Myanmar

Yangon, Bagan, and Inle Lake

By: tanyamau on June 26, 2006 - 9:31pm
Yangon: • Walk through the local morning markets – coal, animal brains, etc. for sale. • Get your airline tickets at tour agency in town. I bought plane tickets from Yangon to Bagan to Heho (Inle Lake) to Yangon for a total of $209 USD (last week of April 2005). • Black market money exchange (get your money…you’ll have lots of bills since kyat (prounced “chaat
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SHOPPING GUIDE in Myanmar (Burma)

By: Victor Aung on March 10, 2006 - 9:39pm
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Exclusive furniture innerspace on Pyay Road added a new, modern dimension to Myanmar’s furniture world since it came on the scene in 2000. Yet it always tries not to lose the traditional influence. Its cool designs are original and exclusive. The fine workmanship guarantees top quality finishing, which significantly sets it apart from most of its competitors in the trade. Innerspace creates its own identity in all of it diverse any of its products ranging from large furniture pieces to home décor. 290, Pyay Road, Sanchaung Township.

 

Let’s dress up --> Putting on beautifully and heavily embroidered Myanmar shoes and bags promises to be an enriching cultural experience. Most of Royal Rose’s products are very much Myanmar and very much original. Although it has been a sole producer of designer Myanmar bags and shoes for years, the designs are never out of date as new designs are frequently released to deep up with current trends. 28/Kl, Inya Yeik Thar St., Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd.

 

Vibrant Silver Jewllery -->Silver jewellery decorated with semiprecious stones is becoming more and more popular among Yangonited. This eye-catching colorful jewelers is becoming the epitome in attractiveness and elegance. Victory Gems at Bogyoke Aung San Market specializes in 925 silver jewelers with semi precious stones. Their use of the latest technology also helps keep the designs up to date. Prices are reasonable and because of its variety of colors, the jewelers can be made to match any color of outfit. 163, East sing of Bogyoke Aung San Market.

 

Lotus Shawls --> Whenever you wear lotus shawls, remember that you are lucky in possession of a rare accessory. The fact is that it is never easy to become one lotus shawl. Obtaining threats itself takes 15days and weaving takes another two weeks as handling the very thin fabric is apparently a difficult task. Lotus shawls are a true treasure of Myanmar and come from Shan state around famous Inle Lake and Kaya State, where they are available only six good months of a year. However, it is always worth of waiting, Its cool look and earthy natural colors suit both men and women keen to be stylish. Zawgyi House near Bogyoke Aung San Market sells different colors of these expensive shawls. 372, Bogyoke Aung San Road.

 

Treasured images --> The internationally renowned Myanmar photographer, Zaw Min Yu’s photo portrayal of the country’s most sacred site, Bagan tells its history differently. Zaw Min Yu’s experience and expertise in photography is shown distinctively in this book, A Journey Into Bagan. His presentation of the ancient city from morning to night dusk’til dawn, as well as images reflecting the people’s strong beli9ef in religion, gives readers the chance to experience Bagan through and artist’s eye. The veteran photographer captured the true essence of the city and recorded it beautifully, and the photos also reveal a sense of the history of Bagan. Innwa Book Store, Sule Pagoda Road.

 

Modern Cotton  --> In the past, cotton clothes were made more in the traditional style. But now shops like Shayi modernize their designs and create vibrant Myanmar cotton clothes which are in tune with modern youth, Shayi also weaves its own exclusive patterns to set it apart from others in the market.
The modern touch changes the look of the cotton clothes and they compare well against imported counterparts. 24/3, Nawaday Street, Dagon Township.
 

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Myanmar New Year Festival fall on 12th April 2006

By: Victor Aung on March 10, 2006 - 9:18pm
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What could be more fun?
I geared up for the event by seeking out a pair of powerful pump-action water guns and buying large stocks of food and drink. (I had also been told that nearly all markets and restaurants closed for the festival, making the process of preparing seem a bit like hoarding supplies for a fast-approaching hurricane.)

Thingyan water festival

This is what I heard about Thingyan – the three-day water festival celebrated in the sweltering heat of mid-April to ring in the Myanmar New Year – in the weeks before it started:

It moved boisterous behavior focused (as the name “water festival” suggests) on giving and getting the gift of wetness, using everything from water buckets to hoses and squirt guns as means of delivery. Indeed, I had been told, it was nearly impossible to take more than three steps from your front door without being on the receiving end of a good soaking. The only people exempt were monks and pregnant women.

I was also told that the action centered on hundreds of pandals –high wooden stages – that are temporarily erected throughout town for the festival. They are sponsored by various groups or businesses, representatives of which stand on the stages dancing to thunderous music and doling out endless lines of vehicles that are piled high with passengers who wait in those lines for the express purpose of having endless doses of water doled out.

Meanwhile, many of my Myanmar friends announced plans to spend the holiday break in monasteries, reminding me that Thingyan was essentially a religious festival, a chance to wash away the misdeeds of the previous 12 months and start the New Year afresh. Many other s who would not be meditating said they would say home to be with family, cook food, and catch up on reading …..Oh yeah, and stay dry.

But not me. I was in full battle mode. I had my guns, I had my rations and I had my earplugs (for the water, not the music).

So, on to the diary:

DAY ONE: Stepped out the house, got wet. I had been invited by a friend to spend the day on his neighborhood pandal. While those around me held limp and leaky water hoses, as a guest I was given the privilege of manning one of two powerful water cannons. As promised, an endless queue of passenger-laden trucks, cars and jeeps pulled up, and what could I do but give them what they had come for?

To each I bestowed a blast or two of water upside the head before aiming at the next lucky customer. “Misdeeds, be gone!” I shouted. Some cowered in silence as I irrigated their hairdos, some screamed, their water sources with ice, reducing the temperature to about two degrees Celsius. Whenever I got hit by one of these freezing streams, I did some screaming of my own.

At lunchtime, when the pandals close down and everything grows quiet for a couple hours, we retreated to the host’s house for lunch. In mid-afternoon we headed back out to recommence the process of soaking all comers until about six o’clock, when the festivities stopped for the day.

DAY TWO: Stepped out the house, got wet. This time I kept walking straight down Inya Road, water gun in each hand like a Hollywood action hero. Of course these armaments proved entirely inadequate in the face of the scores of pandals that lined Inya road, many of which were huge multi-tiered affairs featuring not one, not two, but 10 or 15 powerful water canons anchoring a defensive perimeter of about eight or nine million garden hoses. All sucking water out of the nearby lake by the mega liter and dumping it straight onto my head. The streets were knee deep and flowing. I squinted against the barrage of murky liquid hitting my face from the stages and the thousands of vehicles that were at a virtual standstill around me. Still I slogged forward, towards the intersection with University Avenue road, which I had been told was ground zero for the festival. I was an explorer, forging my way despite all obstacles onto the Heart of Wetness. What joyful horrors would I find there? Giant hoses gushing waterfalls? Ten story pandals? Whole roasted chickens on skewers? The only way to find out was to press on through the spray that was raining down from above. Tomorrow I would be going out on a friend’s truck and I would get revenge. Or at least get wet again.


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The road lead into the higher hill SARAMITI

By: Victor Aung on February 14, 2006 - 8:11pm
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Tourism is coming to a remote village community in Laeshi, Lahel and while planners see it as a perfect enterprise, you’ll be listening to Young Naga soon why they will have the final say .....

Turn off along the unmetalled "roads" that lead into the higher hills, however, and your vehicle must engage four-wheel drive if it has one, and even then negotiating axle-deep slush and treacherous landslips that erase the way ahead is not a task for the weekend adventurer.

Young Nagas

 


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A new destinatin for adventurous destinations

By: Victor Aung on February 3, 2006 - 8:34pm
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This year we have expended our optional tour programs to include more adventurous destinations. Many of these locations are just beginning to open for the visitor to Myanmar.

Travel conditions and accommodations may be less than ideal so travelers should bring along a spirit of exploration when visiting these new places.

Seasonal weather conditions (January to March) minimum group size and restricted travel requirements and services may apply. Please contact our office for the latest information and pricing for the itineraries.

Nagaland in Layshi, Myanmar


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The loveboat is on curse to Burma

By: Victor Aung on December 24, 2005 - 1:28am
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The Loveboat is on curse to Burma, today officially named Myanmar. A Land which is meant cause of its wide & thick forests , royal big rivers, and the unbelievable amount of world famouse Pagodas one of the most beautiful and still un touched Tourism Destination in South East Asia. http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/23/0,1872,2087351,00.html
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Your Budget HOTEL in town

By: Victor Aung on December 23, 2005 - 10:24am
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Mother Land Inn (2) --> No. 433, Lower Pazundaung Road, Yangon, Myanmar. ph: 0095-1-291343

Email --> mli2@myanmar.com.mm

Email --> vctraung@gmail.com

www.manmarmotherlandinn.com

  • Clean and quiet place, friendly atmosphere
  • Complimentary breakfast
  • 24-hrs valet service & electricity
  • IDD phone, fax, email

Single -->8, double-->11, Triple --> 16 in USD(fan & attached shower)

 


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Yangon Zoological Garden

By: Victor Aung on December 23, 2005 - 10:04am
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Yangon Zoological Garden has been inaugurated since 1906. Nowadays, it has an area of 69.25 acres. It is a World class zoo where one may observe a collection of animals habitat to Myanmar as well as the World over. There are 59 species of animals, 63 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles on the fauna side. On the flora side, there are over 15,000 trees and plants. Yangon Zoological Garden is opened daily. On weekends and public holidays, special animal shows are featured to entertain the visiting public. New 5 baby tigers (Cabs) were born last 3 months ago. Entrance fee  200 Kyats only! You can take photos with them… http://amazingmmland.blogspot.com/
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