• AIDS/HIV organizations and information
• Campaign for Lesbigay Rights in Burma (CLRB)
  PO Box 37 Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50202 Thailand, E-mail: myomin@cscoms.com. Aung Myo Min serves as director of this committee established in mid-1996. His guiding passion for empowering lesbigay communities manifests in confidential workshops organized with gay Burmese activists who manage to go regularly to Thailand.

MandalayTravel.com Email. Offering gay-friendly travel arrangements exclusively in Myanmar (Burma). Most tours are arranged on a private and individual basis to offer total travel freedom. See the sunset at the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, cruise on the famous Irrawaddy River, visit awesome Bagan and Mandalay, glide across serene Inle Lake, or relax on unspoiled tropical beaches. Utopia Member Discount

• Tamarind Travel
  PO Box 593 Ashmore City, Gold Coast, Australia, (61-7) 3103-2434, (61-4) 2419-5456, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly tours to Myanmar. English speaking team of travel agents and tour guides who organise individual and private tours, custom made tours, group tours, hotel and flight bookings exclusively in Myanmar. Member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Utopia Member Discount

BAGAN

Bagan, Asia's spectacular lost city.

MANDALAY

Click here for Mandalay hotels and accommodations.

RANGOON/YANGON -- area code (95-1)

Yangon is like no other city in Asia. It is the definitive setting for an exotic “far east” movie set; a bustling, dusty, and color-splashed city blending nostalgic influences from India, Tibet and Persia into its ancient cultural fabric. The people are simply amazing to look at. Classic colonial facades give way to diamond and gem-encrusted spires of zedis (temple stupas) around which daily life orbits.

Have high tea at the classic Strand Hotel, wander the shady markets in the afternoon and then head to the glimmering Shwedagon pagoda before sunset. Here, amidst prayer halls, spirit shrines, and monumental bronze bells, take a moment to sit and watch the crowd of families, tourists, pilgrims, school children, monks, nuns, and worshippers as they flow through the golden light.

Yangon has a population of over 5 million (that's more than 200,000 Utopians).

Click here for Yangon hotels and accommodations.

There are no gay bars or nightclubs in Yangon. However, the following places should be friendly for gay and lesbian visitors.
• BME II (mixed)
  Yangon International Hotel, Ahlone Rd. A mixed friendly crowd and the gay men just blend in with them. Some cute Burmese guys go here. Busiest on Fri and Sat nights as early as 10pm (occasional crackdowns order most clubs to close by midnight).
• Club Pioneer(mixed)
  Yuzana Garden Hotel, Alan Paya Pagoda Rd (opposite La Pyayt Wun Plaza and The Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel). Busiest on Fri and Sat nights. Mostly a young, trendy crowd, some transgenders, and charming Burmese guys.
• Ko Ko's
  9 Sayar San Rd (near Mr. Guitar), Bahan Township. The first PLU cafe and bar in Myanmar. Ko Ko is a famous hair-stylist with five hair salons around Yangon.
• Lion World (mixed)
  Corner of Anawyatar St and Shwedagon Pagoda Rd. It is upstairs on a balcony overlooking the street. Gays gather at the bar although it is not obvious that it is a gay bar at first.
• Pioneer (mixed)
  Yuzanna Garden Hotel (opposite Sofitel Hotel). Best on Fri and Sat nights with plenty of trendy young people and usually a gay crowd. On other nights the disco is usually empty.
• Silver Oak Cafe (mixed)
  83/91 Bo Aung Kyaw St, 299-993. The front is a Ko Ko hair salon, the club is in the back. Live music club with very friendly staff. Local food and drinks. Two blocks from The Strand. Busy from 8pm onwards.
• The Strand Bar (mixed)
  92 Strand Road, Yangon, 243-377. Not gay, but the place to be on Fri nights for trendy locals, expats, and visitors alike. Cozy seating and excellent service. Great range of cocktails, wines and spirits, cigars and snacks. Happy Hour special prices. Pool table.

• Aungsan National Sports Stadium
  National team dormitories under stadium and restaurants surrounding. Soldiers, police and athletes. Take someone with you who can speak Burmese.
• Fitness area at the Olympic swimming pool is a hangout for local gay people. Facilities are very poor (don't expect a proper shower) and equipment is ancient.
• Inya Lake park.
• J-Donuts
  Shwe Bon Htar St at Dagon Centre is cruisy in the day and early evenings 5-7pm on weekends especially. -- eye contact is crucial. Once you make contact, you'll find a friend. Beware of the hustlers but most times they just want to get to know a foreigner who will help sponsor them and help them get out of a life of tyranny and unemployment.
• Lake Kandawgi -- vicinity of Kandawgi Hotel.
• Mahabandoola Park area, at night.
• Pedestrian overpass at Thein Gyi Zay in the evenings between 7-9pm. If you make a new friend, head to nearby Lion World Beer Garden for a drink.
• Rock Heart cafe on top of the FMI center is cruisy.
• Scott's Market
  There is a small terrace with a coffee corner at the far-right end of the market -- a good place to sit and watch passersby.
• Sule Paya Rd starting about 4:20-5pm at an outside tea shop. Facing the front of Café Aroma there are two cinemas to your right (south). Next to the 2nd cinema is the tea shop with a blue awning. Every evening, but especially on the weekends.

• Sedona Hotel (Mediteranian, Chinese, Italian)
• Silom Village (Thai)
  Local branch of this popular Bangkok restaurant.
• The Strand Café(Myanmar and international)
  92 Strand Road, Yangon, 243-377. Their Myanamar set lunch is a great introduction to local cuisine, including seasonal specialties like a fantastic tomato salad with crunchy peanut dressing, savory butterfish curry, and delicious sweets. Their daily high tea is also a wonderful way to relax during the heat of afternoon while you absorb the ambiance of this classic colonial-era hotel.
• The Strand Grill(Myanmar and international)
  92 Strand Road, Yangon, 243-377. The cities most elegant fine dining in a refined, exotic interior. Excellent service from charming staff.
• Traders Hotel (Chinese, Japanese)

Taungbyone

The largest "gay" festival in all of Asia is held yearly at Taungbyone, about 20k north of Mandalay. It is held the last part of Aug for six days up to and including the full moon. Thousands of people from all over Myanmar gather to celebrate the Taungbyone nats (spirit mediums). All the gays from all over Myanmar go up. Hundreds of gay Thai cross over to attend, too. While Taungbyone is religious by nature, it is in fact largely gay. Almost all nats in Myanmar are gay. Also many faux nats show up just to join in the party. For six days people dance, eat, and drink. The area is covered with food tables and shop stalls. Roving dance groups perform day and night. The atmosphere reflects that of Carnival in Brazil or in the Caribbean. During these days you can do what you feel, not what you have to do during the rest of the year. For this reason many males 'come out' during these six days. Foreigners wishing to attend should take a local along. Many guides or drivers are more than willing go.