Three Myanmar fellows who live with me are countrymen. Moreover, the classmate is a foreigner. Therefore, I have a slim chance to meet a Myanmar guy who is very smart and fashionable. The place where I live before was China Town. Although I could see girls in mini-skirts, they all are Chinese blooded. The actors in Myanmar movies of about ten years ago wore long hair like those of Japan about 30 years ago. I wrote before that I could see youths who dyed the hair. A young boy who lives upstairs of boiled-rice shop in 20th Street where I often go has dyed both his hair and eyebrows. Is he a Chinese too? I was surprise to see the boy with a pale face who doesn't look very healthy for the first time.

I have to frequent places where I can see fashionable people to collect reports for Yangon Diary. I (Kimura) will give the most popular shopping malls ranks. The most popular among local people and foreign visitors is Bogyoke Market. There are many shops in the markets. To have a close look, there are cosmetic shops, beauty salons (many gays but they are famous) and fashion boutiques in rows. But, the fact that the market closes on Monday is a defect. I think it close at 5 pm.

Although there are a lot of fashion things in Blazon Shopping Centre that recently appeared in TV commercials, there are not special shops that sell things only at this place. These things can be bought in other places. Moreover the location is not very good. Parking lot is not very wide, I think.

Yankin Centre that was recently popular with brilliant fashions is located in Yankin. To compare it with Blazon, the place is wide, a little expensive but there are many private shops. You may forget that the place is in Myanmar when you see the design of Cafe Aroma at the entrance. The City Mart is in the basement. The other day, I bought crystal glasses and fashionable cups from the mart for the party to mark my move to this new house. It cost 480 K each. Although it was a bit expensive, nothing was different from that of Japan. I also saw big apples there. Moreover parking lot is rather wide. I think target shoppers are well-to-do people.

Tamwe Plaza located in Tamwe where I live closed at the end of last year. It was said to be changed to a hospital. There are market businesses in the township. The first in Mingalar Market. It is always crowded with women. Mingalamon Market is by Mingalar Market. New Mingalar Market under construction is behind Mingalar Market. If shops are opened the three markets, the place will seem to be the biggest shopping center in Yangon. About 300 metre to the North East of Mingalar Market, there is Yuzana Plaza. I think it is the most popular among youths in Yangon. Although there are not many fashionable things like Blazon Shopping center and Yankin Centre. Good fact of the place that there is a carpark near the building. I you ask me, I want to recommend this urban shopping mall. There are a lot of private shops. The youths we can see there are the most fashionable in Yangon.

Is it a sorrowful thing that traditional clothes die out? Some boys don't put on Longgyi, I can't say for sure that is because of era. Some think putting on Longgyi is out-of-date. Once, I went to the house of female manager of a hotel to ask about her health after her delivery. Myanmar people show photo album taken at a wedding reception. The manager followed this tradition. The lucky woman got a degree in four years. Majority of the students graduated two to three years late because universities closed on and off. The school didn't close when she was a university student. In a group photo, all male students were in trousers among the persons. Was it taken in 1995?

It was the occasion of Visit Myanmar Year 1996 when I first came to Myanmar. As soon as I arrived at Mingalardon Airport, I saw operation staff in their Longgyi. The men going around downtown were also in their Longgyi. There is no country like Myanmar in which people wear traditional clothes in South East Asia.

In Thailand or Bali, they put on traditional clothes at the places where visitors frequent. But they generally wear shirts and trousers. Longgyi plays important role in Yangon. Myanmar people put on Longgyi no matter they are at work or home. For this reason, I think the students in their trousers dressed like this for a special occasion. The reason why Longgyi has died out is, it is suitable for the weather in this country. It can be put on short or long. One can play cane-ball in it. Labourers wipe sweat with the end of their Longgyis. Longgyi is comfortable and cool to wear. And no need to choose sizes. One can put on for his convenience. Although I haven't recorded detail, more young men can be seen in their trousers in downtown. One can't tell a Myanmar apart if he is in the group of Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian. Anyway, I would like them to put on Longgyi from now on. I would like slim but handsome Myanmar people going around the city undfer the blazing sun to put on Longgyi as they always do.