Visa On Arrival facilities temporarily discontinued in Myanmar

Visa On Arrival facilities temporarily discontinued in Myanmar

Please be informed that Visa On Arrival facilities at all Myanmar entry points will be discontinued with effect from 1 September 2010 until further notice.

To pre-arrange your visa, contact

Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
Address: No.8 (c) Jalan Ampang Hilir, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

here is the procedure to apply visa at Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

http://myanmarmuslimtour.blogspot.com/2010/07/memohon-visa-ke-myanmar-di-malaysia.html

Memohon Visa ke Myanmar di Malaysia

Alhmdulillah baru-baru ini berkesempatan membuat permohonan VISA ke Malaysia . Sebelum pergi tu beberapa kali saya telepon ke kedutaan Myanmar untuk bertanya prosedur . Yang menariknya ada dua alamat dan no telepon keduataan Myanmar ini satu di Jalan Ampang Hilir dan satu lagi di Jalan mengkuang .... puas saya melepon ke no yang di jalan Mengkuang tu ... rupanya diaorang dah berpindah ke jalan Ampang hilir patutla tak jawapan ... kepada sesiapa yang tak tahu nak pergi ke Kedutaan Myanmar ini dibawah ini saya sertakan petanya .

Kalau dari KLCC masuk Jalan Ampang arah ke Ampang dan terus jalan sampai jumpa Sucasa Apartment kat belah kiri ... depan sucasa itu ada traffic light masuk kanan ke arah jalan Ampang Hilir (Persiaran Ampang Hilir) ...jalan terus nanti macam jumpa round about kecik ambil ke kiri jalan sikit terus jumpa Kedutaan Myanmar dibelah kiri jalan ... rasanya ada 2 lot tanah sini yang menempatkan kedutaan ini satu yang belah kiri tu mungkin pejabat kedutaan . sementara yang satu lagi kalau dari luar nampak macam parking lot tapi rupanya ialah tempat memproses visa dan membaharui passport pekerja myanmar .

Pintu Masuk ke bahagian Visa Section Myanmar Embassy

Bahagian dalam Visa Section Myanmar Embassy

Kalau masuk kedalam compound tu nanti nampak ada pejabat visa . pejabat ini macam gerai je ... ada dua pejabat satu menguruskan visa foreigner dan satu lagi mungkin menguruskan passport untuk rakyat myanmar .... dihujung ada plak kantin dan kedai photstata yang diuruskan oleh Kedai Photostat dan Kantin dalam Bagian Visa Section Myanmar Embassy

rakyat myanmar ... anda boleh makan makanan myanmar kat sini ... cubalah kat sini dulu sebelum anda melangkah ke Myanmar yang sebenar ... he he he ( saya tak makan he he he tak tahu halal haramnya ) ... kalau nak buat visa anda terus ke kaunter Visa Section dibelah kanan . biasanya ada 3 orang pekerja dalam kaunter itu ... saya tak pasti kewargaan negara mereka tapi yang belah kanan sekali tu macam warga myanmar , tengah india malaysia dan kiri chinese malaysia ... rasanya laaa ... saya tak pasti tapi semua boleh berbahasa melayu ...

Kaunter Visa

kalau nak buat visa pelancong nanti dia akan bagi 2 keping borang visa melancong size A4 dan sekeping borang ketibaan di Myanmar size A5 ...... kalau anda datang sorang isi je borang tu tapi kalau anda ada ramai dia suruh photostat je borang tu kat kedai photostat di kantin tu .... he he he sebab itulah kedai photostat tu boleh hidup ...

Borang Permohonan Visa Size A4Borang Permohanan Visa size A5

Dah dapat borang tu pergilah kekantin tu dan photoststlah ... he he he harga boleh tahan laaa he he hee kemudian duduklah kat kantin tu isi borang tersebut sampai siap ..... contoh borang lihat kat bawah ni .... jangan lupa gambar 3 keping setiap borang itu akan diletakkan gambar kita ... gam ada disediakan di kantin dan di kaunter visa .... pen kena bawak laa sendiri .... lepas isi serahkan borang tersebut ke kaunter visa ... serah kat kaunter kanan sekali .

Masa saya mula2 nak ambil borang visa tu dalam kul 10:30 pagi .... tak de orang pun .. mula mula tu suspen juga sebab tengok punylah ramai orang beratur .... rupanya mereka rakyat myanamr ada kaunter lain . foreigner macam org malaysia ini ada kaunter lain ..puhhhh lega kalau tak emamng panjang laa nak beratur .... ok siap isi borang dalam pukul 11:15 pagi maklumlah kena isikan untuk empat orang .... sebenarnya kita tak perlu pergi sendiri buat visa ni ... boleh wakilkan kepada sesiapa je . masa saya nak submit borang alamak dah ada dalam 5 orang tengah submit borang ... semuanya agent pelancongan bawak passport punyelah banyak maklumlah airasia dah ada ke yangon kan .... memang air asia the bestlaaaa ... tapi agent tu kesian permohonan kena tolak sebab borang yang dia bawak customer dia tak isi lengkap .... oleh itu saudara saudari pastikan lengkapkan borang aplikasi yeee .... pastikan anda dah tahu kat mana nak duduk kat myanmar nanti sebab dalam borang tu anda kena tulis alamat kat myanmar .... kalau kat hotel tulis je laa kat mana2 hotel kat myanmar tu ... dalam borang tu juge nanti akan akan tanya siapa yang keluarkan passport kita ... letak je lah Immiration Kuala Lumpur ke Immirgration Alor Setar ke Immigration Shah Alam ke. aku hentam macam tu lah sebab aku intai budak agent pelancongan tu tulis macam tu he he he...

Tapi lagi satu nak peringat kalau anda photostat borang ketibaan (size A5) kat kedai photostat tu dia akan photostat guna kertas A4 .... anda tak boleh submit dalam bentuk kertas A4 anda kena potong juga hingga dapat size A5 .... kalau tak permohonan anda di tolak mentah2 ... he he he aku dah kena .... tapi jangan risau kat situ twalaupun tak disediakan guntingdan pisau tapi ada pembaris panjang .... anda boleh potong guna pembaris tuu ... kemudian resubmit balik setelah anda kena beratur semula . he he he

beratur kaunter ssebelah kanan sekali

masa tengah beratur tu ada jumpa seorang brother pun tengah apply visa .... brother ni dah melancong banyak tempat dengan airasia ni .... dah ke china dan india .....dan seluruh asia tenggara .... memang loaded brother ini aku rasa .... aku cerita aku dah pergi tempat tu dia pun kat dah pergi aku kata sini dia pun kata sini ... last2 aku mengalah memang dia lagi teror dari aku rupanya .... tapi yang penting dan serupa ialah kami pergi dan rancang sendiri setiap trip kami tanpa mengunakan khidmat travel agent dan juga kami sama2 naik airasia untuk melancong .

Lupa lak nak bagi tahu .... kaunter kat secton visa ni buka jam 9:30 hingga 12:30 tengahari untuk submit permohonan dan jam 4ptg hingga 5 ptg untuk collect visa ... biasanya permohonan normal akan diproses selama 2 - 3 hari . kalau submit hari rabu paling cepat boleh collect hari jumaat ..... tapi kalau nak collect same day boleh juga kena bayar RM150 ...... kalau normal bayar RM80 je .... untuk visa pelancong. dan lagi satu walaupun tak wajib tetapi ada kes dia akan mintak tiket penerbangan ..... kebiasaanya untuk permohonan express sehari dia akan mintak tiket ni .... macam aku ari tu buat normal je nasib baik dia tak minta .... walaupun buat normal sebaik2nya kalau dah ada tiket bawak je laaa atau senaraikan tarikh perberbangan pergi dan balik serta dan iternary di myanmar ....

Selesai urusan di kaunter anda akan diberikan resit bayaran . dalam resit ini anda akan diberikan tarikh untuk mengambil visa anda.

Resit Pembayaran VISA dan Tarikh Collect Visa

Myanmar Muslim Tour : Myanmar Shopping Places

Gems Market and Museum

Gems Market and Museum next door to Kaba Aye Pagoda has jewellery shops and museum.

Bogyoke Market

Bogyoke Market was first built and inaugurated on the present premises in 1926. It was named Scott Market after Mr. C. Scott, the Municipal Commissioner. Nowadays, it is called Bogyoke Aung San Market in honor of our national leader General Aung San who was assassinated in 1947. Bogyoke Aung San Market is situated in the heart of Yangon - on Bogyoke Aung San Road. There are 1,641 shops selling luxury items, handicrafts, foodstuffs, clothing, jewellery, fashion and consumer goods. The market is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm except gazette holidays.

Chinatown

Chinatown that exotic enclave within exotic Myanmar, makes a visit so much more uniquely, unconventionally informal and fantastically bizarre. A place, however, that you must see and experience, or else trip to Myanmar is marginally incomplete. It is in the evening that the place really takes off and amazing environment unlike any you have ever experienced. The streets are lined with four-story plastered brick town-houses, whitewashed in faded pastel creams, blues and yellows with facades studded with ornamental scrollwork. Since the people in town gather to Chinatown for Chinese food, barbeque, beer and liquor, it bustles on to 2 am with open shops and plenty of good food. The most striking feature in the Chinatown is the hundred of gold shops, fruits and vegetables venders that dominate the both side of the main road. Fruit especially mandarin oranges from the Shan State, apples from Kachin State and China, water-melons, bananas, durian, guava, mangosteen, pear, pomelo,grapes, litchee, plum, rambutan and mango, strawberry at the season.
On one side are the glass enclosed display counters in which gold ornaments, predominately rings, necklaces and pendants. Sidewalk diners have dishes and delicacies of egg or wheat noodles, grilled meats, deep fried spring rolls, etc.
It is good to enjoy Chinatown after the city sightseeing, by stroll slowly and experience the place in time in an environment quite unfamiliar with. Listen, smell, touch, taste and see Chinatown.

Myanmar Muslim Tour : Where and how to buy stone, antics, ruby and jewellery in Burma (Myanmar)

Where and how to buy stone, antics, ruby and jewellery in Burma (Myanmar)
Mogkok, Joseph Kessel, and Burmese ruby !!! The most beautiful rubies in the world come from Burma, and most of them, from Mogok Stone Track, including the world famous "pigeon blood". In Mogok, you can find spinelsand some rubies directly on the floor while you are walking in the street. It is true, we found often, it is called "tea ruby". But do not believe it is like this everywhere in Burma and that you will get a 1 kg crystal clear ruby for nothing. Auction ! 2 times per year is organized by the government in Yangon, and under thigh security, an auction sale of most beautiful jades and precious stones of Burma. At that time , you should be able to buy exceptional stones (price !!). If you cannot buy such stones, go and visit the gem museum. You will see some beautiful specimens. Never, Never buy in the street!!! There is no (never) street vendor that can sell you a ruby or sapphire big as your thump. Even if the "ruby" or "sapphire" can scratch glass, it is not a proof. It is always fake stone! (especially if the stone is perfect and crystal clear, government will have taking tfirst, this is a very serious business in Myanmar). Where you should buy ? The purchases must be done in jewellery shop where you can get an official certificate to carry out of Burma your purchase. Without this certificate, you cannot bring gold or precious stones out of the country (if the customs catch you). Jewellery shop will give a discount if you do not want the certificate. Take the chance, (tiny), to be catched with your purchase by the customs. You can find a really pretty ring for 100 or 200 dollars (take cash, credit cards are not allowed in Myanmar). It will not be a Cartier ring, but nevertheless you will have a pretty souvenir from Myanmar. Antics and Buddha statue The real old Buddha statues were not allowed for exportation, except for religious purpose. Currently, you can not export old Buddha statue, even for religious purpose. Anyway, there is no more really old statue, all the main one are strictly recorded by the Government and it is better taht they stay in Myanmar, no ? Please do not buy head of Buddha. People cut the head in the pagoda and they sell them after to the tourist. Many have already disappear, even from Pindaya. Buy a nice statue to a talented workshop and you will have something really nice, new, and you will help the handicraft shop. Lacqueware You can buy in Myanmar, especially around Bagan, beautiful Burmese lacque ware. Some information to make a good buy : - The final quantity of layer is very important for the final quality of the lacqueware. It takes 2 to 4 weeks to dry one layer, the best lacqueware may have up to 15 layers. - The material itself where you apply the lacquer is very important, bamboo, wood, papier mâché, carton, teak... - A real lacqueware is embossed or engraved, not painted. All the colours are natural colours from sand, stone and flowers. It is never painting. - A good trick is to check if there is small dust clue on the lacqueware (you can see it easily, it looks like small ball). It means the lacqueware was not stored and dried in proper condition (special dust proof chamber). - The raw material comes from a tree. After you may add ashes or cotton rob to make it stronger. It is not car lacquer. - Lacquerware pot can stand heat or cold, but if you break it it is not possible to repair it.

Myanmar Muslim Tour : Myanmar Shopping Places

Gems Market and Museum

Gems Market and Museum next door to Kaba Aye Pagoda has jewellery shops and museum.

Bogyoke Market

Bogyoke Market was first built and inaugurated on the present premises in 1926. It was named Scott Market after Mr. C. Scott, the Municipal Commissioner. Nowadays, it is called Bogyoke Aung San Market in honor of our national leader General Aung San who was assassinated in 1947. Bogyoke Aung San Market is situated in the heart of Yangon - on Bogyoke Aung San Road. There are 1,641 shops selling luxury items, handicrafts, foodstuffs, clothing, jewellery, fashion and consumer goods. The market is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm except gazette holidays.

Chinatown

Chinatown that exotic enclave within exotic Myanmar, makes a visit so much more uniquely, unconventionally informal and fantastically bizarre. A place, however, that you must see and experience, or else trip to Myanmar is marginally incomplete. It is in the evening that the place really takes off and amazing environment unlike any you have ever experienced. The streets are lined with four-story plastered brick town-houses, whitewashed in faded pastel creams, blues and yellows with facades studded with ornamental scrollwork. Since the people in town gather to Chinatown for Chinese food, barbeque, beer and liquor, it bustles on to 2 am with open shops and plenty of good food. The most striking feature in the Chinatown is the hundred of gold shops, fruits and vegetables venders that dominate the both side of the main road. Fruit especially mandarin oranges from the Shan State, apples from Kachin State and China, water-melons, bananas, durian, guava, mangosteen, pear, pomelo,grapes, litchee, plum, rambutan and mango, strawberry at the season.
On one side are the glass enclosed display counters in which gold ornaments, predominately rings, necklaces and pendants. Sidewalk diners have dishes and delicacies of egg or wheat noodles, grilled meats, deep fried spring rolls, etc.
It is good to enjoy Chinatown after the city sightseeing, by stroll slowly and experience the place in time in an environment quite unfamiliar with. Listen, smell, touch, taste and see Chinatown.

Myanmar Muslim Tour : Yangon: Sule Paya, Independent Monument, Mahaboondola Garden, City Hall & Immanuel Baptist Church

Yangon: Sule Paya, Independent Monument, Mahaboondola Garden, City Hall & Immanuel Baptist Church

Written by rabbit

The stretch of Strand Road from Botataung Pagoda to Mahabandoola Garden Street was actually a lot further than it seemed from the map. We walked and walked, anticipating for Mahabandoola Garden Street to appear for us to turn into. We passed the Post Office, the British Embassy and the posh-looking Strand Hotel. Policemen surrounded the law court and had barricades installed to prevent pedestrian passage. We were walking ahead when a policeman stopped us and told us to detour. It was a blessing in disguise as we found a comfy Mr Brown cafe to take a break from our long walk. Thanks to the friendly staff at the cafe, we found ourselves walking past the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank building along the right street and already the Garden where the Independent Monument is located was slowly coming into our view. At the entrance, there were two guards sitting under a standing umbrella. We were told to pay USD2 for entrance.

The obelisk, Independent Monument, in Mahabandoola Garden. There are Chinthe (Chinese lion-looking animals) statues surrounding the monument. It's interesting to see obelisks all around the world. I've seen them in Jakarta, Paris, UK and now, Yangon too!


This is the High Court building which I had mistaken for a church. It was funny because I went through the tiny gate door to the guardhouse to ask for entry into this church, where I was instantly refused. When I admired its Victorian architecture from the garden grounds, I realised it looked English but it was nothing like a church!


These two little girls were running around in the gardens while their parents laid resting among some flower bushes. The garden seemed to be a popular date spot as I saw several couples here and there, whispering to each other with shoulders meeting under small umbrellas.


Inscriptions on the marble walls at the base of the monument


City Hall


Banner at the entrance of the Immanuel Baptist Church

Surrounding the Mahabandoola Garden are some important landmarks such as the City Hall, the Immanuel Baptist Church, the High Court and a famous pagoda, Sule Paya. We met some mobile money changers as we were heading towards the church. We had been warned by Three Season Hotel staff members to avoid doing foreign currency exchanges with mobile money changers. They'd give you an unbelievably good exchange rate while will get you to jump right into the deal. Once the notes are exchanged, money changers are nowhere to be found and you'll realise, in the handed big stack of notes, about a third of it has been folded to make it look thicker than it really is.

It had started to drizzle and the idea of sitting in the church felt so welcoming. The church warden welcomed us and ushered us to the upper floor. The ground floor looked like an office. The church hall looked old but, clean. It was airy as its big windows are open, also allowing much light to enter. I chose a bench to sit and R joined me. In silence and seated, we both looked around. I tried to absorb the spirituality which churches exuberate. It felt serene and gentle. What we find most special about this church is its ceiling. The chandeliers that hung from the ceiling were all different! We caught ourselves laughing at this unexpected finding and the images of this instilled in my mind were comical yet adorable. Did some people donate these to the church? I would not be surprised.

The church hall of Immanuel Baptist Church

At least, they were symmetrical :)


View of Sule Paya from the church's window


Immanuel Baptist Church

By now, R's foot was hurting more than the morning when we flew from Bangkok. I had asked her to rate her pain from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least and it was 5. She said it might have been an ache which was caused by wearing heels over long hours. I thought if that is the case, the walking would probably not aggravate but, I was wrong. The following day, R began to limp and the pain level might have gone up to 6 or 7, which she later confirmed. We had to see the doctor for her to feel better.

We walked across to Sule Paya as the drizzle was becoming heavier. If I remember correctly, we paid USD2 for each entry and an additional USD1 for bringing a camera. It started pouring heavily when we had barely started our tour around the pagoda. In all the places of Buddhist worship we have visited in and around Yangon, footwear has to be left at the entrance of the temple or pagoda.

Sule Paya


Golden roof of many tiers with heavily carved designs

People in Myanmar likes to know where the tourists are from. While we were viewing the temple's bookshop which sells books on Buddhism in Myanmar language, a friendly elder came and talked to us. He told us of his son who is studying abroad in Japan, upon learning R's origin. I had asked him about the inscriptions that were on cemented slabs surrounding the temple. Apparently, these are name of donors who had contributed to the building and/or maintenance work of the temple.

While it was raining, R and I sat under the shelter to enjoy the ambience. It felt so wonderful with my eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the rain and the bells from the hti.


A man praying a prayer room with a big Buddha statue, away from the wetness of the rain


People with umbrellas and places to go

While waiting for the rain to stop, I thought I'd just check the map on Lonely Planet for the Jewish Synagogue and Hindu temple we planning to visit after our late lunch. I was rummaging into my bag, I realised my Lonely Planet book was nowhere to be found. Panic striked. This time, I did a more thorough check and even removed some of the contents from my bag. No Lonely Planet! Oh dear, where have I misplaced it? R tried to calm me down by recalling when she last saw me refering to the book. I was still refering to the book when we left the garden for the church. It MUST be in the church! Ok, there wasn't much point to worry although at the back of my head I was thinking, oh dear, now I don't even know where to go. I felt so lost without the book and it's no fun going to places, not knowing anything about the place. The book is somewhat like the treasure map with all its hints to all these wonderful places. It's ok, D, it will be at the church, I told myself.

When the heavy rain turned into a light drizzle, we headed back to the church. I had explained to the warden about my predicament and asked if he's seen a book. According to R later, he had actually replied that this is not a bookshop. Hahaha! I was too worried about the book to actually make out what he has said. I asked if he could let me go into the hall to check and he allowed.

I headed straight the bench which I took earlier but, the book was not there. I searched the neighbouring benches and found nothing either. An elder, who must have seen me frantically searching, asked what I might be searching for. Right after my explanation, he led me to a bench on the opposite side of the aisle and THERE was my Lonely Planet! I could hear an orchestra of violins going Ta Da in my head! I was overjoyed and relieved beyond words!

We were just about to leave the church when we thought we'd take another break. I know R's hurting whenever she walked and it was a feat on her part to continue the tour. She never complained or asked for breaks, which worried me. Perhaps, her excitement of the trip drowned the pain, I don't know.

We took the bench at the back of the church. When the same elderly man took a young girl's arm and led her down the aisle to the instrumental music of 'Here comes the bride', we realised we were actually witnessing the rehearsal of a church wedding ceremony in Yangon. Watching the scenes of this thrilled us!

Wedding ceremony rehearsal

We headed to the street behind the City Hall, in search of the 999 Shan Noodle Shop for a late lunch with a positive cue from Lonely Planet.

Old, mouldy building

The street where the 999 Shan Noodle Shop is located


I was so hungry, I ordered two bowls of noodles and shared the second bowl with R. My first order was Hnyat Khauk Swai (Noodle Soup)


It's spicy and a little oily but it tasted delicious. The steaming hot tea tasted so good and relaxed me from a long day of walking.


Next order was this Shan noodle, which was under the salad section. I had asked the lady boss if the noodles were served cold and as explained, it wasn't. It tasted good but the first order was still way better. This one is oily and the sauce tasted a little like the sauce used in Rojak. So, it tasted strange to me.

After our lunch, we took a taxi to the Museah (Moseah) Yeshua Synagogue and Sri Siva Temple. The taxi driver, who looked nervous and also, spoke nervously, didn't know where the place is. We showed him the map and explained the directions to him. But, I think he was more lost than we were. It was at the corner of the junction that meets Mahabandoola Road and Konzaydan Street. We weren't sure where we were heading next after we turned into a street from Merchant Street. I think we were dropped off near the Theingyi Plaza, which is two street away from the desired destination. At least, we knew we're on Mahabandoola Road. So, now to find the Jewish and Hindu temples. We walked many streets down but didn't see any temples of these sort. In fact, we almost went into a Buddhist temple, thinking it was Hindu! Hahahaha! I told R that we needed to ask for directions from any ladies with a 'Bindi' (a dot worn on Hindu women's foreheads) and we did eventually find one. She gave us some directions, which we followed, only to be met with a mosque! 0_o

At the entrance of a mosque, a muslim passerby was happy to see us. He explained that the obvious building is a mosque and that it is a hundred years old. A lady sitting at the entrance porch of the mosque pointed at the opposite green building and mustered, "Muslim School".

Busy street along Mahabandoola Road


Islamic school, Shwe Bontha Street


Bengali Sunni (Sunne) Jameh Mosque, Shwe Bontha Street

It was getting dark, making vision a little difficult in a poorly lit, crowded street with uneven pavements. I watched the ground the entire time, making sure to avoid tripping over unleveled grounds. There were little or no street lights on some streets. The stall vendors installed their own lights or tried to get some light from other stalls that do. Some were literally selling their wares in near darkness.

Uneven pavements and street stalls

Sule Paya from a pedestrian bridge during dusk


We gave up trying to look for the temples. We tried looking for the buildings from the pedestrian bridge in the hopes of getting a better view, but to no avail. We finally hailed a cab to get back to the hotel. This taxi driver was friendly and spoke more English than the previous one. He drove a muscle car with the interior cushions lining the doors removed. So, you can see the bare metal frame of the door. The interior lamp had been improvised with a primitive switch of joining the wires to connect the circuit. When we asked him for direction of the synagogue, it took him a while to close the circuit to turn on the lamp so that he can see the map on my book. He's extremely nice and we chatted with him all the way till we reached the hotel. He has been a taxi driver for 12 years. Before he became a taxi driver, he was a tour guide 15 years ago. Times were good then, he said. On top of his salary, he was given travel allowance for his traveling expenses outside Yangon when he was running the tours. The tour company he had worked for went bankrupt because tourism became scarce. I asked him for his thoughts on tourism in his country. I am eager to know because I've come across various articles about tourism in Myanmar including websites of Aung San Suu Kyi being somewhat against tourism for good reasons and another of her stating that tourism may help. The taxi driver looked demented as he recalled the loss of his job 15 years ago and did think that tourism is good for his people and country. The same sentiment was shared by another driver who brought us to Bago and Thanlyin.

In the days to come, I felt sadden to learn about Myanmar through observation of the places of visit. How can a country so rich in many natural resources from previous stones to minerals, oil and water be housing people that are so poor? The streets and public ammenities are so badly maintained. They have all these natural resources every country dreams of having, yet the people are not even living in conditions half as good at these lacking countries.