U San Myint

LET me first talk about a typical day. I might have to wake up at 4:00 am to make arrangements for the 6:30 am flight to Bagan if there are tourists who want to visit that area. I have to pick them up at the hotel at 4:45 am and then go to the airport and check-in. When we arrive in Bagan I can’t take a rest because I am busy for the whole day, going around to tourist attractions according to the schedule. So my duties often start in the early hours and end at 11 pm. To be a tour guide, you need to be a degree holder. For an English guide, just knowing the English language is not enough; you have to study other languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Thai and Chinese. In their leisure time, guides still need to study the core language. And knowing history, geography and archaeology is important as well. If a guest asks about football matches, car races or bullfights, it is helpful if a guide can talk about them. When you guide tourists, you should care about how you dress too. For example, it’s always better to wear national dress for picking tourists up at the airports. Western fashion is more appropriate on occasions like dinner or New Year’s Eve.

Daw Chaw Chaw Kye Mon

THE life of a tourist guide looks smooth, but it’s not a simple profession. They are the people who are most responsible for visitors’ tours. From arrival to departure, tourists depend on their guides. For a guide, language is not the only important consideration. The art of speaking is essential when talking about religion, culture and tradition. Even when I tell my clients the ‘dos and don’ts’ of Myanmar before starting the tour, there can be problems. Sometimes villagers misunderstand the intentions of some stubborn and curious tourists. Then the guide becomes a peacemaker by apologising to the villagers on behalf of the tourists. And it’s hard for guides when tourists lose their property, such as cameras or passports, because of their own carelessness. As a guide, I have to take care of the tourists’ property, activities and food. I’m always worried about their health throughout the trip. I have had the experience of staying up all night to look after a member of a group tour who was ill, and then having to guide everyone the next day without a rest. On the other hand, I’m really happy when my guests are interested in Myanmar culture, and try wearing longyis or thanakha, or eat mohinga heartily.

U Min Min Myat Thin

I HAVE guided all kinds of tourists, and not all of them are rich. There are four types of people who visit Myanmar. The first type is the tourist who learns as much as possible about Myanmar before the trip by reading books. The second type becomes interested in Myanmar after hearing about it from someone who has experience with the country. The third are newlyweds who visit Myanmar and are offered wedding presents or complimentary services by some tour companies. The fourth type is the traveller who wants to explore a new land. According to my experience, the fourth type never buys things while exploring, and they seldom use the services of a guide. They travel alone for the sake of discovery. I’m always proud of my country when I meet the first type of tourist. They are usually really interested in traditional handicrafts; they really respect the different art forms here. I’ve worked as an Italian-language guide for 8 years. I studied the Italian language at the Italian Embassy in Myanmar before I studied for a diploma in Italian at a university for foreigners in Berugia, Italy. I usually guide more than 20 tours a year throughout Myanmar, to places such as Bagan, Mandalay and Shan State. For the upcoming tourist season, I already have a full schedule.