Yangon, Myanmar to Bangkok, Thailand to Dhaka, Bangladesh

Fri Nov. 14, 2025 

We had a day of flying and on the way to the airport Myint Swe sang us a goodbye song and recapped all that we had done. We filled out our exit cards and went through immigration and left just before lunch and got into Bangkok where we changed planes, and that plane left late due to a medical issue on the previous flight, so we didn’t make it to Dhaka until late in the evening. We found out that we couldn’t check our bags all the way through to Dhaka, so we had to get another arrival card for Bangkok since we must pick up bags and recheck them. We did that while waiting for our flight out of Yangon.

One airport checked Greg’s bag and questioned the Pepto Bismol tablets. He explained what it was and they gave it back to him.

This was the end of the tour with Asia Highlights. I booked Bangladesh through Nijhoom Tours – Best Tour Agency in Bangladesh (420+ Reviews, ★4.9/5) and India through Kolkata Magic. Kolkata Magic : Personalised tours of Kolkata and around

Random thoughts on Myanmar:

We virtually had little to no internet except at the hotel and WhatsApp was blocked. Myint Swe had been getting phone calls from the government wanting to know where we were going and who we were meeting and where we are now. He had no internet so he couldn’t send them what they wanted in terms of our itinerary. He told me his call terminated while talking to them, and he said they must have thought he was being rude. When he got to the hotel, he contacted them to explain.

The power goes out frequently but comes back quickly. Multiple times a day and night. (some evenings it was hot to sleep without A/C reset)

They really have not had many tourists since Covid and then when the government changed so people are desperate. We can’t begin to buy from everyone. Some people just come up and say give me money while others are selling things, often with a baby in their arms.

The food was good everywhere except Mandalay.

Shoes and socks must be off at all any temple, pagoda, or monastery grounds, and the entire area is considered sacred, so you don’t just leave them at the door. We are accustomed to taking off shoes at the door but taking both off to walk long distances on hot stones, small rocks, and up steps any of which can be wet, sticky was just plain gross. They are used to it, so their feet are callused and tough while we tenderfoots with bad feet aren’t.

Myint Swe means well but is incapable of answering a direct question or adjusting to us. He has added many things to our days, hoping to please and he over explains (repeats the same things over and over). He meant well and told us a lot about his life growing up which was interesting. He has bought us treats and orders foods he thinks we will enjoy. He was dealing with restaurants and things being closed and he did a fantastic job with what he had to work with. With only his 2^nd tour in the last 5 years he was amazing. He talked fondly of the tourism boom and how happy he was then.

Myint Swe asked if we felt unsafe anywhere. We said no as they seemed fine with tourists. It is clear that the oppression there is difficult for the people, but we felt safe. (but then, I don’t have the good sense God gave a goose and don’t have many fears)

Every area we visited was so different and I’m glad we got to see so many areas of Myanmar and have such wonderful experiences. (Yes, even the uncomfortable ones)

Dhaka, Bangladesh

We got our visa on arrival, and they looked at our itinerary carefully and needed our onward flights home from India. We made it through that process and got our bags and exchanged money and went in search of our guide.

The guide and driver and about 4 others helped load our bags. We then took an eternity to get out of the parking lot. It was utter chaos with nonstop buses that wouldn’t let cars pass. One bus backed into another one and finally a policeman came to direct traffic using a laser pointer.

Our guide was Piku and his driver Arif and were taken to the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel for 3 nights. We weren’t thrilled with the hotel in the package, so we booked this hotel on points. We were upgraded to a suite with a living room.

lobby of the hotel

our room

desserts, snacks and fruit in the room

It was late and we hadn’t much for meals today, so we went for a pizza at the hotel. So, it was late to bed after getting organized for our full day tour of Sonargaon & Panam City.