There are some beer pubs called beer gardens in Yangon. Some have changed their names in three months. Businesses of some were not in good shape and management of some has changed and went to other owners’ hand. I have no idea of exact number of the shops. I think there are about 20 famous shops in town. I will focus on big beer gardens with show stages. The pub I run is included in the category of beer garden. There is no stage in my shop. We have neither singers nor accountants. The waiters have to take care of accounting.

Shows start at about 8 o’clock in the evening. Some 15 or 16 vocalists sing with the accompaniment of organ. Out of them, about two or three are good singers. Not-so-beautiful singers with no good voice do not go with a lot of garlands they are presented. I often feel disappointed with this. Garland is called Pan Gon in Myanmar language. It costs from K 1,000 and K2,000. There are other types of garlands such as, crowns. Among them, the most expensive garland is the one made of fake flowers, which is priced K5,000. Food and beer at the beer gardens and draught beer pubs are generally inexpensive. The brands of draught beer are Myanmar, Madalay, Dagon. Out of them, Myanmar Beer is the most popular. The advertising campaign of the beer is that they have been awarded prizes for two or three times in international beer contests and their beer tastes the best.

Let me go back to the show stages in the pubs, customers presented different garlands to the singers they like. Some give them going up to the stage and some give them through a waiter. Garlands cost more than the food they have.

If a singer receives a K2000 worth garland, 60 per cent is extracted by the shop and the remaining 40 per cent is her earning. Daily income of singer who receives a lot of garlands ranges from K30, 000 to K40, 000. Song programmes of the vocalists starts at eight o’clock. In some shops, there are special model show programmes on Saturdays. Models include those you might think very strange. On seeing beauty of some, your heart might leap into your mouth. Five to seven models go up the stage at the time and the stage is crowed with the customers who present garlands to them.

The happiest hour is when all the singers sing a high tempo song on the stage. At this very moment, those who get garlands are quite different from who don’t. This can also be seen in Bangkok in Thailand. If the one out of ten singers don’t get the garlands, it will be difficult for her to say she is doing well.

Although there is no reason for relation between the stage and visitors to the shop, because of nature of male and female the visitors send the garland to the singers they like. With the help of waiters, they send their visiting cards and hand phone numbers. Then, romantic love begins. The shop owners do not want the singers to contact the customers. On the other hand, they want the customers to come. This is the main problem. When you visit a shop after some months, you may not find the girl who you vote No 1. You may see her at another shop or in the Land Cruiser together with an elderly man at wheel. This is the same with Japan.

A student who I gave some help used to work at a restaurant by the name of "Day and Night". He would let me know the day when famous model and singers came. He reserved me a place near the stage on the day when Ya Min Ko Ko, a famous model and actress was to come to the restaurant. But, the girl didn't come and six models entertained the customers. There were two top class models about 170 cm tall. But I felt disappointed because the different model came out. Another was the model who appeared in the well organized model shows. In my opinion she was the number one on the catwalk and walking style is also very beautiful. Other models are not very good ones. The one with square face was rather ugly and she was still short although she was wearing a pair of high heels. But, she had most of the garlands presented by the customers. The garlands can make the girl profitable. They are also important for the shop because the garlands do not need much investment. The most beautiful model had to dance in competition with another tall model. Although she was dancing shaking her beautiful thighs, she did not have any garland. I intended to watch the show quietly at first. I sent eight garlands to her to change this situation. I sent them through a waiter because I was not courageous enough to go on to the stage. I did not understand Myanmar people's admiration of the girls.

A garland earns the shop K1200 while profit per a glass of draught beer ranges from K20 to K30. For this reason, the fate of a restaurant depends on how many girls who can get a lot of garlands. It is interesting to know the shops make every effort to keep the girls at their shops a long time.

Most of the restaurants I notice have English names. Most of them are located along Pyi Road and taxi drivers know the places very well.

A glass of draught beer—K200, a plate of fried rice—K500 to 800 and a garland—K1,000 to K2,000.

Restaurants

The sea
It may be the shops where customers come most. It is called "Pin Le" in Myanmar. The stage is in the middle. The back style of singers can be watched.

Herricane
There were a lot of customers when I went there. Recently, there were a few people. But, the girls always entertain people. This is the branch of Honey Moon Restaurant in Bogyoke Aung San Park.

Hollywood
One can have food in and out of the restaurant. Those who do not like noisy environment can have food out of it. Singers are beautiful and modern.

Diamond Crown
It has been a long time I last visited there. There used to be beautiful girls in the restaurants. It has opened chain restaurants.

Play Boy
There are a lot of customers. There used to be about 16 signers two years ago. About four or five girls were beautiful then. When I visited after one year, all the girls I know had changed.