festival THINGYAN

Transcription

festival THINGYAN

Colonial
pictures by
Nay Myo Say
THINGYAN
festival
Traditional
lifestyle of
Myanmar
Buddhists
Taking steps to
Capture the
Moment
APRIL2013
Contents
14
20
27
32
36
40
50
54
60
64
66
Swing and a miss
By James McMissem
Yangon night life
By Bill O'Toole
69
Taking steps to capture the moment
By Sorcha Hellyer & Gabriele Villa
Amelia Earhart and her short stay in Myanmar
By Simon Whiting
Japanese food in Yangon
By Douglas Long
The architectural wonder of Yangon
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By Aye Sapay Phyu
Artist's work of creation
By Nay Myo Say
Traditional lifestyle of Myanmar Buddhists
By Mi Tut
Escaping into the wild at Sane Let Tin
By Maw Maw San
Shopaholic
By James Htike
Ngapali - sand, sea and so much more
By Maw Maw San
69 Love of nature
By Pye Aye Nyein (Cloud 9), Sein Sein Gu
74 Festivals between February and July
By Maw Maw San
76 Thingyan
By Simon Whiting
Regulars
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80
84
85
86
88
90
Air Mandalay's destinations
Air Mandalay's offices
Route map
Travel tips
Air Mandalay's passenger sales agents
Useful numbers
The Golden Flight - Air Mandalay's Inflight Magazine
40
50
Colonial
pictures by
Nay Myo Say
THINGYAN
festival
36
Traditional
lifestyle of
Myanmar
Buddhists
Taking steps to
Capture the
Moment
APRIL2013
management
Chief Executive Officer
Kyaw Kyaw
editorial
Chief Editor
Kyaw Myo
Editor
Simon Whiting
Advertising
Thinn Sandar
Thuzar Win Naung
54
Publishing License
Than Thar Htoo
Photographers
Douglas Long
Design & Layout
Kyaw Khaing
Genius
Printing
Shwe Zin Printing
(0368)
Distribution
Air Mandalay
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
by any means including electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the publisher.
AIR MANDALAY LIMITED
66
64
146, Dhammazedi Road,
Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel: +95-1 525 488, 501 520
Fax: +95-1 525 937
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.airmandalay.com
5
www.airmandalay.com
Mingalabar!
About Us
Air Mandalay Limited is a joint venture
company that was incorporated on 6th
October 1994 to operate as Myanmar’s
first joint venture airline and support the
country’s tourism industry.
The airline, based in Yangon, has since
established itself as a domestic carrier
of high standards which operates to all of
Myanmar’s main tourist destinations and
commercial hubs.
The airline also offers air charter services to destinations both
within the country and in the region.
In September 2010 Air Mandalay added one ATR-72 to its
fleet and refurbished its existing aircraft. To reflect this step
forward for the company the aircraft livery was also updated
to a more modern design.
Due to the growth of tourism and economic development
in Myanmar, air transportation has become an important
contributor to both the country’s economic growth and its
infrastructure development.
The country is looking to position itself as a major tourism
destination capable of handling an increasing number of
foreign visitors and Air Mandalay industry will play a vital
role in achieving this.
Corporate Identity
Air Mandalay’s logo depicts the mythological royal Hintha
bird, which symbolises loyalty, respect for traditional values,
stability, good luck and prosperity.
The colours in our logo are also significant. Yellow
represents the numerous golden pagodas found throughout
Myanmar, which is often called the Golden Land. Burgundy
signifies the colour of our commitment to provide safe,
reliable and comfortable flights for our passengers.
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Air Mandalay's Aircraft Maintenance
Organisation has European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval.
Our Fleet
Air Mandalay’s modern fleet currently
comprises of two ATR-72-212s and one
ATR 42-320, which are all made by
EADS of France and Alenia of Italy and
powered by Canadian-built Pratt &
Whitney engines.
Air Mandalay’s fleet is maintained by
a maintenance organization which is
approved by the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA). All aircraft
in Air Mandalay’s fleet and the
maintenance facility are inspected once
a year by the Direction Generale
de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) of France.
Our Crew
In selecting and training our
multilingual cabin crew, we aim
to provide high levels of service
consistent with Myanmar's gentle
traditions.
Our pilots are trained at ATR facilities
and undergo recurrency training every
six months.
Engineers are trained at both ATR and
Pratt & Whitney facilities to ensure the
ATR aircraft operated by Air Mandalay
are always well maintained.
i n te r v ie w
THE TEAM OF
Air Mandalay
I want passengers to have
a memorable and comfortable
flying experience with us and
I always try my best to satisfy
them.
Nyaung Oo airport and while it was in the air, he
told me that he had forgotten a bag with valuable
items at the airport. Since we could not make a
phone call from the plane, I reported the issue to
the captain and requested his help."
Ma Ei Zarchi Maung
Cabin Staff Supervisor
Ma Ei Zarchi Maung has been with Air Mandalay
since 2004. As cabin staff supervisor she aims to
provide the best safety, comfort and satisfaction
to all passengers.
“I want passengers to have a memorable and
comfortable flying experience with us and I
always try my best to satisfy them. I also feel that
our passengers are our family members and never
assume that my job ends when we land."
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“I have had many memorable experiences
with passengers and received lots of letters of
appreciation. Once I helped a foreign passenger
who was flying from Nyaung Oo to Yangon on
the Nyaung Oo-Mandalay-Yangon trip to recover
his bag. After the plane had taken off from
“The captain informed the airport control tower
and the staff there replied that they had found the
bag. However, the passenger was on a connecting
flight and needed to catch the next leg within
hours. So when we got to Yangon Airport, I took
him to our traffic station staff and searched for the
next flight to carry his bag back in time. In the end
he got his bag back and caught the next flight,”
Ma Ei Zarchi Maung said.
Air Mandalay's cabin crew undergo yearly
training in first aid, safety and security training,
in-flight service and emergency drills, she said.
Ma Ei Zarchi Maung said she has also attended a
course in France to teach other trainees.
Cabin crew must arrive 45 minutes before flight
departure and receive a briefing from the captain
about the weather forecast and possible problems
they might encounter during the day. After the
briefing, attendants board the airplane and plan
for catering and check emergency equipment so
that they will be ready if needed. During flying
hours, crew work hard to make everybody
comfortable and provide extra care to children,
the elderly or sick.
Ma Aye Aye Mon
Traffic Station Manager, Yangon
“The duty of traffic station staff starts when the
check-in counters for the first flight opens and
only ends when all passengers have arrived at
their destinations. Our main duties are passenger
and customer service,” said Ma Aye Aye Mon, a
traffic station manager who has been working in
the department since January 1996.
“Air Mandalay is in the business of air
Safety, reliability, and
comfort are hallmarks of our
operation and our employees
are dedicated to realising these
objectives.
to lend a hand to our passengers. For example,
one time a passenger had a connecting flight
to Bangkok with MAI but our return flight to
Yangon was slightly delayed. So we prepared our
Air Mandalay mini-bus to immediately escort
him to the international passenger terminal after
landing. When the plane landed, we made sure
that he did not have to wait for his luggage. He
arrived at the MAI counter on time. The smile on
his face and the joy I felt when I shook his hand
made me very satisfied and fulfilled. It was very
memorable."
“Safety, reliability and comfort are hallmarks of
our operation and our employees are dedicated
to realising these objectives. It is towards
this end that we have developed and trained
our employees. So to have a safe and smooth
operation, our traffic staff is well trained and
attend many courses at the Department of Civil
Aviation each year. We also have staff who have
attended IATA courses in Singapore,”
said Ma Aye Aye Mon.
transporation. We are committed to offering our
clients and passengers a quality service and value
for money,” she said.
“Although passenger service is our main duty,it is
just one aspect of our job. We are also responsible
for ground handling and cooperating with
cabin crew, flight operations and other related
departments,”she said.
“No two duty days are the same. There is always
something exciting and memorable happening
at the airport everyday. We are always willing
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www.airmandalay.com
Following the briefing we
inspect the airplane and fill out
the checklists. If the airplane
is airworthy then we accept
it from the technical service
manager.
Captain Lu Maw
“Before every flight, we acquire all possible
data concerning weather conditions on flight
paths and landing destinations, and conduct
pre-flight briefings with cabin crews. We go
over possible problems and what actions to
take in case of an emergency.
“Following the briefing we inspect the airplane
and fill out the checklists. If the airplane is
airworthy then we accept it from the technical
service manager,” said Captain Lu Maw, a
training manager in Air Mandalay’s operations
department.
He said there are three main factors that can
cause accidents: human, machine and media.
“In order to prevent human error, Air
Mandalay sends its pilots to the Asian ATR
training centre in Bangkok for two days of
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training every six months. All training exercises
are approved by Myanmar's DCA. We also follow
the guidelines set by the DCA and attend training
sessions the department sets up,” Captain Lu
Maw said.
He said it is also crucial for pilots to be in good
health, and its pilots undergo medical checkups
every six months.
Captain Lu Maw is in his late 30s . He became a
pilot in 1998 and obtained his Airline Transport
Pilot Licence in 2003. He joined Air Mandalay in
2005 and became a first officer in 2007, a captain
in 2009 and then the training manager in 2011
after completing the respective ATR approved
training courses abroad.
I N T E RV I E W
I was the responsible person
and had to make decisions on
site to get the project finished
on time.
U Zaw Maung Maung Min
Technical Services Manager
"In July 2010, I was in Exeter, UK for the delivery
of an aircraft. From there I moved to Norwich
to have the plane repainted with new livery and
perform other maintenance requirements. Every
single day started with problems and challenges
at work. I was the person responsible for making
decisions on site to get the project finished on
time.
"There were a lot of details and everyone was
waiting on my decisions. It was stressful because
I was working in an unfamiliar environment. It
was also difficult to organise individuals from
different companies to reach our goals."
"But after a month we were able to finish all the
work and we were finally able to fly back from
the UK to home with my team. I considered it
to be my biggest achievement since I started
working with Air Mandalay. Coincidently, the
date I arrived in Yangon was my 10th anniversary
of joining Air Mandalay.
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www.airmandalay.com
Corporate Social Responsibility
Air Mandalay believes in helping
community-based projects. One such
example is the building of schools:
"We would like to thank Air Mandalay
for providing free air tickets for this
project. The Melissa Cosgrove Children's
Foundation (MCCF) has been working on
grassroots projects for 10 years now and
in-kind donations are of great help to small
charities because it means the money we
raise is able to go direct to the projects.
Due to Air Mandalay's sponsorship, the
founder of MCCF, Tracy Cosgrove, was
able to visit every few weeks and watch
the progress, which helped the project to
be completed quickly. If Air Mandalay had
not provided free flights we might still be
waiting for it to be finished. Thank you Air
Mandalay for your continued support ."
The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation
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13
golfi
n
g
How they have managed
to get golf balls to float –
and still behave the same off
the club and in the air – is a
mystery but it works.
Swing
and a miss
By James McMissem
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Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
I
wish I could love the game of
golf but the long stretches of
walking interrupted by brief
and repeated bouts of repeat
violent and – in my case at
least – uncoordinated action
usually leave me fuming at
the end of a round. And by “round” I
mean three or four holes, after which
time the toys have all been thrown
from the pram and birds have been
scattered by abrupt torrents of blue
language. Nope, I’m with Samuel
Langhorne Clemens, better known by
his penname of Mark Twain, who said
in 1948: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”
However, I do enjoy the two halves of
the game in isolation: hitting the balls
as hard as I can, and walking. But the
two in combination have never worked
for me.
With traffic in Yangon getting heavier
every day I do plenty of walking since
it’s the fastest way to get around the
downtown area but I do sometimes
miss smashing golf balls around,
which is highly therapeutic. The
solution is the driving range, and the
closest to my house is the facility at
the eastern side of Mya Kyun Thar.
As a bonus, you get the pleasure of
whacking balls into the lake, where
they are scooped up all day and into
the night by teams of workers in row
boats. How they have managed to get
golf balls to float – and still behave the
same off the club and in the air – is a
mystery but it works.
The Mya Kyun Thar range lets you
play at night until about 8:30, although
a 1,000 kyats lighting fee is charged.
Different rates are charged for balls
depending on the time of the day but
recently a friend and I hit 150 balls
each at a cost of 35 kyats each, with an
additional one-off lighting fee of 1,000
kyats, for a total of 11,500 kyats. We
also had to pay 3,000 kyats for each
of the two clubs we loaned, bring the
total cost to about 17,500 kyats or about
US$20.50, for nearly two hours of
entertainment.
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www.airmandalay.com
Driving ranges have markers out on
the course to show the distance that
balls are being hit to, presumably with
the intention of helping the golfers
better understand their games and
abilities but there’s also an element
of showmanship. There’s always a
hint of guarded jealousy on the faces
of other golfers as they watch one
guy regularly blast balls 180 metres
down the range like a well-oiled
siege engine. Similarly, everybody
enjoys the miss-hits that either plop
pathetically 10 metres into a lake or
shoot at crazy angles across the range.
On my first visit the
only time I hit a green was
when I skimmed a drive over
the surface of the lake and it
cannoned into the edge of a
green and spat off sideways.
There are small greens – raised
wooden platforms with green carpet
on top – at 75, 100, 125 and 150 metres
on the range, giving golfers a visible
and entertaining target to aim for. On
my first visit the only time I hit one
was when I skimmed a drive over the
surface of the lake and it cannoned
into the edge of a green and spat off
sideways. But on the second visit I
managed to land two shots on greens,
while my colleague managed to land
three, and the number of ridiculous
miss-hits, including my “airies” –
swings that connected with nothing
but air, were significantly reduced.
And the best thing about a driving
range: a bad shot is quickly forgotten
about and you don’t need to go
traipsing off into the next fairway in
search of the ball. Instead, you reach
for the next ball, place it on the tee and
swing away.
The rental clubs at the Mya Kyun Thar
range are new and good quality. I
have also used the driving range at the
Okkala Golf Club in South Okkalappa
Township. This large range is in the
middle of suburbia and is surrounded
by extremely high nets to stop errant
balls from escaping the facility. The
far end of the range – more than 320
metres – is a train line. Overall, it’s
a less glamorous range than the one
at Mya Kyun Thar but also far more
realistic: A long shot at the lake simply
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plops into the water and stops, while a
similar effort at Okkala bounces along
the ground – giving a far more realistic
impression of the value of a drive.
And while the costs for each ball are
marginally higher (from memory), it
only costs 1,000 or 1,500 kyats to hire
clubs. In any case, an hour or two of
practice costs no more than 8,000 kyats
a person.
And the only walking you need do
is from the car to your tee-off spot –
Mark Twain would be pleased.
Yangon has plenty of golf courses, and
most of them have practice facilities
within them. These include the:
And the only walking
you need do is from the car to
your tee-off spot – Mark Twain
would be pleased.
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- Yangon Golf Resort (YCDC) on
Thiri Mingalar Road in Insein
Township
- Defence Golf Club on Kha Yae Pin
Road in Mingalardon Township;
- Han Golf Master at Airport Road in
Mayangone Township
- Mya Kan Tha Golf Course on Thiri
Mingalar Road, Insein Township;
- Myanmar Golf Club on Pyay Road
in Mayangone Township
- National Golf Range on Lay
Daung Kan Road in Thingangyun
Township
- Okkala Golf Course on Waiza
Yan Tar Road in South Okkalappa
Township
- Pun Hlaing Golf Club at the Pun
Hlaing Golf Estate in Hlaing
Tharyar Township
- Royal Mingalardon Golf and
Country Club on Main Road (No
3) at Mingalardon Golf City in
Mingalardon Township and
- Thanlyin Golf Club on the YangonThanlyin Road in Thanlyin
Township.
yangon
Night
life
Fuji
By Bill O'Toole
Cafe 365
5 Alan Pya Pagoda St, Dagon Township
More restaurant than bar, but pleasant all
the same, Cafe 365 is located beneath the
Thamada hotel on Alan Pya Pagoda Road in
Dagon Township. The ambiance is relaxed and
conducive to polite conversation.
The lighting is low and the chairs are soft
and comfortable. Cafe 365 is an excellent spot for
couples looking for a quiet night or even just a
short break from their other adventures.
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The standard options of Myanmar and Tiger Beer
are available, but more adventurous drinkers can
sample unique concoctions like the rum coffee.
Cafe 365 is an
excellent spot for
couples looking for
a quiet night or even
just a short break from
their other adventures
19th Street
19 Street in Latha Township
th
Located in the heart of Chinatown, 19th street
is a pedestrian street home to untold dozens of
beer stations. The avenue stays lively (but not
raucous) until late into the night, making it an
ideal spot for a low-key evening out on the town.
For tourists, it is particularly worth checking out
for the unique, old fashioned buildings lining the
street. While strolling up and down the avenue
to see the sights is not easy, it gives a traveller a
unique sense of travelling back in time, making it
well worth the effort.
Beer is cheap, and so are the cocktails if you
know where to look (big shout out to Ko Sann
restaurant and their 800-kyat mojitos), and almost
every spot serves variety of fantastic barbecue
food. The author's personal favourites include
grilled okra and hard-boiled quail eggs.
De Bar
University Avence Street, Kamayut Township
For those enjoying a late night downtown, De Bar
almost wins by default for being one of the few
classy establishments open past 12am. But De Bar
does not rest on its laurels, the staff goes out of its 21
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22
Many revellers
start their night
at Escape before
moving to Liberal, an
evening I can heartily
recommend.
way to create a relaxed enjoyable atmosphere.
Catering to the previously untapped market
of Yangon cinephiles, De Bar has its walls lined
with posters and paintings of classic films like
Metropolis and Casablanca. It also has a sound
system that plays soundtracks of Quentin
Tarantino movies almost exclusively.
In the past year, De Bar has also stepped up
its offerings to the local foreigners. Inquire at the
bar about the establishment's new, monthly quiz
night.
The beer is a fairly standard 2,000 kyats , but
there are more high-end options such various
colours of Johnny Walker. Add the friendly,
relaxed staff, and De Bar is an ideal place to
socialise.
Escape Gastropub
31 D Kan Yeiktha Street, Bahan Township
A recent addition to Yangon's high-end
social scene, Escape exists somewhere in the
borderlands of a club and a restaurant. First and
foremost, the bar sells cans of Guinness, which
in my book is a major plus (remember gang, it
takes two and a half minutes to correctly pour a
Guinness.)
The ground level houses the bar as well as
several flat-screen TVs which can usually be
counted on to show Euro-cup football. Upstairs
one finds a more quiet relaxed ambiance, with
plush couches that often leave patrons almost
completely reclined in their seats (in a good way).
Left of the main entrance is an outdoor
seating area of about six tables over-looking a
coi-fish pond. The tables are surrounded by metal
swings for seating. While this choice initially
seems strange, having a gentle rock while you
drink is actually quite pleasant.
Cafe Liberal
31 C Kan Yeiktha Street, Bahan Township
Cafe Liberal is a stripped down dance hall
located directly to the right of Escape. When
I say “stripped down,” I mean in the sense of
having no fog machines, ceiling mirrors, or any
of the other frills often found in the clubs of
Yangon. This choice of style gives the club a fun,
unpretentious feel, which is probably why it's so
popular with many Myanmar university students.
Drinks are slightly expensive, around 3,000
kyats for a beer and 40,000 kyats for some bottles
of whiskey. However, the kitchen keeps the free
snacks coming, and with a group of friends to
split the bill it can still be a fun and affordable
night out.
Many revellers start their night at Escape
before moving to Liberal, an evening I can
heartily recommend.
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www.airmandalay.com
The Street
The Street
The Street
Space Bar
126 , Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township
Yangon's answer to Miami. Come to Space Bar if
you're looking for the classic clubbing experience.
Beers cost around 4,000 kyats, with prices for
various multicoloured cocktails going up from
there. The party goes on until about 2am most
weekend nights. The house DJ keeps the music
pumping, but reasonably so. It's still possible to
hold a conversation.
While many Yangon dance floors are not used
to their full potential, Space Bar has a floor where
it is more than possible to bust a move. Locals are
friendly, and generally seem delighted to have
foreigners in their midst.
If you need a break from the dancing or just
want a more private place to enjoy your cocktail,
there are several seating areas off to the side with
comfortable couches and speedy service.
The Street
20 Pa Le Road, Bahan Township
24
Lest you think “The Street” is just a catchy name,
the proprietors have fully committed to the
concept. The walls are festooned with street signs
from across the globe and the bottom floor is
painted to resemble a highway. Another hot spot
for the young, affluent, and hip of Yangon, The
Street is located in the Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel, and
offers outdoor seating on both the ground and
mezzanine levels.
While the indoor areas are nice enough,
getting to sit outside with the cool breeze is really
what makes the experience. Given this, The Street
a much better option for the winter months as
opposed to the wet season.
Both drinks and food are reasonably priced (large
beers around 2,000 kyats, French fries around
4,000 kyats).
Good Year Pub
44A Aung Mingalar Street (at the corner of
Aung Bar Lay Street), Tamwe Township
This hole-in-the-wall will never be anyone's
choice for the most stylish or trendy spot in
Yangon but, for an authentic and off-the-beaten
path look at Yangon's nightlife, try the Good Year
pub on Aung Mingalar Street, near Yuzana Plaza.
The bar has all the Myanmar standards (Myanmar
Lager, Tiger Beer, Dagon Stout, etc...) for around
600 kyats per draught.
The set-up is as basic as basic can be. Eight
tables in the plain room inside and two outside. A
TV in the back most often shows American films.
While the bar itself does not serve food, street
vendors often come in with various fried goods to
sell. More adventurous drinkers can sample the
house whiskey, a neon green concoction served
out of a water cooler in the corner.
26
Air Mandalay's Inflight Magazine
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
Garnering Global Interest
Myanmar’s astonishing transformation in
recent months means that it is attracting an
increasing amount of attention from travellers
and foreign investors. However getting the
right message across to the international
community at large is always a challenge.
Image Diplomacy, founded by Sorcha Hellyer
and Gabriele Villa is a company specialising in
nation-branding campaigns.
With over 13 years of on field experience in
international communications, preparing special
promotional features for a wide range of global
media, they were delighted to provide their
expertise in order to provide extensive coverage
of the Golden Land in the UK’s biggest selling
quality newspaper at the end of last year. Their
inaugural Myanmar feature was published in
The Daily Telegraph on 17 December 2012.
Reaching around 1.6 million readers - of
whom a large percentage are highly educated
business leaders, company directors, investors,
politicians and officials - it was very well
received.
The aim of iD’s work is to assist with the
repositioning the brands of countries by
insightful editorial which alter the target
audience's perceptions of the destination and
promote both tourism and investment into the
country being covered.
continuing their efforts with another feature
in The Daily Telegraph in late February
and two more planned in the lead up to the
World Economic Forum on East Asia which
will be held in June this year in Nay Pyi Taw.
Key issues to be addressed in their articles
come about as a result of extensive research
and iD's interviews and meetings with top
business leaders and intend to highlight the
impressive offerings afforded by Myanmar’s
changing environment.
In addition to this excellent coverage, iD
is partnering with local companies and
entities to further promote the country with
a more extensive nation-branding campaign.
The following article is an excerpt from
the inaugural feature published by iD. If
you would like to receive the full features
published in The Daily Telegraph in
December 2012 and February 2013 or
know more about how you can be a part of
their important initiatives please contact
them by email myanmar@imagediplomacy.
com, visit www.imagediplomacy.com or call
on 09 425 314 893.
The authors of the articles, Gabriele Villa and
Sorcha Hellyer, have been collaborating with
government entities and the private sector in
Myanmar since September 2012 and have been
Sorcha Hellyer & Gabriele Villa
27
www.airmandalay.com
T aki n g S teps to
capture the moment
By Sorcha Hellyer & Gabriele Villa
“This is Burma
and it will be
quite unlike
any land you
know about.”
28
Monks strolling on Ngwe Saung beach
T
here is a lot you don’t know - can’t
know - about Myanmar until you
travel there. This is one of its most
beguiling aspects. With what now
seems like prophetic sincerity, it is probably
the reason why the great British storyteller
Rudyard Kipling noted, “This is Burma and
it will be quite unlike any land you know
about.” Indeed, he expressed this many years
after his travels to the country that was then
known as Burma. Sir Cliff Richard doubtless
Goodwin from Leeds Metropolitan University.
We are also preparing a Tourism Master Plan
with the aid of the Norwegian government
and the ADB to ensure a clear strategy for the
future.”
The aim is for the master plan to cover the
whole country not just certain pockets of it.
Unsurprisingly, typical tourism draws - like
mystical, legendary cities Yangon, Bagan and
Mandalay coupled with Inle Lake, Ngwe Saung
Rural reflections in Bagan
discovered much the same thing on his recent
10-day tour. It is by all accounts one of the
most mesmerising countries in the world.
Breathtakingly beautiful rural landscapes and
deliciously chaotic urban areas are populated
by people so sweet-natured, respectful and
welcoming, it is hard to believe this is a nation
that until recently had been isolated from the
rest of the world for five long decades.
Myanmar is now enjoying a renaissance, the
kind of which was only dreamed about two
short years ago. Hope - as well as evidence
of a new reality in the making - is a powerful
reconciler. This is important to the hospitality
industry because sweeping reform strategies,
brought in by President Thein Sein, prompted
Aung San Suu Kyi to encourage international
visitors to come to Myanmar and to promote
“responsible tourism” to benefit the populace.
A holistic approach to opening up the
tourism sector, ensuring the country’s natural
and cultural heritage remains intact, will
be critical to its success. The government
grasped the mantle, as Htay Aung, Minister
of Hotels & Tourism explains, “We have been
working on a Responsible Tourism Policy
Framework with renowned Professor Harold
Beach and
Ngapali Beach
- are always
on itineraries.
However,
“Communitybased tourism
projects in
remote and
rural areas also need to be included,” Htay
Aung elucidates. Future tourism strategies
will encourage visitors to go off the beaten
track and fully explore Myanmar’s rural
charm benefitting both local economies and
eco-tourists who wish to enjoy nature and be
engaged with the Myanmar people.
Prepare to fall in
love - your heart will
be captured by rustic
charm infused with
smiles as broad as
the Bay of Bengal
Exotic and awe-inspiring, the astonishing
natural beauty of Myanmar makes it THE
bucket list destination that many have
dreamed of visiting for decades. What could
be more enthralling than a luxury river trip
on the Orient Express’ Road to Mandalay
or ballooning over the thousands of ancient
pagodas in Bagan? It is a blessing for visitors
and locals alike that the country’s tourism
revival is now assured. Europeans, once
discouraged from travelling to sample its
29
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delights, are now flocking to soak up the
phenomenal cultural heritage and genuine
cordiality that has been preserved by the
nation’s seclusion. “Myanmar is one of the
largest countries in Southeast Asia and has a
wealth of diverse tourism offerings,” explains
Htay Aung, “We have many historical
monuments - from 1,000-year old temples to
splendid colonial buildings. We have beautiful
unspoilt beaches, picturesque lakes and snowcapped mountains. The different hill tribes
in the north represent a myriad of cultures.
Actually we have over 100 national races - all of
whom are very colourful, hospitable, warm and
welcoming.”
Myanmar, although admittedly starting from a
low base, is hotly tipped to be one of the world’s
fastest growing destinations. “Tourist numbers
grew 30% in 2011 to nearly 400,000, while in
2012 they exceeded the 1m mark.” There has
been a significant rise in all segments - business
and MICE, package tourism and independent
travel,” emphasises Htay Aung. In fact, from
2008-2011 tourism income virtually doubled
from $165m to $319m. The same period showed
a 100% jump in arrivals and average visitor
expenditure per day also increased from $95
to $120 - pointing to a lucrative investment
sector for international hospitality entities. In
order to inform and facilitate this, the Ministry
and the Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF)
teamed up with Sphere Conferences to launch
their inaugural 3-day Myanmar Hospitality
and Tourism Conference in February 2013. The
objective is to address many important topics
including demonstrating how an investment
friendly climate is being created and how
foreign players can partner with locals. As MTF’s
Chairman, Yan Win explains, “Our aim is not
only to boost the tourism sector but to take
the country’s tourism development to a whole
new level.” The nation certainly has a golden
opportunity to learn from the successes and
failures of its neighbours in order to nurture a
brand of tourism that is both inclusive and not
exploitative.
Not content with burgeoning statistics, the
government is also committed to systematic
expansion. “We are in the age of infancy in terms
of development but the discovery stage has
taken place. Now the growth stage is underway.
Of course, stagnancy is a risk so sustainability
is key to our success. We need to develop our
infrastructure, ICT capacity and tourism facilities
in order to meet the needs and expectations of
increased visitor numbers,” explains the Minister.
Also crucial will be the uptake of a newly
implemented Bachelor degree in Tourism which,
in hand with the current hospitality and tourism
training institutions, will equip the sector with
qualified staff. However, further investment in
hospitality and tourism management schools and
vocational centres is being strongly invited so that
Call to Capitalise on Culture
R
ecognising the true value
of heritage and the
lineage of a nation - from
the customs of its people,
traditions, culinary delights,
dance, music, arts, archaeology
and architecture - is often lost in
the fervour to embrace modernity.
As Myanmar emerges and
assimilates with the international
community, it is at a crucial
juncture in its history. Preserving
its incredibly rich tapestry of
cultural threads as well as its
deeply intrinsic, intangible yet
authentic energy will be vital.
So too will the nation’s ability to
prioritise protecting its tangible
assets; from pristine beaches
30
along its 3,000km-stretch of
coastline andtraditional hilltop
villages, to ancient Buddhist
temples in theirthousands and
the grandeurof British colonial
buildings.
Caught in something of a
time-trap, Myanmar has been
mercifully spared the kind of
rampant urban development
and modernisation to which
most Asian nations have
succumbed. This leaves it in the
enviable position of being able
to capitalise on its heritage.
Striking a balance is difficult
but as Minister of Culture Aye
MyintKyu explicates, “We need
to open the country to the rest of
the world in order to offer better
socio-economic conditions to our
people and improve their quality
of life. Tourism - especially
cultural tourism - can have a
positive impact on our society
and the economy as a whole but
it is important that we remain
authentic.”
2
tou r
ism
segments. Among them
there are epitomes of
colonial elegance, brimming
2: Tattooing ceremony
with local teak like The
(Chin State)
Strand and The Governor’s
3: Traditional dance
Residence. In top tourism
(Shan State)
spots such as Bagan and
Inle Lake there is more
emphasis on indigenous style hotels and these
are equally charming. However, maintaining
standards, upgrading current structures and
encouraging investors to participate in growing
the sector is proving vital. “In June 2012 we
became a fully-fledged member of the World
Tourism Organisation but we realise we must do
more to improve our image,” Htay Aung humbly
states, “We need a star quality rating of the hotels
and hospitality services that will be recognised
throughout the ASEAN as we become a seamless
region in 2015.”
Photo captions
1: Dat Taw Gyaing cave
(Mandalay)
1
major tourist hotspots have on-site training for
human resource development.
Aside from an on target annual influx in excess of
1m tourists, Myanmar will also play host to major
international events such as the World Economic
Forum East Asia and the Southeast Asian Games
in 2013, the Chairmanship of the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014 and
the ASEAN Tourism Fair in 2015. As even present
demand outstrips supply, travellers would be
wise to book in advance, not least because there
is something overwhelmingly delightful about
savouring Myanmar before the hordes arrive.
Certainly as visitor interest increases so too does
the need to augment the room inventory. The
high cost of land should not put off hoteliers
keen to enter what many perceive to be a market
exploding with opportunities. Existing hotels,
particularly in Yangon, are reporting vastly
improved occupancy rates with a surge in all
Thankfully culture is gaining
recognition in Asia as a critical
benefit in the advantage of
soft power and the attainment
of reputation globally. That
said sourcing the funding and
technical expertise locally- for
the maintenance and restoration
of Myanmar’s many treasures will be a challenge. This is why
the government is inviting foreign
partners to participate in the
process. It is already experiencing
significant international interest
in the renovation of fabulous,
yet dilapidated,colonial buildings
in Yangon but so much more
assistance is required to reclaim
Myanmar’s former glory.
As the nation works towards all these goals there
is one great certainty; if Myanmar can capitalise
on the genuineness of its people, its alluring sites
and the immensely rewarding experience visiting
the country offers, it can become a shining
example to the rest of the world. And it will gain
a solid standing as a truly authentic destination
where, as the Minister quotes from Shakespeare’s
The Merchant of Venice, “All that glitters is not
gold…but Myanmar is!”
3
To discover how you can be a protagonist in this exciting new chapter
of Myanmar’s story please contact the Ministry of Culture on
+95 67 408032 or [email protected]
31
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flashback
F
amous female aviator
Amelia Earhart passed
through Myanmar (then
Burma) in 1937 on her illfated, 29,000-mile roundthe-world flight less than
three weeks before she,
her navigator and aircraft disappeared
forever. Ms Earhart spent just a couple
of days in the country, flying from
Calcutta (Kolkata) in India to Akyab
(Sittwe) on June 18.
“Amelia Earhart started another leg
of her round-the-world flight today
after arriving from Calcutta, but
bad weather forced her to return to
Akyab,” the Rangoon Times newspaper
reported.
previous day. Then we had tried
unsuccessfully to sneak underneath the
monsoon. Those tactics again failing,
this time we pulled up to 8,000 feet to
be sure of missing the mountain ridges,
and barged through. After 2 hours of
flying blind in soupy atmosphere we
let down and the bright green plains
beside the Irrawaddy River smiled up
at us. Then we dodged about for 50
miles,” Ms Earhart wrote in her notes.
She first landed her
twin-motored monoplane at
12:34pm after a 400-mile flight
across the Bay of Bengal, and
took off immediately in an
effort to reach Bangkok, Siam
The Rangoon
Times wrote:
“Amelia Earhart
reached Yangon
today after a 300mile flight from
Amelia Earhart and
her short stay
in Myanmar
Amelia Earhart exiting her plane through the cockpit
hatch upon her arrival, Rangoon, Burma, ca. 1937
By Simon Whiting
“She first landed her twin-motored
monoplane at 12:34pm after a 400-mile
flight across the Bay of Bengal, and
took off immediately in an effort to
reach Bangkok, Siam. She was back in
Akyab within 2hours. The flyer said
she expects to start again for Bangkok
early Saturday if the weather is
favourable,” the paper wrote.
The following day Ms Earhart
departed Akyab, attempting to reach
Siam (Bangkok) but actually finishing
in Rangoon (Yangon).
32
“The next day, June 19, we started
again from Akyab, with the hope of
getting through to Bangkok, Siam,
monsoons permitting. But they did not
permit, so the flight ended at Rangoon,
only 400 miles away. This short hop
produced even worse weather than
that which turned us back on the
Large guardian Chinthe statues loom over a person in a cart pulled by
oxen, Rangoon, Burma, ca. 1930s
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
loaded, custom-built Lockheed Model
10E Electra at midnight. The intended
destination was Howland Island, a flat
sliver of land more than 2,550 miles
away.
They never made it, and the
disappearance has become legend. The
last confirmed position of the pair was
a report the Nukumanu Islands, about
800 miles into the flight.
However, the United States Coast
Guard cutter Itasca was on station at
Howland, having been assigned to
communicate with Earhart's Lockheed
Electra 10E and guide them to the
island once they arrived in the vicinity.
Ms Amelia Earhart
Akyab on her leisurely globe-circling
journey. She landed her monoplane at
6:35am Greenwich time after a trip of
2 hours 53 minutes. Her next
destination was Bangkok, Siam, 400
miles southeast of Rangoon,” the
newspaper reported.
The first sight at Rangoon
was the sun touching the
Shwe Dagon Pagoda. This
great structure stands on a
considerable prominence and
could be seen for miles while
the city was still but a shadow
on the horizon, its covering of
pure gold a burnished beacon
for wayfarers of the air”
And although Ms Earhart was only in
the city for a day, she still had time to
record her impressions of the country’s
best-known attraction.
“The first sight at Rangoon was the
sun touching the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.
This great structure stands on a
considerable prominence and could
be seen for miles while the city was
still but a shadow on the horizon, its
covering of pure gold a burnished
beacon for wayfarers of the air,” she
wrote in her notes.
“Shortly after our landing, rain poured
down so heavily that it was hazardous
to take off for Bangkok, so we decided
to stay where we were for a time at
least.”
At midnight on July 2, Ms Earhart and
copilot Fred Noonan took off from Lae,
in Papua New Guinea in their heavily
Amelia Earhart conversing with the editor of the Rangoon Times,
Rangoon, Burma, ca. 1937
33
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Some 8 hours into the flight Ms Earhart
radioed Lae for the last time. And at
19:30, Itasca received the following:
“KHAQQ [the call sign for Earhart's
Lockheed Electra 10E] calling Itasca.
We must be on you but cannot see you
... gas is running low..."
An hour later, the last confirmed
message from Earhart came in: "We
are in a line position of 157- 337. Will
The US Navy soon joined the search
and spent three days hunting for clues
of the plane and Earhart in the vicinity
of Howland Island to no avail.
On July 6, the captain of the US
battleship Colorado received orders
from the Commandant, Fourteenth
Naval District to take over all naval
Myanmar airport ground crew preparing for Amelia Earhart’s
arrival, Rangoon, Burma, ca. 1937
India Meteorological Department weather forecast for
Allahabad to Rangoon, June 17, 1937
A week after the
disappearance, naval aircraft
from the Colorado flew over
several islands in the group
including Gardner Island,
which had reportedly been
uninhabited for more 40 years
report on 6,210 kilocycles. Wait, listen on 6,210
kilocycles. We are running North and South."
From about 1 hour after Earhart's last recorded
message, the Itasca commenced a search for the
plane, beginning with areas north and west of
Howland Island and based on initial assumptions
about transmissions from the aircraft.
Factual Information Sheets (supply of gasoline, oil changes,
arrival and departure times, and statistics and facts) on airports
and air strips at the following landing sites, n.d. - Rangoon
and coastguard units to coordinate
search efforts, and later directed search
efforts at the Phoenix Islands south of
Howland Island.
A week after the disappearance, naval
aircraft from the Colorado flew over
several islands in the group including
Gardner Island, which had reportedly
been uninhabited for more 40 years.
The crew reported that there had been
signs of “recent habitation” at the
island but no response from anybody
living at the site could be elicited, and
the plane returned to the Colorado.
The official search efforts lasted until
July 19 and cost the US government
about US$4 million, making it the most
expensive and intensive in US history
to that point.
34
The Electra undergoing refueling, Rangoon, Burma, ca. 1937
35
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R E S T A U R A N T
I
n his classic, elegant essay
on aesthetics titled “In Praise
of Shadows”, well-known
Japanese author Junichiro
Tanizaki wrote: “It has been
said of Japanese food that it is
a cuisine to be looked at rather
than eaten. I would go further and say
that it is to be meditated upon …”
The excellent presentation begins
with the restaurant’s tastefully
minimalist exterior, which boasts
a simple design that gives a strong
impression of cleanliness. This effect
is carried through to the interior:
spotless hardwood floors, tasteful and
comfortable tables and chairs, and
atmospheric lighting diffused through
paper lanterns.
The main dining room is big but the
tables are separated by room dividers
decorated with traditional handmade
Well-prepared Japanese food certainly
is pleasing to contemplate at length,
but I would amend Tanizaki’s maxim
further to say that it is a cuisine to be
looked at, meditated upon and eaten.
Of course Tanizaki was not actually
suggesting that we avoid consuming
Japanese food, but he did intend
to emphasise the fact that Japanese
chefs and restaurateurs tend to put
a premium on the way in which the
cuisine is presented, visually and
aesthetically.
A great place to see this proclivity
put into action is Ajishin restaurant in
Yangon, one of the city’s finest choices
for top-end Japanese cuisine. Opened
in 2011, it is located on a quiet lane
behind Sedona Hotel.
Japanese food
in Yangon
By Douglas Long
Ajishin
Japanese Restaurant
18 B, Thukhawadi Lane
Yankin township, Yangon
Tel (95-1) 562-701, 293-640
[email protected]
36
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
paper, providing a degree of privacy
for guests. There are also 3 private
rooms available: 2 with Japanese-style,
floor-level seating (each with a seating
capacity of 8), and 1 with a Westernstyle table and chairs (with a seating
capacity of 6).
The harmonious atmosphere will
only serve to whet the appetite of the
guests, and there is plenty of reason
to indulge. Japanese food is not only
delicious, but also widely known for its
health benefits. For example sashimi,
A warm welcome awaits
The restaurant has a
tastefully minimalist exterior...
this effect is carried through to
the interior: spotless hardwood
floors, tasteful and comfortable
tables and chairs, and
atmospheric lighting diffused
through paper lanterns
or thinly sliced raw fish, is loaded with
protein, omega-3 fats, selenium, niacin,
vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorous,
magnesium, and various other useful
minerals and nutrients. Each bite
seems to add months, if not years, to
your life.
Ajishin's Exterior
The menu at Ajishin features a wide
array of fresh, expertly prepared
Japanese food, including appetisers,
salads, yakiniku, sashimi, sushi and
noodles. Favourites from the sashimi
menu include buri (adult yellowtail;
US$23) and the 3-item sashimi set
($23), which included maguroakami
(top loin of blue fin tuna), tako
(octopus) and
salmon. To
sample a nice
variety of sushi,
the sakura set
($18) is the ideal
choice.
For those who
believe that
no Japanese
meal would be
complete without 37
www.airmandalay.com
sake – warm or cold, according to one’s
taste – Ajishin is ready to help you
indulge with a wide range of rice wine
choices. Those who prefer cocktails,
wine or beer also have plenty from
which to choose.
The harmonious
atmosphere will only serve to
whet the appetite of the guests,
and there is plenty of reason to
indulge
The main dining room
A big part of Ajishin restaurant’s
appeal is the impeccable service. There
is always a well-trained member of
the waiting staff standing by, ready to
offer help when needed. The menus
are promptly delivered to the table, the
soy sauce bowls are quickly filled and
generous helpings of wasabi come with
the appropriate food orders.
This is all part of the Ajishin
experience: cuisine that is nice to look
at and meditate upon, but even nicer
to eat, delivered to your table with
professionalism and a smile.
38
39
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a r chitectu r e
A block
north of the
Secretariat is St
Mary's Cathedral,
which occupies
the corner of Bo
Aung Kyaw and
Bogyoke Aung
San roads and
which celebrated
its centenary in
2011
Y
angon, Myanmar’s last capital before the State
Peace and Development Council built Nay
Pyi Taw as the administrative capital, was
established by King Alaung Phaya in about
1755. The king was the founder of Myanmar’s
last dynasty before the British colonised the
country in 1885.
The crowded city that tourists find today was, under British
rule (when it was known as Rangoon) a planned habitation
famous throughout the region as a garden city in the early 20th
century.
Victorian-style buildings lined the city's streets, which were
designed with a chessboard plan by the British, and many
have survived the ravages of time and retained their glory.
Colonial architecture is visible in large numbers of religious
buildings, administrative offices, cinemas and residential
properties in Yangon, especially close to the downtown area,
which was the heart of British Rangoon.
the
wonder
Aarchitectural
of yangon
By Aye Sapay Phyu
40
Indian House
Synagogue
41
www.airmandalay.com
42
Pegu Club
The British showed its power,
then known as the empire
on which the sun never set,
through the grand architecture
on display at its administrative
offices that far outweighed
the needs of the buildings.
Evidence of this can be seen
today at the Secretariat,
between Anawrahta and
Mahabandoola streets, and at
the High Court on Pansodan
Street.
Old Pegu Club
The Pegu Club building at the
corner of Sagawar Lane and Pyay Road
(in a compound behind the bus stop)
was a gentlemen's club under British
reign and only Europeans were allowed
to join
The earliest administrative
offices in Yangon included
the Secretariat (also called
the Ministers' Office after
independence) and the
circular Insein prison in Insein
township.
Work on the Secretariat’s
southern section, which
faces Mahabandoola Street,
43
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began in 1889 and finished
in 1892. However, the whole
U-shaped construction in the
16-acre compound was only
finished in 1905. It served
as the administration centre
of colonised Burma until
1948, when Myanmar got its
independence.
The importance of the
Secretariat to Myanmar’s
history extends far beyond
its role as the centre of British
power: Independence leader
Bogyoke Aung San and eight
patriots were assassinated in
the building on July 19, 1947.
It was also the place where the
British announced Burma's
independence and reset the
national flag on January 4,1948.
The first parliament called
after independence was also
convened at the building.
Secretariat
44
Nearby is St Paul’s English
High School, on Anawrahta
Road in Botahtaung township,
which has become No 6 Basic
Education High school. Its
architecture pays respect to the
Secretariat at the opposite side
of the road.
A block north of the Secretariat
is St Mary's Cathedral, which
occupies the corner of Bo Aung
Kyaw and Bogyoke Aung
San roads and celebrated its
centenary in 2011.
The cathedral, built with
a glorious twin-bell tower
design, was penned by a Dutch
architect. It was damaged
during Cyclone Nargis in
2008 but swiftly repaired by
well-wishers. Every afternoon
at about 4:30 its bells toll out
across the city.
Another attraction of the city is
the Anglican Cathedral of Holy
Trinity at the corner of Bogyoke
Aung San and Shwdagon
Pagoda roads. B R Pearn wrote
in the History of Rangoon,
published by American Baptist
Mission Press in 1939, that the
building was brought into use
on November 18 in 1894. The
building’s architect was a Mr
Hoyne-Fox.
Secretariat
45
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The cathedral features a
unique design of a bell tower
with five spires acting as the
main structure of the church.
Sadly, although the red brick
and yellow ochre ornamented
colonial buildings in the
downtown area are appreciated
for their art and grand designs
by most people, some buildings
with important historical value
were neglected for decades and
silently decayed in the tropical
climate.
Thousands of passengers
board or disembark buses at
a bus stop that stands outside
the Pegu Club on Pyay Road
in Dagon township but know
nothing of the history behind
the building that gives its name
to the bus stop.
The Pegu Club building at the
corner of Sagawar Lane and
Pyay Road (in a compound
Armenian Church
A voucher from Rowe & Co
department store from 1957.
The company was opened
in the building at No. 416,
Mahabandoola Road in
1910. It is one of Yangon City
Development Committee's
protected buildings.
46
A De Souza medical company
advertisement showing
its building as seen in The
Guardian Magazine in 1961.
The building is still located at
No.465-469 Mahabandoola
Road in Pabedan Township.
a r chit E ctu r e
Armenian Church
behind the bus stop) was a
gentlemen's club under British
reign and only Europeans
were allowed to join. A weekly
gathering, which became
known as the Friday Club,
was regarded as the unofficial
government house because
British administrators gathered
there to share their opinions on
the country's affairs.
English Nobel laureate Rudyard
Kipling (1865-1936) wrote of the
Pegu Club in his travel letters
From Sea to Sea that “The Pegu
Club seemed to be full of men
on their way up or down, and
the conversation was but an
echo of the murmur of conquest
far away to the north.”
Tanglin Club in Singapore and
the Royal Selangor Club in
Malaysia. But the Pegu Club’s
golden age did not return after
independence, and while some
of the club’s cocktails can be
ordered in bars around the
world you cannot buy them at
the club in Yangon.
The early days of the Pegu
Club are as famous as the
Architects admire the Pegu
Club for its extensive use of
An advertisement for Ideal
Nursing Home and Ideal
Trading House Co Ltd at
No. 608, Merchant Street.
The extension at the top of
the building was not included
in the original design of the
building.
Thein Gyi Zay, block (A) was part
of United Traders
Corporation trademark from
1949. The building was replaced
with Thein Gyi Zay, block (C).
47
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teak in the two-storey building.
However, these days the club is
in urgent need of repair.
Luckily a few examples of
the city’s wooden colonial
buildings, such as the Museum
of Bogyoke Aung San in Bahan
township, the Governor's
Residence, Gallery 65 in Dagon
township and the House
of Memories restaurant in
Kamaryut Township have had
the necessary love and funding
lavished on them and stand in
good order.
During the colonial era,
foreigners from around the
world flocked to Yangon
and many brought unique
architectural ideas with them,
some of which have survived.
These include large parts of
Chinatown in Latha Township,
the Armenian Church at
the corner of Merchant and
Bo Aung Kyaw streets and
the Jewish Moseah Yeshau
An advertisement for Sein Brothers Rangoon store and Japanesemade ceramic plates bearing the logo of Sein Bros Rangoon.
The building on Pansodan Street is now used as an office by the
Internal Revenue Department.
48
(Photos and data were supplied by architect U Aung Soe Myint)
a r chit E ctu r e
Little Sister
Synagogue on 26th Street – all
of which exist as links back
to the city’s multicultural and
religiously diverse past.
But it is the British buildings
that dominate, especially
along Strand Road, where
the magnificent Strand Hotel,
General Post Office, Port
Authority, Customs House and
New Law Court compete for
space with newly built, garishly
coloured condominiums.
It was only in the late colonial
period that buildings became
less about style and more about
substance. Examples of these
include Yangon University,
where Bogyoke Aung San
and former United Nations
Secretary General U Thant
and many other patriots were
alumni. Another case in point is
the Judson Chapel in the main
campus of Yangon University,
which was established in 1920,
and honours the American
Baptist missionary who came to
Little Sister
During the
colonial era, foreigners
from around the world
flocked to Yangon and
many brought unique
architectural ideas with
them, some of which have
survived
Burma in the 19th century and
compiled the first BurmeseEnglish dictionary.
Another less grandiose colonial
building is Gandhi Hall at the
corner of Bo Aung Kyaw and
Merchant Streets, which has
not been used for 2 years and is
an example of kind of the late
colonial period which led to the
trend of minimalism.
On the other hand, City Hall,
which was opened in 1936, is
a unique mixture of European
structure and Myanmar
traditional decoration because
strong nationalism developed
in that period and anti-colonial
sentiment grew stronger.
Yangon City Development
Committee maintains a heritage
list of colonial buildings that
includes a total of 189 protected
sites but many others properties
have already been swept away
and redeveloped.
However, the Yangon Heritage
Trust, led by Thant Myint U,
the grandson of UN Secretary
General U Thant, is working
with the government and other
stakeholders to find ways to
restore as many of the city’s
heritage buildings and protect
them for future generations.
Historical information for many of
the buildings mentioned in this article
was supplied by architect U Aung Soe
Myint.
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c r eati v it y
I held an exhibition
called “Sketches
from the West” in 2010
and lately I have been
thinking of holding a
“Sketches from the East”
show. I found that the
buildings in the downtown
area are beautiful and so
I started drawing them.
I was then struck by the
idea that I should sketch
all the historic buildings
as they are so that they are
a record for the future. I
have drawn some, and will
continue with my work
Artist Nay Myo Say
Artist’s
work of creation
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Secretariat
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
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Aunty Suu's House
Lokanat Galleries
52
Port Authority and Yangon Division Court
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lifest y le
Traditional lifestyle of
Myanmar
Buddhists
By Mi Tut
Many Bamar people,
who are also called the
ahnyarthu / ahnyarthar,
are mostly clustered
in the central areas,
including Yangon,
Mandalay, Bago,
Sagaing and Magwe
regions
54
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
O
fficial statistics say there
are 135 ethnic groups
living within Myanmar’s
borders, with the Bamar
(or ethnically Burmese)
people accounting for
the majority. Many
Bamar people, who are also called
the ahnyarthu / ahnyarthar, are mostly
clustered in the central areas, including
Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Sagaing and
Magway regions. They are famous for
their work ethic and honesty, and have
a brown complexion that is the subject
of gentle teasing in folk songs. Many
still lead lives that compare with those
of previous generations.
For many traditional, rural Buddhists,
life begins and ends with a visit from a
Buddhist monk. When a baby is born,
the father runs to village monastery
and asks the head monk to provide
a name for the child and a prediction
for the child’s future. In city areas, it’s
common for Buddhist families to delay
naming children until the parents have
visited an astrologer.
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Monks teach students the
basics, including the alphabet,
reading and writing, math and
some Buddhist prayers
When children
reach 5 or 6 years
of age, parents
send them to
monasteries
to begin their
free education
– parents need to supply books and
pencils. Monks teach students the
basics, including the alphabet, reading
and writing, math and some Buddhist
prayers. But at the same time, children
are expected to help their parents at
home with chores and paid work.
56
Most people in the countryside make
their living through farming or by
collecting palm juice and making palm
sugar from toddy
sap. In villages,
people who own
farm land and or
plots thick with
toddy palms
are considered
wealthy, and
these landowners
hire other locals
to work the
land. Farming
landowners
are referred to as the taung-thu-gyi
and workers are called sa-yin-ngar,
while toddy palm plantation owners
are called hta-taw paing shin and the
workers are htan-thet-ta mar.
Workers’ children help their parents by
bringing lunch out into the fields and
searching for grass for cows to feed
on, as well as assisting to harvest rice
paddy and other crops when required.
Myanmar is a highly fertile land and
farmers grow mainly rice, but also
peanut, sesame, cotton and assorted
fruits and vegetables. Children of
htan-tet-ta-mar also collect the pots
filled with toddy sap (htan-yei) that
their fathers or older relatives have
A family shares a meal the traditional way
lifest y le
left at the bases of trees that have
been tapped. The children then bring
the pots back to their mothers, who
empty the toddy juice into a huge pan
and cook it over a fire. The sap is then
pushed out into a flat circular shape
and allowed to cool in the air, after
which it is ready to eat.
In many traditional farming villages,
the main roads become playgrounds
for children, who entertain themselves
with simple games of htote-see-toe (an
outdoor game played between
2 teams of girls, with 1 team defending
a marked-off area while the other
tries to pass through it without being
tagged) and shwe-sun-nyo (a game of
tag where 1 player tries to catch the
player at the far end of a long line).
By about 7 years of age, Buddhist
children have traditionally undergone
one of two major ceremonies: boys
join the monkhood for at least a week
(and sometimes much longer), while
girls will have their ears pierced. The
day for the celebration is chosen in
consultation with the head monk.
Rich parents hold their own
celebrations, while less wealthy
families hold group events to share
costs. Children of poor families and
orphans are also invited to take part in
such events, which brings merit to the
hosts.
The games need almost no props,
except for chalk, and include plenty of
physical activity, meaning the children
live highly active lives compared with
those living in the cities.
Most people in the
At 10 or 11 years
countryside make their
of age children
living through farming or
living in rural
by collecting palm juice and
towns are faced
with the choice
making palm sugar from toddy
of continuing
sap
their education or
leaving school to
help their parents. By that age the basic
education available at monastic schools
has finished, and children who wish
to continue studying have little choice
but to travel to larger villages or towns,
which can be a big expense for poor
families.
Rural life can be tough – and many
people work year-round, taking only
a short break for Thingyan (Myanmar
New Year or water festival) in midApril or if a pagoda festival is held
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nearby. During festivals, everybody
takes a holiday and enjoys the event,
although everybody works extra hard
in the weeks beforehand. Each festival
has its own unique customs, particular
snacks and local foods, which are
shared with visitors. Households
prepare snacks about a week before the
festival begins using palm sugar, rice
powder, peanut, oil, sesame seed and
other foodstuffs.
Boys join the monkhood
for at least a week (and
sometimes much longer), while
girls will have their ears pierced
58
They pound
all the main
ingredients using
amaung (a simple
pestle and mortar
contraption used
for polishing
rice and making
powder).
Popular snacks
include fried
pancakes and
fried vegetables
with rice powder.
Even the poorest
households
prepare what
they can to
welcome visitors,
A special procession to the monastery to make donations
lifest y le
Yangon where the strong influence
of Western culture is evident on
the streets in what people wear. In
many towns it’s uncommon to see
adults wearing anything other than
traditional attire – blouses and longyis
(long sarong-style wraparound
dresses) for women, and longyis and
shirts for men. However, during
festivals, young people take the
opportunity to don jeans, brightly
coloured t-shirts and jackets while they
hang out with friends.
Buddhism plays a huge role in
traditional villages – and people
visit local pagodas or monasteries on
waxing and waning days of the moon
to pray. Head monks also provide
guidance to villagers on day-to-day
matters and are sometimes called on to
resolve conflicts.
And when a villager is dying, family
members ask monks to come and pray
for the person in order to earn merit
and enjoy a good life in their next
incarnation.
A villager prepares feed for the livestock
even if it is just fried peanut,
pickled tea leaf salad or green
tea.
Most traditional festivals are
held over two or three days
and include live performances
and puppet shows, as well as
stalls selling a huge variety
of consumer goods as well as
clothing and toys which are
always popular.
Wealthy rural villages hire
professional performers to
entertain at the festivals, while
less wealthy villages hire a
trainer in the weeks before the
event to teach them how to act
on stage – and then perform the
plays themselves. Interestingly,
the actors who wish to take part
are expected to provide funding for the
show, with lead actors required to pay
the most.
Fashion in rural villages is a huge
change from the cities, especially
Most traditional festivals
are held over two or three days
and include live performances
and puppet shows
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w il d life
Escaping into the
The entrance to Sane Le Tin
(Sane Let Tin)
By Maw Maw San
Sane Let
Tin, which opened
its doors and 22acre compound to
visitors in 2000, is
famously a great
place to unwind
60
F
orest covered green
mountain, emerald paddy
fields and acre after acre
of rubber plantation flash
past the window as you
cross into Mon State.
The air is clean and free
of Yangon’s smog, with only a hint of
wood smoke drifting on the breeze.
My husband, 3-year-old daughter and
myself are just doing the 2-hour drive
from our home in Yangon to Sane Let
Tin resort, to give ourselves a break
from city life and relax.
We visit the restaurant to
try the jungle chicken curry
with rice – a specialty in the
area, with servings of fresh
fruit and a vegetable salad.
Hotel swimming pool
After driving 104 miles, we see a
signboard for Sane Let Tin on the left
side of the road and take the turn. Inside
we find a line of 1-storey buildings, with
a large parking lot at the far left and a
zoo and garden to the right. A restaurant
and lounge sit in the middle. Sane Let
Tin, which opened its doors and 22acre compound to visitors in 2000, is
famously a great place to unwind.
Our first stop after the drive is the
restaurant, where we stop to buy some
fruit juice to quench our thirst. The fruit
that goes into the juices comes directly
from Sane Let Tin’s orchards, and the
menu says that no chemicals are used in
the growing process.
Coconut orchard
62
A walkway in the middle of the
restaurant leads directly into the zoo
and plantation, and it quickly proves
impossible to stop our daughter from
running in to have a look. The entrance
fee of 500 kyats buys visitors a chance to
enjoy a little wonderland. Inside there
are many rare and beautiful animals,
including leopards, otters, hornbills,
chameleons and ostriches, which are
kept in separate huts, while swans
occupy a nearby lake. The zoo also
includes a playground and rest area.
After a tour of the zoo, our hungry
stomachs remind us that we have not
eaten since we left home, and we visit the
restaurant to try the jungle chicken curry
with rice – a specialty in the area, with
a vegetable salad and servings of fresh
fruit.
Families can easily sit down under a
shady tree and enjoy the serenity, while
the children play, although the horse cart
proves too strong an attraction for our
daughter, who resists my attempts to
drag her away.
Finally I give up and leave my capable
husband in charge, while I enter the
orchard and plantation. The long
entrance is covered by a huge vine that
has large gourds dangling here and
there. It’s beautiful to see so many fruit
trees in one location, including coconut,
jackfruit and mangoes. Many of the trees
are so low to the ground that even small
children can reach up and pluck the
fruit – and there are so many varieties on
show that there is always something in
season.
I’m so inspired by the greenery that I
w il d life
Staff from the restaurant
decide to try to grow my own plantation
– starting with a jasmine plant, which
I buy from the nursery for 3,500 kyats,
less than US$5. By now my daughter has
caught up with me and has fallen in love
with the flower pots so she asks me to
buy one of everything.
Sane Let Tin Resort
With only a small verandah available
at our house I’m unable to fulfill her
request but I’m glad that she asked and
clearly has a new interest in nature.
After a rest we make our way to the
elephant hut and find 2 females. It’s
time for the elephants to take a rest, so
my daughter misses the chance to take
a ride but she is thrilled to see the giant
animals happy.
We are told that Sane Let Tin also has
a lake filled with fish that is fed by a
small stream, but unfortunately for my
husband, a keen fisherman, it’s closed
because there is construction going on
nearby.
After an enjoyable day at Sane Let Tin,
we drive a further 15 miles to Kyaihtiyo,
the Golden Rock, where we spend 1
night taking in one of the country’s
best-known tourist destinations. But as
we drive past Sane Let Tin the following
day on our way home I can’t help but
feel that most tourists have no idea
what they’re missing when they motor
straight to the Golden Rock – and ignore
the quaint resort on the way.
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shoppi n g
Shopaholic
By James Htike
The hot months of summer have
arrived in Myanmar and shopaholic is
looking for a new wardrobe of 100% cotton
clothes to combat the high temperatures
and cloying humidity. Luckily there
are many fine places in Yangon to buy
fashionable cotton clothes with styling
that represents the country’s diverse ethnic
groups. The styles are not only unique
but cheap too, and are sure to leave a
lasting memory of a trip to the Golden
Land. Prices start from 10,000 kyats (about
US$13) a piece but rise depending on the
design and quality of the fabric used. The
following shops are a good start if you
want to find wonderful, clothes made in
Myanmar to wear during your holiday
and take home as a reminder of the
country or to give as gifts for friends or
family.
Yoeyoelay
Yoeyoelay is found
within Bogyoke Market,
and stocks designs and
fabrics sourced from
Chin and Kachin states.
The shop itself is within
the main hall inside
the market and is fairly
easy to find. Yoeyoelay
stocks designs and styes
from Chin State (like
Yoemarmay below) but
the shops use different designers and groups, so the styles on show within
them are different, although somewtimes only very subtly. The main colours
used by Chin weavers, for instance, are black, brown and red, which are
chosen because the dyes are easily accessed.
Location: Room 129, Central Hall, Bogyoke Aung San market
Yoeyarmay
64
Yoeyarmay specialises in clothing that uses designs and fabric sourced
from Chin State – one of the more challenging of Myanmar’s potential
destinations. The fabric used in the shop is woven by Chin women using
traditional looms and designs. The designs are mostly based on horizontal
lines, different colours interwoven. The items of clothing are also highly
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
durable and long wearing. Yoeyarmay also sells uncut fabric
and shawls alongside its clothing range.
The shop is located in Yangon’s Bogyoke Market, which is
also sometimes called Scott's Market.
Location:
Room 72, Shed and Foodstall, Bogyoke Aung San market
Shayi Fashion
Yoeyarmay
specialises
in clothing
that uses
designs and
fabric sourced
from Chin
State – one
of the more
challenging
of Myanmar’s
potential
destinations
Shayi Fashion is owned and managed
by a famous female Kachin designer,
Sann Bawk Rar. Shayi’s unique fabric
is created by highly skilled hand
weavers and naturally dyed. The fabric
is regularly blended with considerable
skill with polyester and other materials
to create sophisticated modern outfits.
Here female blouses of all styles,
trousers, colourful dresses and skirts
are available.
Shayi was established in 2005 and
offers brilliant designs at reasonable
mid-range prices.
Location: No 45/B, New Yae Tar Shae
Street, Bahan township.
Kachin Traditional Shop
As the name suggests, the Kachin Traditional Shop
showcases a range of Kachin-styled clothes using
traditionally weaved fabric. The styles are creative and
simple – with different coloured horizontal and vertical lines
to catch the eye. The shop also has a hand loom called a
“Jakhode” for visitors to inspect. Here, blouses in traditional
styles and uncut fabrics are also available.
Location: Room 13, New East Shed A, Bogyoke Aung San Market
65
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Sand, sea and much more...
By Maw Maw San
E
ach year Mandalay's Air Mandalay sends its team to fun
destinations to refresh their minds and bodies. This leads to
better understanding and cooperation among staff, and we find
that people come back from trips looking fresh and being more
active and enthusiastic in dealing with customers. This year the
team went to Ngapali beach for some relaxation.
66
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Activities available at
Ngapali beach
Playing beach volleyball
Camp fires on the beach; playing guitar Singing songs
Snorkelling
Kayaking
Scuba diving Fishing
Sailing
Flying kites
68
photoessa y
love of
Nature
“What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare”
These are my favourite lines from “Leisure” - a
poem written by William Henry Davies.
Nowadays we busy ourselves with our daily
routines and do not even have time to notice
that nature is also around us.
To enjoy it we do not necessarily need to go to
wildlife parks, the countryside or the jungle. If
we just open our eyes we will realise that there
is much beauty to be savoured in the streets,
parks or gardens near our houses. We just need
to take a few moments to appreciate what is
going on around us.
By Sein Sein Gu
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1
Photo by :
Sein Sein Gu
2
70
Photo :
Sein Sein Gu
3
A sparrow trying with all his might to build a nest at Kandawgyi park in Yangon
Photos by: Sein Sein Gu
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can, Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this is if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
3
William Henry Davies (1871-1940)
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flash back
Festivals
between
February and July
By Maw Maw San
Htmane pwe (Glutinous rice) February
This festival is held on the full moon day of Tabodwe and
the days immediately before and after and is celebrated
nationwide. During this festival, people make glutinous
rice and then offer it first to Lord Buddha and monks before
sharing the rest with friends, family and poor people. In the
past, people held this festival to fight off the cool weather
because the process of making glutinous rice includes lots of
physical activity. The snack is mostly made by men, while
the women take care of the preparation.
In some locations, people hold htamane-making
competitions, with prizes awarded to the fastest and most
tasty glutinous rice makers. After the competition, the food
is distributed to visitors, who waddle away with full bellies.
In Yangon, a htamane pwe festival is held at Shwedagon
Pagoda every year.
Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Festival
(February)
Kyaik Khauk Pagoda in Yangon’s Thanlyin Township, about
45 minutes by bus from the city, is hosts a separate festival
every year at the same time in February as the htamane pwe
that draws visitors from near and far. The pagoda sits atop a
large hill and the festival takes place at the foot. During the
festival, the hill is populated by temporary sheds and stalls
selling festival goods. Nearby fields are packed with visitors
who come to watch traditional dancers and performers, zat
pwe in Myanmar.
Many famous traditional dancers and performers host
shows at the Kyaik Khauk festival and fight to attract
viewers with loud music and huge colourful posters. It is
a good chance for locals to see their favourite stars and the
shows go on for a good part of the night. There is also a
commercial element at play – and many young people take
the chance to splash money on their loved one.
74
Safety,
Reliability &
Comfort
Myanmar Water Festival (April)
This festival is also called Myanmar New Year and takes
place at the very hottest part of the year – mid-April. The
whole of Myanmar effectively shuts down as people of all
ages throw water over each other and enjoy a well-deserved
holiday.
The festival is a literal cleansing of the body and mind
and symbolises the washing away of all the mistakes and
wrongdoings in the previous year and starting the new
year with a fresh body and mind. During the festival, bad
language is strongly frowned upon because people believe
that the celestial king returns to earth and takes note of all
the bad deeds done by people. For Buddhists, it is also a
time merit making, where young people show their respect
for their elders by washing their heads, and cutting both
finger- and toenails. Older people visit monasteries to gain
merit by respecting the Sabbath. In most years the festival
is held over four days but in some years the festival is
extended to five days.
Kason Festival (May)
A month after Thingyan is another water-related event – the
Kason Festival, which is also known as Nyaung yay thune
pwe (pouring water at the banyan tree). The festival takes
place on the full moon day of Kasone and on that day people
of all ages go to pagodas in procession to pour water at the
root of the sacred Nyaung pin (bayan tree). The festival
means watering the bayan tree and keeping it alive since
Kason month (May) is the hottest month of the year. The
full moon day of Kason is a day of three-fold significance
to Buddhists: It’s the Day the Buddha was born, the day he
attained enlightenment and the day he died. People in the
whole country perform meritorious deeds and meditate
to attain enlightenment; keep Sabbath; visit pagodas and
monasteries; and give offerings to monks and nuns on that
day.
Nayon Festival
(June)
Tipitaka festival (Sarpyan pwe) is held within Nayon La (July) and it
is a nationwide Pariyatti Sasana examinations for Buddhist monks.
During this festival, monks of all ages sit for the different levels of
exams and the examinations date differ depending on each township
and city.
Waso Festival (July)
Full moon day of Waso is the Dhammasekya Day and it is held in memory
of when the Buddha gave his first sermon to five monks. It also marks the
beginning of the Buddhist Lent. During this festival people throughout
the country pick wild flowers to offer at pagodas, and offer new robes to
monks. On the event day, groups of women recite Buddha’s four noble
truths at pagodas, while others free fish and birds to gain merit.
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festi v al
Thingyan
By Simon Whiting
Mid-April is the setting for the nation’s best-loved and most famous festival –
Thingyan, or Myanmar New Year. It is held in what is almost always the hottest time
of year in Myanmar, regardless of where you are. Even the normally cool hills around
former British hill stations such as Pyin Oo Lwin (near Mandalay) and Kalaw in Shan
State bake in the intense summer heat, while people living in the major cities have
almost nowhere to hide from the repressive heat.
Nearly everybody is looking for places and ways to cool off, and the 4-5 day long
holiday provides the ideal answer – playing with water, which is why Thingyan is
also known as the “water festival”. In addition to its cooling benefits, the New Year
holiday offers everybody the opportunity to symbolically wash away any misdeeds
from the previous year and start the new year afresh.
At the core of Thingyan is a Buddhist interpretation of a slightly grisly Hindu myth
that explains the idea of a new year and involves a lost bet, a decapitation and the
need for a celestial princess to carry a head too hot to be safely contained on earth.
Thingyan, therefore, signifies the changing of hands of that head from one princess to
another. Myanmar parents also use a part of the story, that the celestial king returns to
earth during Thingyan to record in books the names of those performing good deeds,
as well as those doing wrong, to encourage their children to behave.
The holiday always begins on 13 April and continues until 16 April, which is when the
New Year is actually celebrated. The 4-day event also sees most of the country shut
down, with only essential services and tourism businesses still in operation.
For people who follow the traditional interpretation, Thingyan is a time to pay respects
to elderly members of their family and do things such as washing their feet or hair. Some
people also use the holiday as a convenient time to enter monasteries or religious
76
schools to meditate for days on end. But for everybody else, the festival is about
playing with water and having as much fun as possible.
Large wooden stages, called pandals, are set up around water sources in major cities
– Kandawgyi and Inya Lakes in Yangon and the moat around the palace in Mandalay
– that are equipped with water hoses, stages and sound systems. And within those
cities whole fleets of open-top jeeps and trucks are reconfigured to allow people to
travel around the city on the back of them.
The first day is festivities, 13 April, is generally known as “children’s day” and gives
the youngest members of society to play on the streets with water in relative safety.
The day can also be considered the lull before the storm. The following day the
aforementioned trucks and stages are put to use – giving people platforms to spray
water onto passersby and each other. People on the pandals also have the opportunity
to dance on the stages while music blasts from the speakers.
Many of the biggest pandals compete for the services of musicians and actors to
perform on their stages – and it is a very busy time of year for those artists. Pandals
are effectively busy ventures, where friends pool funds to buy a permit from
municipal authorities, commission carpenters to erect the wooden structure, hire
water pumps, hoses, speaker systems and entertainers. The owners sell tickets that
can cost up to US$60 for the 3 days to revellers in the hope that they will make a
profit. Marketing drives in the lead up to the event can be intense.
On the ground only monks and pregnant women are safe from the hoses, buckets
and water guns, and it is considered bad form to deny another reveller the chance to
pour water on whomever they choose. Traditionally, this has also been used by young
people as the ideal opportunity to show affection towards their sweetheart.
On the street there is almost no place to hide and sneaky children armed with water
pistols lie in wait just about everywhere. And while it is almost always good natured,
Whole fleets of
open-top jeeps
and trucks are
reconfigured to
allow people to
travel around the
city on the back
them
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some cunning individuals – usually those travelling on the back of trucks – have
stashed ice in their water tanks, giving those on the other end of the drenching a rude
surprise.
Following a fatal bombing in Yangon during Thingyan a handful of years ago, the
authorities have taken a much tougher stance on where pandals can be built. Before,
the most busy place in Yangon was Inya Road on the southern edge of Inya Lake,
where tens of thousands of revellers were crammed together as a line of trucks and
cars crawled down the road and a river of waste water ran along the gutter.
These days only a handful of large pandals can be built near Inya Lake on the eastern
and westerns sides, giving police a much easier task in controlling the traffic flow.
With so many people partying and so many vehicles on the road it’s a sad fact that
accidents do happen, with alcohol and excess speed regularly playing key roles in
collisions. Until the end of 16 April, there is almost no respite from the celebrations
during the daylight hours, although there is a small lull during middle of the day
as people eat some lunch and relax before a busy afternoon of partying. And with
so much fun to be had during the day, it’s no surprise that night-time activities are
generally muted.
After cramming so much fun into 3 days it is indeed fortunate that nearly all
businesses remain shut for a few more days to give people time to recover before they
return to work. Water festival is the ideal way for people to blow off steam and is a
unique, joyous celebration of the nation’s culture.
On the street
there is almost
no place to
hide and sneaky
children armed
with water
pistols lie in
wait just about
everywhere.
78
Pegu Club
Cocktail
Back when Britain had an empire, the
folks whose responsibility it was to run it weren't
known for their eagerness to mix with the folks they
were lording it over. From Trinidad to Tasmania,
Muthaiga (that's in Kenya) to Ootacamund (no,
that's not a typo), the traveling Brit could always
count on finding safe harbor at the Club, an island
of anxious, obsessive compatriots all devoted to
maintaining their peculiar, distant customs in a
sea of people behaving sensibly. Only the Club
members didn't quite see it that way: They were
normal; everybody else was somehow deviant.
Weird.
Among all these far-flung outposts, few
were farther flung than Rangoon's Pegu Club,
right there at the corner of Prome Road and
Newlyn Road, not half a mile from the Parade
Ground. That's where the 1920 edition of Murray's
Handbook to India, Ceylon and Burma puts it,
anyway (amazing what one finds lying around here
at the Esquire Institute for Advanced Research in
Mixology). Like all of its ilk, the Pegu Club had a
bar, and like all such bars, this one had its house
cocktail. Unlike the Muthaiga Country Club and
the Ootacamund Club, though, the Pegu Club
managed to insert its – a delightful and refreshing
combination of gin (naturally), lime juice, orange
curaçao, and a couple of other thises and thats – into
the annals of mixology. As master mixologist Harry
Craddock observed in 1930, the Pegu Club Cocktail
"has travelled, and is asked for, around the world."
We're not sure precisely when it was invented, but
it had to be before 1927, when it turns up in Harry
MacElhone's Barflies and Cocktails.
Epilogue: On March 7, 1942, a hundred
years almost to the day after they occupied it,
the British abandoned Rangoon in the face of the
rapidly advancing Japanese 33rd Infantry Division
(they would've held it, see, but curaçao stocks were
running dangerously low and the lime situation was
perilous...). The British came back in 1945, but the
Club was never the same.
Ingredients
Instructions
2
Shake well with cracked
ounces London dry gin
3/4 ounce orange curacao
ice, then strain into a chilled
3/4 ounce lime juice
cocktail glass. (You can
1
dash Angostura bitters
substitute Grand Marnier for
1
dash orange bitters
orange curaçao.)
Pegu Club Cocktail is available at Inya. 1 Restaurant in Yangon.
Destinations
YANGON
See and Do:
• Wander ar
ound
Shwedagon Pa
goda, the
99-metre-ta
ll (330 foot)
stupa that glo
w golden
at night
• Shop in Bo
gyoke Market,
the city's prem
ier outlet
for precious ge
m s an d
jewellery
The commercial centre of Myanmar,
Yangon still maintains its colonial
charm and features wide, tree-lined
avenues, tranquil lakes and gracious
turn-of-the-century architecture.
The magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda
dominates the city skyline, while at
street-level Yangon is a paradise for
those wanting to hunt out exotic arts
and crafts. Of particular interest are the
many shops in Bogyoke Market and
its many jewellery stores are famous
for their rubies, sapphires and jade. At
night, the Chinatown district comes
alive with its street bazaars and night
stalls selling snacks and fresh food.
MANDALAY
Immortalised by Rudyard Kipling,
Mandalay was established in 1857 in
accordance with an ancient Buddhist
prophecy. It was the final capital
of Myanmar’s Konbaung Dynasty
before the country was annexed by the
British. The city takes its name from
Mandalay Hill and is centred around
the walls and moat of the old palace,
which was destroyed in the fighting
of World War II but was rebuilt in the
1990s. Mandalay is considered a centre
of Buddhism in Myanmar and is also
home to many of the country’s craft
industries.
Do:
ill,
See and
dalay H
u p Ma n
• Walk
n 2000
a
th
e
or
where m
ud d h a
o the B
years ag
esied
h
p
ro
ly p
reputed
t of the
blishmen
the esta
ty
ci
moder n
ar wady
the Ayey
e
• Cross
n, hom
gu
in
M
River to
ed
h
is
n
nt unfi
to a gia
pagoda
NYAUNGOO (Bagan)
80
See and Do:
• Take a pony
cart around
the thousan ds
of ancient
temples that
dot the
Bagan plain
• Eat out on
"Restaurn at
Road", the cen
tre of
nightlife in th
e area
One of the most remarkable
archaeological sights in Asia – if not
the world – the magic of Bagan has
brought visitors to Myanmar for
nearly 1000 years. Once the centre of
a glorious kingdom, Bagan sits on a
dusty plain and thousands of ancient
temples dot the landscape as far as
the eye can see. Today, apart from
spectacular sunset views and serene
river cruises, Bagan is also the centre of
Myanmar’s lacquerware industry.
Destinations
INLE LAKE (Heho)
So near, yet so far. Inle Lake is just
a short flight from Yangon but it
feels worlds apart from the rest of
Myanmar. Located in the cool green
highlands of Shan State, it is an area
of incredible natural beauty and the
lake itself sits a pleasant 870 metres
(2900 feet) above sea level. It is famous
for the local Intha fishermen who row
their boats using their legs, as well
as the floating markets and prolific
birdlife. In this unique wetland
environment, whole villages sit on
floating islands perched above the
water. Colourful hill tribes inhabit
the surrounding fertile valleys and
forested mountain tops, and their
handwoven silks are aspeciality of the
region.
Do:
See and
oatin g
se the fl
u
er
P
•
hnic
where et
s,
et
k
mar
rful
u
lo
co
in
groups
ss sell
n al dre
traditio
local
fts
nd
handicra
ncient a
re the a
lo
xp
E
•
In dein
of
s
a
p
stu
cracked
Pagoda
NGAPALI BEACH (Thandwe)
See and Do:
• La ze on th
e beach, or sip
cocktails at yo
ur hotel
bar as the sun
sets over
the water
• Visit near
by fishin g
villages in th
e early
morning to see
locals
unload their
catch
Famous for its miles of picture-perfect
sandy beaches, brilliant turquoise
water and swaying coconut palms,
Ngapali is Myanmar’s premier beach
destination. Intimate resorts offer
visitors the chance to swim, sail,
kayak and feast on fresh seafood by
candlelight as the sun sinks lazily
into the Bay of Bengal. Ngapali is the
perfect place to unwind and savour
those few precious weeks in Myanmar.
MRAUK OO (Sittwe)
The Rakhine State capital Sittwe is the
gateway to the ancient city of Mrauk
Oo, the former centre of a flourishing
Rakhine empire. Mrauk Oo reached its
peak in the 15th century and today has
a completely different atmosphere to
Myanmar’s other ancient sites. It also
gets far less tourists and is often touted
as an interesting alternative to Bagan.
Be one of the first to discover these
ancient temples, which are accessible
from Sittwe by a picturesque boat ride
up the surging Kaladan River.
Do:
See and
taun g
ire Shit
• Adm
e n ame
os
h
w
Pagoda,
"Shrine
mean s
literally
images"
0
0
,0
0
of the 8
e
er up th
h
nue furt
• Conti
in
Ch
River to
Lemro
women
ome to
h
s,
ge
villa
faces
ttooed
with ta
81
www.airmandalay.com
Destinations
TACHILEIK
Do:
See and
rawlin g
in the sp
ct
• Shop
h attra
ic
h
w
s,
market
tors
si
vi
ai
h
ds of T
hun dre
each day
Known as the gateway to the Golden
Triangle, Tachileik was once notorious
for its proximity to the drug trade but
now is better known for its markets
and shopping. Situated across the river
from Mae Sai, Tachileik sees plenty
of Thai visitors looking to pick up a
bargain amongst the thousands of
stalls of Chinese-made goods. The city
is also close to the Mekong River and
the border with Laos.
MYEIK
Myeik (Mergui) is between the sea and
low hills with pagodas, monasteries
and government buildings. It is a busy
port town and a centre for the fishing,
pearl, rice, preserved and dried fish,
birds' nests and rubber industries.
There is a flourishing cultured pearl
industry but for centuries Myeik
natural pearls have been on par with
rubies in value and attraction, much
sought after by the Myanmar royalty
and the aristocracy. These natural
pearls were harvested by the Salon or
Moken people, who are sometimes
referred to as sea gypsies.
Do:
See and
isine,
e local cu
th
• Try
h
the fres
y
rl
la
par ticu
t wheat
or
sh
d
an
seafood
as
known
noddles
i kai
kat gy
rney
your jou
• Start
y Myeik
rb
ea
n
into the
unnin g
ogo, a st
Archipel
ral
ve
se
of
n
collectio
y
tl
red mos
h un d
n ds.
it ted isla
uninhab
DAWEI
82
See and Do:
• Make the
shor t journey
west to prist
ine
Maun gmakan
beach,
where few for
eig n
tourists vent
ure
• Wander th
e no-longer
sleepy streets
of the
Tanintharyi
Region
capital, which
is set to be
transforme
d in coming
year s by a ne
arby
Special Econom
ic Zone
Dawei, which the British called Tavoy, is
about 30 miles (48km) from the mouth of
the Dawei River on the coast of Tanintharyi
(Tenessarim) Division. It is one of the oldest
ports in Myanmar and was mentioned by the
merchant traveller Ralph Fitch, who in 1583
became the first Englishman to set foot on
Myanmar soil. Dawei is a prosperous town,
with many of the richest families owning
fleets of fishing vessels or rubber plantations.
As is usual with the typical and conservative
Myanmar use of wealth, it is not apparent
to the casual eye. It is a quiet, peaceful little
town, proud of its famous as "Moung Ma
Kan" beach.
Destinations
KAWTHAUNG
Kawthaung is included in Tanintharyi Division
in the southernmost part of the Union of
Myanmar. At the mouth of Parchan river there
is Kawthaung Cape (Formerly Victoria Point)
which is in the southern most part of Myanmar.
Half of the town is going up along the slope.
The town is an important border point with
products such as seafood, palm oil and rubber.
You can observe the state of King Bayintnaung
in Kawthaung which is a symbol of Myanmar
Patriotism. The world's largest pearl was
discovered in the Makha lank pearl oyster
exploration area in the north west of Zardatgyi
Island in Kawthaung Township. By visiting, the
Taninitharyi Division, you will be refresh yours
clear by breathing fresh sea breeze and observing
the scenario of the beautiful sunset and rocky sea
beaches.
Do:
See and
ty's
er the ci
d
n
a
• W
t
ter fron
a
w
g
bustlin
e
th
ss
ro
st ac
area, ju
from
er
iv
R
n
Pagya
nd
in T haila
Ranon g
or th
miles n
w
fe
a
• Head
llages,
vi
g
in
fish
to visit
an d
pagoda
a hilltop
aches
be
ed
op
un devel
83
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Offices
84
Route map
85
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Travel Tips
Declaration
As a traveller you are required to go through Customs
formalities and fill up the Passenger’s Declaration Form (P.D
form).
Misinformation or false
declarations may result in dalays and heavy penalties.
You may bring in as much
foreign currencies as you wish.
However forign currencies over
US$ 10, 000 or its equivalent
bringing in by a visitor (non-citizen) have to fill up the Foreign
Exchange Declaration Form
(FED Form).
Duty Free Allowances
* Presonal effects in actual use
by the passenger
* 400 sticks of cigarettes
* 2 liters of tobacco
* 250 gm of tobacco
* 100 sticks of cigars
- 0.5 liter of perfume
86
Import Prohibitions
For Traveler
* Counterfert coins and currencies
* Pornographic articles,
* All kinds of narcotic druge
and psychotropic substances
* Playing cards,
* Goods bearing the imprint
or reproduction of the flag of
the Union of Myanmar
* Goods bearing the Emblem
of Buddha or pagodas
of Myanmar
* Toy guns and remots controlled toys
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Telecommunication equipment including cellular telephones brought in by passenger
without permit, which are to be
declared in personal declaration
form for reshipment will be released at the time of departure.
All telecommun cation
equipment and restricted articles which are not intended for
use in the Union of Myanmar
are also subject to the above
mentioned Customs Control.
The Required Terms and
Conditions for VISA ON
ARRIVAL
The applicant shall
1. have a valid passport not expiring for at least 6 months
from the date of entry into
Myanmar.
2. bring two recent (4cm x 6cm)
color photos taken within
the past six months.
3. have the letter of invitation
from the sponsoring company in the event of first trip of
business study. (Stay cannot
be extended.)
4. be required to produce copies of company registration/
business license / evidence
of permission to do business issued by the ministries
concerned together with the
applicatin if he is working in
Myanmar.
5. full mention the name of the
factory, location, the sponsor
and the position he holds if
he is doing business with
business visa.
6. apply for extension of visa
with the recommendation of
the ministries concerned as
well as in accordance with
the existing procedures if he
is doing business with business visa.
7. produce letter of invitation
by the ministries concerned
if he is going to attend meetings, workshops, event and
ceremonies.
8. not be allowed to engage
in any sort of work with or
without charges apart from
the professions mentioned
in the visa application form.
Travel Tips:
Entry Formalities
9. produce air tacket to the destination if he is applying for
transit visa.
10.Stay at the hotels, motels
and guest houses holding
legal licenses issued by Myanmar Government, and factories and workshops legally
permitted as well as human
dwllings; and exactly mention
the address he will stay at.
11.make a promise to strictly
abide by the existing laws,
rules, procedures, orders
and directives issued by
Myanmar Govenment.
12.have under-seven-year-old
children accomanying parents in the passport granted
visa free of charge; be able
to produce the avidence of
parent-children relationship
if the children are holding
separate passport.
13.not be allowed to travel to
the restricted areas without
seeking prior permission.
14.report to the office of the
township Immigration and
National Registration Department concerned at with
he stays within Myanmar
mentioning the address of
hotels, motels, guest houses,
factories and workshops legally permitted as well as
human dwellings.
15.depart to the country which
he has travelled from by the
arrangement of the airline he
is using if he is denied entry.
16.abide by the decision of the
On Arrival Visa Scrutiny and
Issuing Team.
17.apply for Visa On Arrival
at Airport Immigration Section obtaining the applicatin
form either from the airlines
in Myanmar or the following
website:www.mip.gov.mm
of the Ministry of Immigration and Population.
Myanmar Visa On Arrival
Type of Visa, Fees and Duration
Types of Visa
BUSINESS VISA
ENTRY VISA
(Metting/ Workshop/ Events)
TRANSIT VISA
Fees
US$ 50
US$ 40
Duration
70 days
28 days
US$ 20
24 hours
Starting International Airport
Yangon International Airport
Permitted list of countries (26 countries)
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Denmark, France,
Germany, India, italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States of
America.
87
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Passenger Sales Agents
Asian Trails Ltd.
Caravan Travels & Tours
Exotic Myanmar Travels & Tours
No. 73, Pyay Road, Dagon Township,
No. 14, Min Tae Street, Junction of Ngapali
Building 255, Room No-1502, 15th Floor,
Yangon, Myanmar.
Ngapali, Thandwe, Myanmar.
Olympic Tower, Bo Aung Kyaw Street,
Tel: +95.1 211 212, 223 262, 211 622
Tel : +43 42404
Kyauktada Township, Yangon,
Fax: +95.1 211670
Fax: +43 42308
Myanmar.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +95.1 386 539, 392 886
Website: www.myanmar-travel.com
www.asiantrails.info
[email protected]
Columbus Travels & Tours
No. 586, Strand Road, Corner of 7th Street
Website: www.myanmarvisaservice.com
www.exoticmyanmar.com
Adventure Myanmar Tours &
Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Incentives
Tel: +95.1 229 245, 216 245(Hunt Line)
No. 27, Inya Myaing Road, Bahan
Fax: +95.1 222 790, 229 246
Gulf Travel & Tour
Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
No. 69, Sulae Pagoda Road, Near Central
Tel: +95.1 502 901 to 5, 505 103
Website: www.travelmyanmar.com
Point Tower, Kyauktada Township,
Yangon, Myanmar.
Fax: +95.1 502 906, 502 907
Diethelm Travel Myanmar
Tel: +95.1 383 468, 249 187, 374 316
http://www.adventuremyanmar.com
412, Merchant Street (Corner of 45th Street)
Fax: +95.1 374 316, 386 687
Botathaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
All Asia Exclusive Travel Co.Ltd
Tel: +95.1 373 937, 376 801-4
No. 232 , Gant Ga Myaing Street 2
Mobile : +95.9 8610 457 - 60
23 rd Quarter, Thuwunna, Yangon, Myanmar.
Fax +(95 1) 373 940, 376 805
Tel / Fax : +95.1 571 393, 569 658
Emails: [email protected]
[email protected]
Website: www.gulftravelsmyanmar.com
Indochina Services Travel Ltd
No 11 (A), Maharmyaing Street,
[email protected]
Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Website: www.allasiaexclusive.asia
Website: www.diethelmtravel.com
Asia Holidays
EPG Travel Co., Ltd.
Fax: +95.1 504 917
No. 100A, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road,
No. 15, 6th floor, Nawaday Street
Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Dagon Township , Yangon , Myanmar
Website: www.icstravelgroup.com
Tel: +95.1 554468
Tel +95.1 371 935-6, 255 723-5
Fax: +95.1 554468
Fax:+95.1 371 935-6, 255 723-5 press
Mandalay Holidays
Ext: 21
Travels & Tours
Room #14, Sule Centre Point Tower, No.
Website: www.phoenixvoyages.com
Website: www.epgtravel.com
65, Sule Pagoda Road,
Ayarwaddy Legend Travels & Tours
Exotissimo Travel Co., Ltd.
Tel +95.1 377 332, 377 333
Co.,Ltd
12th Floor, MMB Tower, No. 166, Upper
Fax:+95.1 377 303
No.104, 37th Street, Lower Block,
Pansodan Street, Mingalar Taung Nyunt
Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (+95.1) 252007~8, 250909, 398303~4,
Tel: +95-1 377 801-8, 377 811, 383 181,
Tel: +95.1 511 701, 511 658, 523 167
[email protected]
Kyauktadar Township ,Yangon, Myanmar.
4411484
383 182
Fax: (+95.1) 252007
Fax: +95-1 377 810
[email protected]
Website: www.ayarwaddylegend.com
[email protected]
Website: traveltrade.exotissimo.com
www.exofoundation.com
[email protected]
Website: www.mandalayholidays.com, www.roadtomyanmar.com
May Flower
Travels & Tours Co., Ltd
No.240, Pansodan Road (Upper Block)
Kyautada Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Bandoola Tours & Travels Ltd.
Tel: +95.1 377 495 ~ 499
No. 1st Fl., 77, Shwebonthar Street,
Mobile: +95.9 730 87999, 730 97888
Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Fax: +95-1 250 177
Tel: +95.1 245207, 245 327
Fax: +95.1 248 174
Website: www.mayflower-travels.com
[email protected]
88
Passenger Sales Agents
Mya Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.
Odyssey Travels & Tours
Shan Yoma Travels & Tours Co., Ltd
No. 453, Mahabandoola Road, (Corner of
No 221 / 223 ( Ground Floor ), Bo Aung
No. 124/126, 50th Street
32nd Street),
Kyaw Street ,
Pazundaung Township
Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Kyaut Tada Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95.1 295 510, 204 152
Tel +95.1 384 299, 371 668, 254 463
Tel: +95.1 240 545 , 373 199,
Fax: +95.1 299 389
Mobile: +95.9 500 4626
Mobile: +95.9 731 87799,731 97799,
Fax:+95.1 254 463
Fax: +95.1 240 545
[email protected]
Website: www.exploremyanmar.com
Website: www.odysseymyanmar.com
Seven Diamond
Myanmar Polestar Travels & Tours
Rm No.508, 5th Fl, La Pyayt Wun Plaza,
Oake Khaung
Express Travels Co., Ltd.
No-37 Alanpya Pagoda Road, Dagon
Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.
No. 93, Thein Phyu Road (Lower Block),
No.W-1, Gyo Phyu Street, West Aung
Botahtaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95.1 382 530, 255 638, 393 190
San Stadium,
Tel: +95.1 203 398, 392 974, 392 975,
Fax: +95.1 382 530
Mingalartaungnyunt
392 976
Fax: +95.1 203 549
Tel: +95.1 255 933, 255 944, 383 968, 252
[email protected]
Website: www.myanmarpolestar.com
953, 707 093
Fax: +95.1 383 968
Myanmar Travels &Tours
[email protected]
Website: www.sevendiamondtravel.com
www.myanmartravelinformation.com
No 118 , Mahabandoola Garden Street,
Kyauktadar Township , Yangon , Myanmar.
Peace and Forever Travel & Tours
Sun Far Travel Co., Ltd.
Tel: +95.1 371 286 , 374 281
No.83, 2nd Floor, Dhammazedi Road,
No.25,27, 29, 31 Ground Floor, 38th Street,
Fax: +95.1 254 417
Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel/Fax: +95.1 523063, 539524
Tel: +95.1 243 992-3, 380 888
Email: [email protected], infor.
Fax: +95.1 254 599, 246 318
[email protected]
Website: www.experiencemyanmar.com
Website: www.sunfartravel.com
No 104, Ground Floor, Bogalay Zay Street
Pale Eikari Travels & Tours
Sun Flower
Botahtaung Township, Yangon , Myanmar
Mi Thar Su Stores, No. 131, Zay Taung
Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.
Tel: +95.1 392 239 , 392 272 , 296 722
Phet Street, Zayit Block, Dawei, Myanmar.
Room 102, Building D-1, Delta Plaza,
Fax: +95.1 398 524, 373 912
Tel: +95.59 21282, 22082, 22282
Shwegondaing Road, Bahan Township,
Mobile : +95 9 512 2540 , 09 519 5502
Mobile : +95.9 8740 400
Yangon, Myanmar.
Fax: +95.59 21182
Tel : +95.1 559511
Website: www.naturedream-travel.com
Mobile :+95.9 500 3544
Nice Fare Travel Co., Ltd
Road to Mandalay
No.5, Ground Floor, Aung San Stadium,
Myanmar Hotels & Cruises Limited
Near City Mart, Joephyu Road,
39-C Taw Win Road, The Governor's
U Ta - 102, U Oak Ta Ma Road , Kyaung
Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp., Yangon,
Residence, Dagon Township, Yangon,
Tat Lan
Myanmar.
Myanmar.
Sittwe . Myanmar.
Tel: +95.1 393 049, 374 922, 374 933, 245
Tel: +95.1 217 361, 229 864
Tel: +95.43 21638 ,24089,
378, 393 077
Fax: +95.1 217 361
Mobile : +95.9 568 0606, 510 1194
Fax: +95.1 393 048
[email protected]
Nature Dream
Travels & Tour Co., Ltd.
Vesali Co.Ltd
www.roadtomandalay.net
Website: www.nicefare.net
89
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Useful Numbers
Emergency
Airlines
Police199
Air Mandalay(6T)
501520,525488 (Fax: 525937)
Police Headquarter, Yangon
Air Asia
252885, 251886
Fire191/192
Aeroflot
294006 (Fax: 245092)
Ambulance (Red Cross, Yangon)
295133
Air China (CA) 500054 (Fax: 505023
Yangon General Hospital (Emergency)
682368/683225
Air France (AF)
255430 (Fax: 255303)
Traffic Investigation
286863-4/256112-31
All Nippon Airways (NH)
255412
Customs
201779
Asiana Airlines (OS) 371382 (Fax: 549872)
Immigration
2864/651113
Bangkok Airways (PG)
(02) 2670873)
Biman Bangaldesh (BG)
240922/242997
China Airlines (0)
245484 (Fax: 246330)
282541/284764
Information
Tourist Information
282075
China Southern Airlines
256355 Ext: 3555
Tourist Information (Airport)
662652
Druk Airlines (KB)
524904 (Fax: 525948)
Ministry of Hotels & Tourism
254098/282075
Eva Airways (BR) 298001 (Fax: 296272)
Indian Airlines (IC)
253598 (Fax: 248175)
Japan JAL Airlines (JL)
243030 Ext: 101
Embassies
Australia
251809(Fax: 246159)
Korean Air (KE)
667410 (Fax: 662355)
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
526144(Fax: 515273)
Mandarin Airlines (AE)
245484 (Fax: 246330)
Brunei Darussalam
526985(Fax: 512854)
Malaysia Airlines (MH)
241007 Ext: 703/704
Cambodia
549609(Fax: 541462)
Myanmar Airways Int’l(8M)
255260 (Fax: 255305)
People’s Republic of China
221280-81 (Fax: 227019)
Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)
243024
Arab Republic of Egypt
222886 (Fax: 222865)
Silk Air (MI) 1 Singapore Airlines (SQ) 255287-289 (Fax: 255290)
France
212523 (Fax: 212527)
Thai Airways International (TG)
255499 Fax: 255490
Arab Republic of Germany
548951 (Fax: 548899)
Vietnam Airline
255066, 255088
Republic of Indonesia
254465 (Fax: 254468) India
243~72 (Fax: 388414)
Israel
515115 (Fax: 512116)
Italy
527100 (Fax: 514565)
Japan
549644-8 (Fax: 549643)
Republic of Korea
527142-44 (Fax: 513286)
Laos People’s Democratic Republic
222482 (Fax: 227446)
Malaysia
220248 (Fax: 221840)
Royal Nepalese
545880 (Fax: 549803)
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
222881 (Fax: 221147)
Philippines
558149-151(Fax: 558154)
Republic of Singapore
559001 (Fax: 559921)
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 222812 (Fax: 221509)
Russian Federation
241955 (Fax: 241953)
Royal Thai
226721 (Fax: 221713)
United Kingdom
256438 (Fax: 380321)
United States of America
536509 (Fax: 650306)
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
548905 (Fax: 945302)
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
536655
Railway
Enquires
274024/274027
Dagon-Mandalay249024
Malikha-Mandalay
(02) 21385
Ngo
Acted
500171
Association Francois-Xavier
536559, 504610
Bagnoud (AFXB)
Aide Medicale International (AMI)
525246; 526487, 535861
Japaness Organization for Intl Cooperation 378863, 380899, 388097,
In Family Planning (JOICEFP)
394141 Ext: 105
Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association (MANA) 502893, 502892
Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS)
392028, 09 8553292
Marie Slops International (MSI)
544423, 705657, 4412409
Population Services International (PSI)
375880, 375855-6, 375878
Relief International (RI)
662965
Save the Children Myanmar (SC)
375791, 375801, 375739
Highway Bus
Directories
Enquiry
100
Booking (inland)
101
Booking (Overseas)
131/667444/657555
Complaint
102
Cellular, enquiry & complaints
282788/665942/282788
Telegraphs, enquiry & complaints
273579
Telex (international) booking
274195
Telex complaints
280431
90
Elite
Location
09 73553553, 73074539
Man Shwe Pyi
254483~4
Shwe Zin Sett Kyar
637212, 0973105000
Myat Mandalar Tun
09 2050915~6
New Mandalar Tun
385096
Shwe Mandalar
701615, 09 73017781
Shwe
249672, 381472
Thet Lan
393045, 255557

festival THINGYAN

Transcription

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