar 10 times better value for money!

Copyright 2025 ChristianPFC except boy pictures

Gay online resources for Myanmar

Gay online resources for Myanmar
Social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (former Twitter) are in use in Myanmar, accessible only with VPN because blocked by firewall. But I saw large advertising that had the advertiser's Facebook.

Messenger services: Telegram and Viber. I use Telegram but don't have Viber.

Gay online dating: Grindr a bit more active than HeeSay (former Blued), Hornet and Romeo low activity. Specific massage shops or boy's online presences in separate posts, here general information. Most links NSFW.

My aim is to meet someone in person. I'm not interested in porn (except if it's to advertise someone I can meet in person) and certainly would not pay to watch porn. I'm not interested in chat (except to exchange where and when to meet) or to buy things.

Telegram
Some Telegram channels don't allow copying, forwarding, screenshot. A mess of multiple names and profiles and forwarding, going in circles to find the source. Occasionally try to follow a link, but account suspended or deleted. When you start a chat with someone, you might see a message: … uses a self-destruct timer for all chats. All new messages in this chat will be automatically deleted 1 day after the are sent. Who came up with that idea? I want to have a record. Even worse, if your chat partner deletes a chat, it will be gone for you as well.

The Dark Zone (Gp) https://t.me/per34567
Forwards posts from various other sources, those from massage places useful for me.

The following are gay chatrooms in Burmese or forwarded porn of no or little (the rare link to an individual profile or gay massage) use to me:

𝐈'𝐦 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 https://t.me/i_am_gay_12
Gay Universe MM https://t.me/Gayuniverse78
Bhar lar lar (for Gay) https://t.me/bharlarlar9726
𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 https://t.me/universalpre69
𝙂𝙖𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 https://t.me/Dark_Mood_Dating_003
MM We Are Gay Family https://t.me/ahtang1317
MYANMAR Onlyfans Videos Collection https://t.me/onlyfansvideos1316
Free X Channel https://t.me/freexchannel3
(Name in Burmese) https://t.me/lgbtmyanmar129
The Hub https://t.me/BiSExHub
Infinity Bi TV https://t.me/infinityphmenshows

The three titles 𝐈'𝐦 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 and 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 and 𝙂𝙖𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 are not fonts but something else. If I copy and paste and try to remove formatting, they stay the same. I can italic and bold and underline them. Google recognizes them as text. But I cannot convert them into plain text! What's going on?

Some channels use every effect available to man to make their content stick out. This one has moving flowers and butterflies and twinkling fonts of moving letters and changing colors (following pictures frozen as a screenshot).
CROWN MEN SPA _YGN https://t.me/crownmenspa

The following is a screenshot from my Telegram, apart from one Cambodia and one Philippines channel, all Myanmar. Some I followed for over a year but didn't have a look at their posts, resulting in up to 40,000 unread messages. The list alone is an assault on the senses, and when you open the channel it gets even worse. Have to sort original content from forwarded.

Fortunately spa names in English and some of their texts in English. And boys seem to work for only one shop, and pictures include an abbreviation for the shop (in English, and boy's numbers in Arabic numerals) and a phone number.

Facebook
Xan Photography https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564656426690
Original content within the limits of Facebook (no nudity).

X (former Twitter)
LEO Photography https://x.com/LEOPhotoMyanmar
Original content and links to the spas where the boys work. The most useful source for me.

LION Photography https://x.com/lion_pto Not Myanmar, but worth sharing for similar original and quality content (both the subjects and the photography)

Here some X accounts on the subject of gay Myanmar:
https://x.com/KoTharThar14
https://x.com/Kyawgyi112233
https://x.com/KhantKoKo6998
https://x.com/myin41447
https://x.com/paingla88680524
https://x.com/MoeSat_03599525
https://x.com/Kaunght77
https://x.com/lapyaea97991218
https://x.com/ShanMinKhant4
https://x.com/h18881093
https://x.com/TeacherBoy2021
https://x.com/MgNyan54720469
https://x.com/Sataye6
https://x.com/Khant87811382
https://x.com/Spalay17
https://x.com/KyawNi45110300
https://x.com/MinKhan57585277

I used mainly Telegram, there surely is more on Facebook (within their limitations) and X (without limitations). If my readers know more, please comment.

Copyright 2025 ChristianPFC

Gay massages in Mandalay

Gay massages in Mandalay
To my knowledge a complete list of currently operating gay massages in Mandalay, with selected social media and online dating accounts. Omitting those that are correct by name but don't have any useful information or last activity long ago. Address and exact location when I know. Details for those I visited. The shops give their location like: “79th street between 27th street and 28th street”, which I abbreviate as 79/27/28. Or when close to a corner 76/29. In some cases there are minor streets which are distinguished by Latin letters like street 26A or 78B. None of these places are on google maps.

They all offer booking and hotel service, but I did all my business by walk-in on their premises. Didn't notice any other customers. They all have a stable of boys on the premises.

Exchange rate 1 EUR = 4,600 MMK, 1 USD = 4,500 MMK, 1 THB = 130 MMK. As most prices are multiples of 1,000 MMK, I abbreviate 20,000 MMK = 20k.

Name, location (by street and coordinates), phone number, telegram and other social media or online dating, short comment.

Luxury Spa 26A/53/54 21.9808, 96.1265
LUXURY SPA MDY https://t.me/luxuryspamdy 09680084405
(Too far away, I don't like the way it is run.)

Magic Spa 79/27/28 21.9806, 96.0854 HeeSay Magic_Spa_Mdy, https://x.com/MagicSpaKing1 Magic Spa.Mandalay Booking for 09401861116 09955221525 Home & Hotel Service https://t.me/magicmandalaychannel and https://web.facebook.com/p/Magic-Spa-MDY-61553640855468/ (None appealing when I had a look and those I saw on HeeSay.)

Moon Light Spa 78B/34/35 21.9704, 96.0855
MoonLight Spa(MDY) http://t.me/Moon_Light_spa Viber- 09978846970 09684863982
https://x.com/moon_light_spa (Good massage and great afters, more cute boys, I think mostly gay.)

Nature Spa 78B/34/35 21.9704, 96.0855 next to Moon Light Spa
https://web.facebook.com/naturemenspa Nature Men Spa Mdy 78B34 35 Ph 09772004015 Ph 09963051000 (I didn't go and don't know their relationship to Moon Light Spa)

Smart Guy Spa 76/29
https://t.me/smartguymdy (I think mostly straight boys, some great bodies.)
https://web.facebook.com/smartguyspa/ (last entry 2022, and moved to new address).
https://international.heesay.com/user?id=DJ7l62

Top One Spa 28/80 21.9802, 96.0845
No gay online dating or social media that I know of, but spotted only boys when walking past.

Only after my trip did I read this post:
https://www.gayguides.com/topic/47705-yangon-and-mandalay-spa-master-list/
Yangon and Mandalay spa master list By AsianExplorer March 20, 2024 which has some more:
Lucky Seven TB Men Spa – MDY https://x.com/thebestmenspaa
changed name to (and moved from 62B/26/27 to 68B/34/35)
Spa O' Clock - Men Only Spa MDY https://x.com/spaoclockmenspa
Sakura Spa Mdy 37/60/62 https://x.com/sakuramandalay last posts 2022.

Former Mandalay gay massages. These are all post-Covid, showing how quick the turnover is and how futile online research is unless going there soon.
https://x.com/StarMandalay 32B/74-75 same address as
https://x.com/ChanMya90908624 74x75/32B PERFECT SPA (last entry Jun 10, 2024)
https://x.com/SabaidiMdy 14/80 Royal King Spa
https://x.com/MandalayFantasy 70A/36-37
https://x.com/KoKo377172 Magic Spa 37/71/72
https://x.com/LotayaSpa

Mon13jan2025 Mandalay
Magic Spa. None of the 3 staff present speaks significant English. Open 8 am to 10 pm. Massage 30k, expected tip 10k (unless just massage, too low, see other places). None of those present or on pictures they had on HeeSay appealing, I pass.

Tue14jan2025 Mandalay
By chance pass Top One massage and spot two boys. No gay online dating profiles and no social media that I know of, but every time I passed only boys outside. No clear hit, so I didn't go.

Wed15jan2025 Mandalay
Luxury Spa. Arrive 14:53 as a walk-in. Manager leads me to room and lets me wait there. Poor English “I want to...” - “One, two?”. I make several attempts at google translate to see the boys, fail. Manager leads me to another room and makes a great show of closing windows and curtains, then praises this room over the other. Now it's clear he wants to perform the massage, but not my type. Deliberate misunderstandings? I show him pictures of boys from their online dating and he asks me to wait and brings one boy in, not my type. Asks me to wait and leaves. This leads nowhere, I go down to have a look what's going on. I spotted several boys so far, some promising looking. We don't get anywhere, at the end select #18 from pictures.

In real so-so looking, not as cute as in pic and a bit on fat side. I'm in room 15:25 and take cold shower. Massage starts 15:32. Windows with curtains, good light (elsewhere lighting problem: windowless rooms, poor position of light bulbs). Professional massage on leg, back, arms massage while I'm lying on abdomen, estimated 45 min, that doesn't leave much time after turn-around. Knock on door 16:32, time is over. There was no erotic touching and the boy not so much my type anyway, so I don't mind that outcome.

Contrary with cute boy 2018, had to extend to 90 min to have time for happy ending.

Shower, dress, give boy 25k. Then at reception I learn that 25k is for shop, and tip to boy individual. (As in Thailand, however some shops in Myanmar have an all-inclusive price.) Give 25k to shop. Out 16:48.

Complete fail. I got a professional massage for little money, but that's not what I came here for.

This is not a case “When in Rome...”, rather “My way or the highway”. I should have insisted on seeing the boys in real or leave, in passing I spotted several, so I know they are present. Pictures can be deceiving, and in this case it was not what I expected.

General rant about the bad habit of letting customers choose masseur from pictures, and not having a line-up of those present. I would preferably to go those who have a line-up. They might always have done it that way, but that doesn't mean it's the right way. In future massages, ask to see a line-up of boys and insist. Bring some civilization to these savages.

Thu16jan2025 Mandalay
Enter Smart Guy 15:27. Little English. No price list, but I get a number 25k, no time or activity specified. Manager shows me boys on tablet, I ask (google translate) to see who is present and they all 6 come in. Number 2 nice on pictures and in real, select him. Basic room, no window. Take shower. There is a water heater, but no running water. Ask staff, no idea. Shower from cold water in bucket. Start massage 15:39. Mattress on floor. White ceiling light and blue (LED around corners) not nice, turn it off. Stray light and light from aircon LED enough. Massage starts legs dry, then oil (drips oil on my legs, butt cheeks, butt crack), then legs and back massage, soft pressure, soso. Then leans over to kiss my neck and nibble my ear, weak smell of cigarette, else nice. His hard cock on my butt cheek and back. Good hugging, I suck his cock and balls. Objects when I run my finger through his butt crack. Good nipple play. I cum prematurely by assisted wanking onto the towel on mattress. Hugging, asks (sign language) if I want to get fucked, I decline.

Shows me translation “time is up”. I take shower. Tip him 20k and pay shop 25k. Out 16:26 (that means I was short-changed for time, but then when I asked about a massage menu, I didn't get a time or activity, just price). (Update: check my notes, I tipped 20k in 2018, now should be more for inflation. And indeed, in Yangon I would learn that 30k is expected.). Even without language barrier, it would be difficult to find a fair tip. Here all I can do is tip at the lower end of what I think fair, and see if they ask for more or come running after me with a machete.

This one I would meet again (but skip the oil massage), and another cute there present and in pictures.

Sun19jan2025 Mandalay
After sunset, alley with Nature and Moon Light Massage has no street lights (entire area no electricity) and only few other lights. Both their balconies have light and main door open. No light in stairway. Manager and 5 boys, but nobody speaks English. Manager leads me to room, but I go back to reception and inquire about prices and boys. Price list (my transcription from picture: -Oil Massage...60 Min...15000Ks, -Lotion Massage...60min...30000Ks, -Body Scrub...60min...30000Ks, -Body to Body...60min...30000Ks, -Four Hand...60min...40000). I ask for expected tip, 30k is mentioned, then translation “up to you” or similar. I ask to see the boys, shows me pictures on tablet. I ask to see who is present, presents boys one by one, I ask to see all at once and 4 boys line up (5th worth a closer look as well, but not available?) and decide for M-36 Felix (I came for M-18 by picture, but either he was not here or I didn't recognize him). This pic is Felix number 10 at Nature, so I guess they share boys:

I ask to take a shower first. There is no light in bathroom, shower with cold water in flashlight of Felix' phone. A low point: shower in the dark with cold standing water (but not as low as Cambodia 2017, abort for lack of shower and towel).

He doesn't understand my question for toilet, so I pee in the drain. To room, start massage 20:45. Felix in towel. I turn on their battery powered fan with light (fan off, light on) to shine on the white wall. Thumb presses on sole of feet, lower calves. Then move to upper calves and back (now his upper inner calves on my upper outer calves, and occasionally his penis on my butt). Dry presses of his elbows on my back, all without oil. Then turn around, continues abdomen and chest massage, I grab his waist over towel and we turn to foreplay (so far no erotic touches). Warm dry skin, not slim or muscular. Good hugging. I have a tentative closed lip kiss, and he is very much into kissing, lip nibbling, tongue. Hint of garlic, else all fine and turns me on. Hugging various positions, he hard average size, nice hairless balls. Can finger him. Nipple play okay. Suck him, he doesn't suck me. Later tries to get my half hard cock in his hole to ride on me, but I have ED. Knock on door 21:48, and because I can't fuck him, there is not much more to do anyway. Good massage and great afters, tip him 40k and get his Telegram. Out 21:54.

A great encounter, I would be back within a few days for a repeat, but this is my last day in Mandalay. Another case of the Vinapu Theorem: you often meet the best boy of the trip on the last day of the trip.

In summary, a poor start but then some great bodies and great activities. Facilities poor. At prices that run less than a third of what I would pay in Bangkok (500 THB for one hour massage and 1000 minimum tip = 1500 THB, here total 50k MMK = 400 THB). Despite language barrier, I felt welcome everywhere.

Copyright 2025 ChristianPFC except pictures

Myanmar Jan2025 general observations

Myanmar Jan2025 general observations
Various general impressions of Jan2025 visit to Myanmar (Mandalay, Bagan, Yangon). Previous see here: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/08/myanmar-aug-2017-various-impressions.html

My last trip to Myanmar was in Dec2019 and I wanted to go back as soon as possible. However Covid, military coup, extension of civil war, and unreasonable entry restrictions (until 1mar2024, health insurance to cover Covid was required) delayed a return. There is still a travel warning. But now, only a barrel of a gun directed at me or a landmine can stop me.

from: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/myanmar see here as well https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/myanmar

To prepare for this trip, I read on Myanmar (Burma) Backpacker/Traveller Information https://web.facebook.com/groups/753280981443923

Bus in Yangon
Yangon has a good bus network, “Yangon City Bus” app has an English version and has lines and stops. Lines with numbers over 99 are not in the app. Their website https://ygnbusdirectory.com/ only up to line 75. The buses are frequent. Most bus stops have a shelter with number of lines (only in Burmese numerals), few stops no sign, but you see other people waiting there. Some buses numbers only in Burmese numerals. Fare is 400 MMK, with digital payment 350. Only few buses at night. The app gives directions only bus stop to bus stop, a bit inconvenient. Buses from Japan and Korea, often with original signs left. Some busses originally had aircon, now broken and windows open, but when standing at a red traffic light it gets hot inside.

Recommended when you can get to your destination without change of bus and can get in at start of line. The buses quickly become full and not just standing, but cramped. Breaking and even accelerating is fast, everyone gets shoved around. Apart from the inconvenience, difficult to see where you are and to follow trip on google maps to get off at right stop. Few buses after sunset.

No public transport in Mandalay or Bagan (Nyaung-U).

Climate and weather
In January, there was nice weather in all places I went (Mandalay, Bagan, Yangon). It was sunny throughout, I gradually increased exposure to sun and didn't get sunburn.

But in hot season it must be awfully hot, and rainy season is awful as well (own observation, confirmed by friends). Unlike Thailand where you have one quick downpour in the evening, the rain can last for hours or days, just like in England.

In Myanmar, it's dark at night.
For lack of electricity, there is no or limited street light and little light from houses. Only a few main roads in Mandalay and Yangon have light at night. Light from passing cars and mocy is not helpful (the change between light and dark rather a nuisance), I went with my flashlight.

This picture is in downtown Yangon, Sule Pagoda in back. There was a festival for Chinese New Year, that's why there are so many people. But despite festival, no street light (and no light from buildings either, except two who have a generator).

At 6 pm, public parks close and attendants drive visitor out by blowing whistle and arm movements.
 
In Bagan, I went stargazing at night. Beware of un-illuminated dogs and mocy when driving around at night on an a dark road!

When I arrived at Aung Mingala Highway Bus Terminal in Yangon at night, even that had no light.

After sunset, very little activity on the roads for lack of light and other reasons: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/yangon-mandalay-deserted-after-dark-as-myanmar-junta-hunts-for-conscripts.html 16dec2024 Yangon, Mandalay Deserted After Dark as Myanmar Junta Hunts for Conscripts

Electricity
As before, for sensitive electrical equipment (aircon and fridge), there are protection boxes for over- and under voltage. New are long power cuts, 4 hours on and 8 hours off. Even those 4 hours are often cut short. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/worsening-power-cuts-plunge-myanmars-cities-into-darkness.html Worsening Power Cuts Plunge Myanmar’s Cities Into Darkness January 8, 2025

Hotels and businesses who can afford, have generators (petrol or diesel depending on size) in front. Even the generators labelled as “silent” make noise to hear across the road. Many times did I experience power cuts, and it takes about 10 seconds for the hotel's generator to supply electricity.

Food
Food I see displayed did not appeal to me (I associate the red and brown colors with chili and red meat which I'm not a fan of, the following picture leaves only the yellow and green to have a closer look), and most places do not have an English menu, and google translate does not work well for menus. Some days, I had to pass a first and second restaurant for lack of English menu or someone speaking English or seeing something I like and could eat only at the third. Cheaper than Thailand or Cambodia, can get a decent meal for less than 1 USD.

Before Covid, I went to several Italian restaurants and had good meals there. They are all closed now. Finding and trying current Italian restaurants would be another research project.

Google maps
Google maps has poor coverage, a lot of information is outdated and new places are missing, and there are only few and old streetview.

Hotels
Can easily be booked online. I booked my first two nights online and afterwards walk-in for cheaper prices (see money exchange). Prices are now lower than in Thailand, I got decent hotels for 20 USD/night including breakfast buffet.

Inflation
In 2019, I exchanged 1 EUR = 1700 MMK, now 4600. Bus was 200 MMK before Covid, now 400. Expected tip for 1 hour massage with happy ending was 20k, now 30k. As a rough estimate, over 5 years internal inflation 200%, external 300%.

For future reference here petrol prices Feb2025 at Petro K:
92 3180, 95 3260, D 2820, PD 4585 (Premium Diesel).

The highest banknote in circulation is 10k MMK, worth about 2 EUR. A 20k MMK note has been printed, but is not in circulation.
Junta’s New Banknote Sparks Inflation Panic in Myanmar, Again July 25, 2023 https://www.irrawaddy.com/business/juntas-new-banknote-sparks-inflation-panic-in-myanmar-again.html

Internet
Many websites (Facebook, Instagram) are blocked. Easy to circumvent by VPN, but takes time to connect and disconnect, advertising on free VPN apps acceptable. Some apps don't work with VPN. Both mobile data and WiFi in hotel are slow, videos often stops, and even pictures take seconds to load. Delays in receiving messages. Some websites or pictures do not load for time out.

Language
Poor English. I go to a massage place or restaurant, and among five staff, they know five words of English. Pronunciation not clear. Most communication that I report in next posts is guesswork.

Burmese numerals are widely used: boys have time on their mobile phone and price for grab in Burmese numerals, and bus stations have bus lines only in Burmese numerals, most buses Burmese and Arabic.

Sometimes children approach me and say the one English sentence they know, which is either “I love you.” or “Fuck you.” (Is that the opposite or the same?)

Laundry
Unlike Thailand and Cambodia, laundry services are not widely available. In 2019, I used “The Metro, Dry Cleaning & Laundry” in Latha street, permanently closed.

My hotel in Yangon charges 3.50 USD (!!!) for a T-shirt. “Shine Professional Dry Clean & Laundry Services” in Junction City charges 4500 for a T-shirt. Finally I found a place: “DJ Laundry Service” in 36th street, receptionist lady speaks good English. T-shirt 600, long sleeve 700, jeans 1000.

Thante Hotel Nyaung-U (Bagan) charges 1k for a T-shirt and I had my laundry done there.

I have detergent to wash myself in emergency situations, but I rather walk 20 min and pay to have someone else do my laundry.

Longyi
The traditional Myanmar clothing Longyi is the most impractical piece of clothing I know of. It has no pockets. It gets loose and you often see locals re-arrange the knot. Men have to sit down to pee. No groping (there is no way to get your hand in/under a longyi; whereas with shorts you could easily move your hand from knee up). Longyi is a tube, you step into it; not a sheet of fabric.

Military dicatorship
Stops at various checkpoints when traveling overland. In town checkpoints as well but only for observation of passing traffic. I noticed soldiers have different kinds of rifle. Bus from Bagan to Yangon was stuck in traffic jam half an hour at a checkpoint when entering Yangon. Road in front of Central Bank is blocked for traffic. This is a main road, detour for everyone. Locals can pass on foot, but I wasn't even allowed to pass on foot. I thought about going to Golden Rock, and a friend said bus might not take me as a passenger because it will take longer to process me at checkpoints.

Some people quote ethical reasons not to go to Myanmar as long as there are human right violations on large scale. Others say going there supports individuals who are dependent on tourism. For me, it's mainly a question if I can do my business (sightseeing and boys).

Money exchange
Currency is Myanmar Kyat MMK. The government sets a rate of 1 EUR = 2200 MMK, at which all online payment and withdrawal at ATM is exchanged. (If withdrawal from ATM and card payments are possible – I did everything in cash). The black-market rate however is 4700 (here and subsequent rounded to 100). The black-market rate can be found on Myanmar Market Price MMP app. For the various times I exchanged money, I got about 100 less than rate on MMP. No coins, only paper money, which I find very convenient.

Exchange rate 1 EUR = 4600 MMK, 1 USD = 4500 MMK, 1 THB = 130 MMK. As most prices are multiples of 1000 MMK, I abbreviate 20,000 MMK = 20k.

MMK is traded in Bangkok in larger money exchanges. I went to Pratunam and all Superrich had the same exchange rate: Buy 0.004, Sell 0.008. That's a huge spread, however it is unsymmetrical, the loss is when you sell MMK. But I was buying, 1000 THB to 125k MMK, equivalent to 1 EUR = 4450 MMK.

I got a recommendation for money exchange in Mandalay from my hotel and went there. A surreal experience. The shopfront was shuttered and no signs of life, but a large sign “OPEN” was hanging outside, and when I went close, someone let me in. The board with exchange rates displayed a rate of 1 EUR = 3600 MMK, but when I asked for exchange rate for EUR, he showed me 4600 on a pocket calculator. Then the electricity went off, the board on wall went dark (LED) and ceiling light off, but still enough light through glass door to see what is going on. I hadn't taken out my EUR yet, so figured that electricity cut is genuine and not part of a scam and went through with the exchange.

There are no money exchanges in Bagan, you would have to ask around and get a poor rate.

In Yangon, my hotel would exchange at 4200. A money exchange has a rate of 3600 displayed, and that printout has a date of July 2024, and they offered me 4500. 

Beware of people who approach you in areas with money exchanges. They ask if you want to exchange money and offer rates of up to 5000, wave wads of MMK notes at you, refer to their nearby exchange bureau. Common sense and a few reports on the internet say these are scammers.

Hotels and tour agencies quote prices in MMK and USD and accept payment in USD.

Poverty
There are a lot of homeless and adults and children collecting recyclables from waste. You can see children at night with headlights (for lack of electricity no street light) rummaging through garbage and carrying bags with recyclables that are as big as they are.

Even in Yangon, wood is used as fuel and you see people chopping wood.

SIM-card
Other than language barrier, there was no problem buying a SIM-card. The first shop I went, about 10 employees tendered to me but none spoke reasonable English and they had no idea what I wanted either, so I passed. Second shop okay English and he sold me a SIM-card with data for a month (I think it was 15 GB) and calling (but can't send SMS, as I found out later) for 35k. Later asked another customer in my hotel who is a seasoned traveller in Myanmar, card costs about 10k and data 5k, and he recommends getting two cards from different companies to switch when connection is poor.

Taxi
Grab works well in Mandalay (tuktuk) and Yangon (car). Bolt and Uber have no business in Myanmar. Aung Mingala Highway Bus Terminal to Chinatown would have cost 30k8 on grab, but I went with a taxi there for 35k (initial asking price 60k). I had various taxi rides in Yangon, price and comfort similar to Bangkok. There are no mocy in Yangon. It has been like this already in 2017 during my first trip and I find this very pleasant as a pedestrian.

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/05/01/with-motorbikes-banned-delivery-riders-struggle-in-heatwave ...a previous junta outlawed two-wheeled motorised vehicles for “security reasons”, ... In this article we have as well data for daily earning: ...an average rider will make between 20,000 and 30,000 Myanmar kyat per day...

And just like most other places in the world, an average daily income for a low-skill work is about the cost of prostitution. Thailand minimum wage 350 THB, street trade 500 THB. Gogo bars in Thailand cater to tourists and are relatively expensive.

Train
Foreigners are not allowed on long-distance trains for safety reasons. When I had a look at Mandalay and Yangon railway station, only few people. Circle train in Yangon would be possible, but I couldn't get an English schedule, and from before Covid I know there are large gaps (up to 2 hours) between the trains. The train service should be more frequent. Buses are cramped throughout the day, there is a demand.

Various
Cars drive on the right side of the road. But most cars are second hand from Japan and Thailand and have the steering wheel on the right side of the car. I observed vaping several times. Goods of daily use often imported from China and Thailand (language on labels). There are a few electrical cars and charging stations.

Visa
Visa can be done online and costs 50 USD and processing took 2 days. Required are a flight in and out and a hotel booking (I submitted hotel booking for first two nights). With all land borders controlled by insurgents, the only way in and out for tourists is by air anyway. https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/tourist/message

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