Sri Lanka|Thailand|Myanmar|Malaysia: lastest news on opening to foreigners

[rhinoceroshorn]

Hello friends.
For those who are interested in ordination in one of those countries, let's gather here news on their current border status, airport reopening, etc.
The two countries I'm interested in are Sri Lanka and Malaysia. I'd love to ordain either in Na Uyana (SL) or Sāsanārakkha (MLY). I contacted both monasteries and they are very receptive.

Here are their current status:

Sri Lanka
29/08/20
Status: closed. No date to reopen.
Source: https://menafn.com/1100702944/Sri-Lanka ... n-airports

The Government is currently working on measures to reopen airports in Sri Lanka at the earliest opportunity, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella told the weekly post cabinet media briefing held today that efforts to reopen the airports are being delayed due to daily developments with regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thailand
29/08/20
Status: closed but they seek to reopen Phuket to foreign visitors on October 1.
Source: https://www.eturbonews.com/581041/thail ... october-1/

Thailand has announced that it will open Phuket to overseas tourists from October 1, but foreigners will have to comply with a mandatory two-week quarantine.

According to the reports, the head of the National Tourism Administration of Thailand, Yutasak Supasorn, indicated that the opening of the island is a rehearsal for the opening of the entire country. But the rules for entering the kingdom will remain very strict.

Map of Thailand highlighting Phuket Province

Myanmar
29/08/2020
Status: closed. It will probably open in October.
Source: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/08/ ... e-october/

Myanmar’s aviation authorities confirmed recently, the ban on international commercial flights to and from Myanmar would extend to 31 August, but high ranking tourism officials now say international commercial flights might not resume until October.

Malaysia
29/08/2020
Status: (sadly) closed until 2021.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/ ... ill-dec-31

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that the recovery movement control order (MCO) to stem the Covid-19 pandemic will be extended to Dec 31.

[Dhamma Chameleon]

Great, thanks. Looks hopeful. Good news on the monasteries.

I'm flying to Thailand end of January '21 for four weeks. I hope by then they've moved on from quarantine...

[smashpotato]

Oh that is a shame about Malaysia. I thought you had finalised your plans to go there.

I also think that even when these countries do open their borders, there will possibly be a lot of measures put in place that make ordination not possible, such as only being able to stay at certain designated hotels, having to have covid tests while there, having to quarantine on arrival, huge expenses to cover medical in case covid is contracted, etc.

[rhinoceroshorn]

Sri Lanka
30/08/2020
Status: closed
Sri Lanka mulls over opening airports in September.

The government is considering the possibility of reopening the airport closed off due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Tourism said discussions on the matter are being carried out with relevant authorities.

The focus fell on reopening the airport by next month as Sri Lankans stranded in foreign countries following the virus outbreak continue to be repatriated despite the current global lockdown.

http://www.wedivistara.com/23294/govt-m ... ng-airport


May Lanka open. I can't bear lay life anymore.

[rhinoceroshorn]

Great, thanks. Looks hopeful. Good news on the monasteries.

I'm flying to Thailand end of January '21 for four weeks. I hope by then they've moved on from quarantine...

Hello. If Thailand reopens first I will ordain there.
Do you have any monastery in mind?

[Dhamma Chameleon]

Hello. If Thailand reopens first I will ordain there.
Do you have any monastery in mind?

I want to do a retreat with Anthony Markwell on Koh Phangan, then visit some dhamma friends in Dipabhavan (Samui) and Suan Mokkh. Ordination is not an option for me (female) but I do want to talk about possibilities for becoming a long term (permanent) live-in lay supporter.

Where do you hope to go?

[rhinoceroshorn]

Hello. If Thailand reopens first I will ordain there.
Do you have any monastery in mind?

I want to do a retreat with Anthony Markwell on Koh Phangan, then visit some dhamma friends in Dipabhavan (Samui) and Suan Mokkh. Ordination is not an option for me (female) but I do want to talk about possibilities for becoming a long term (permanent) live-in lay supporter.

Where do you hope to go?

This is wonderful. I hope you succeed, my friend.

I don't know any monastery in Thailand. I have been resolving to ordain in Sri Lanka so I never really thought about monasteries in other countries (except Malaysia but I'm not caring about it anymore since they will not reopen this year). Also, if I'm not mistaken, only few monasteries there have their website in English, what makes communication hard.
If you know some forest monastery in Thailand, please tell me.

[smashpotato]

Here are a few of links which describe places to ordain in Thailand, if you have not already come across these:

http://www.kammatthana.com/a_guide_to_b ... eries_.htm

https://retreat-infos.de/Download/RFAE2014.pdf

https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f ... am#p352526

[Dhamma Chameleon]

Here are a few of links which describe places to ordain in Thailand, if you have not already come across these:

http://www.kammatthana.com/a_guide_to_b ... eries_.htm

https://retreat-infos.de/Download/RFAE2014.pdf

https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f ... am#p352526

I only know Suan Mokkh, which doesn't officially ordain westerners anymore.

best of luck to you, Rhinoceroshorn!

[rhinoceroshorn]

Thanks!!!

[Dhamma Chameleon]

By the way, about the wats that officially don't ordain westerners. If you go to a monastery, stay there as a lay person, help out and show diligence... Get to know them, let them get to know you... If you like it there and want to ordain, I believe there are possibilities.

[Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta]

During last two or so months, Covid-19 seemed receding from Myanmar, with gradual reopening of the closures/restrictions.

However, Within last two weeks, around mid and late August, there's a second wave of cases in Myanmar, with no new death reported yet, fortunately.

Returning to Old-normal situations seems quite far away, again.

[rhinoceroshorn]

Oh that is a shame about Malaysia. I thought you had finalised your plans to go there.

I also think that even when these countries do open their borders, there will possibly be a lot of measures put in place that make ordination not possible, such as only being able to stay at certain designated hotels, having to have covid tests while there, having to quarantine on arrival, huge expenses to cover medical in case covid is contracted, etc.

Omg, I had not seen your post. I'm sorry.

Indeed, I was very excited about going to Malaysia. They were to open on Sept 1th.

It would be very sad if they do that.

[rhinoceroshorn]

By the way, about the wats that officially don't ordain westerners. If you go to a monastery, stay there as a lay person, help out and show diligence... Get to know them, let them get to know you... If you like it there and want to ordain, I believe there are possibilities.

Thank you for the advice!
Monk, samanera, anagarika, whatever. I just want to dedicate all my life to the Dhamma around admirable people.

[rhinoceroshorn]

Sri Lanka
31/08/2020
Status: closed
Sri Lanka ready with short term plan to revive tourism

COLOMBO, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will implement a short term action plan to revive the country's tourism industry which has been hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted by local media reports as saying on Monday.

Ranatunga said the government will allocate nearly 1 million U.S. dollars over the next four months to revive tourism and the short term action plan was being finalized.

The government said the airport will remain closed till such a time when repatriations are completed.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-0 ... 331663.htm