Myanmar Buses - Yangon November 2015

My first visit to Myanmar, in November 2015, was an eye-opener. In public transport terms, this is a land that has yet to discover air-conditioning, emissions regulations, step-free entrances….or Health & Safety of any sort. It’s a glimpse of what Hong Kong was like about 50 years ago. The buses are a motley collection of second-hand vehicles, from Japan and other South-East Asian countries. The fares are ludicrously low and the whole system is starved of investment. Consequently, buses are poorly maintained and breakdowns are a regular occurrence (you will see at least three in this video) and the Burmese people (ever friendly and relaxed) just get on with it.
The rule of the road is driving on the right, but curiously most vehicles (including new cars and vans) are right hand drive. You will see a number of left hand drive buses, but these are a minority. Right hand drive vehicles imported from Japan have a new entrance made amidships on the kerb side, and any doors on the left hand side are either panelled over or, more usually, left open for extra ventilation. Every bus has a gatekeeper/conductor/barker, whose job it is to attract passengers and then haul them on board.
If you like your buses diverse, in make and colour scheme, then look no further than Yangon.