We, the newly wed couple at April Last year, live together only two in Yangon. To spend our holiday times, we often go to see the movies. As the places for the recreation are very rare in Yangon, many Myanmar citizens also go to see the movies. It may be because of their desire to see the movie and so also it may be their wishes to sit in coolness of the air conditioned in cinema hall. Besides this, another cause may be getting chance of the couples to pet each other in the darkness, no need to care other people. Like another countries, perhaps, they slip away from their works and go to cinemas for the relax. The man from my company might be like that one.

The movies those are usually showed are the Myanmar, American, Chinese and Indian pictures. Sometimes the new pictures are also shown. Last week the American movie "Mummy" was shown and my wife and I went to see that movie. Though I did not know when this picture had been shown in Japan, the shootings of that film were very good. I want to reveal you my experience when I went that pictures.

As the famous movie halls advertise their movies in the newspapers, I read it first before I go there. There are about ten movie hells in Yangon. Perhaps, one movie film is showed in all the famous cinema hall with the same copies. The cinema hall that we go is "Nay Pyi Daw" which is face to face with the Trader's hotel.

The fares for the movie are fixed according to the seats through row by row. The seats of the first to third rows are 100 kyats each and the next row to the fifth are 150 kyats, the seats of next coming rows are 200 kyats. The seats each sides of the upper floor are 250 kyats each and the seats of the middle rows are 300 kyats. The last row of the upper floor is special row and you must pay 400 kyats for one of this seats. Though the fare is too much, the seats are not good enough. Each two seats are attached and these seats are a little far away from the other seats. These seats are separated from the other seats with the wooden partitions. As there seats are the last row, it is not easy to see the couples on these seats are made purposely for the wealthy couples only.

Though you might say it is a bad habit, it is interesting to peep these couples. As they do not take notice that we are looking them, they pet each other. Some couples become rash and kiss each other. Sometime it can be rarely seen two men come in to the cinema hall holding hand in hand. It may be food for thought.

There are many ticket black marketers when the show is crowded. Normally they get 50 kyats profit for one ticket.

The showing times are 10 o'clock, 12:30, 15:30, 18:40 and 21:30. We go there on the 3rd of February 2000. As soon as we enter the hall, a staff with an electric torch shows us the seats. As the renovation of the cinema hall is finished recently, inside of the hall is clean and neat. And it has an air-conditional.

In Japan and United states, the audience takes the popcorn, when they sit the seat till the film starts to show, but in Myanmar the audience chews the sunflower seeds as a smack. They throw down the seed coat garbage under their seats. When the movie is over the whole floor is littered with the sunflower seed coats.

When the film starts, the lights are slowly turned off and I think the movie starts to show. But all the people stand up to pay respect to their national song. They stand just for a little while and sit down again. They do not wait till the song ends.

After the national song, the advertisement slides of the businesses appear on the screen. And then, it is sure to appear the trailers of coming movie films. The advertising show takes a long time just on the film introduction.

When the advertising show is finished, the main film starts. Though the film has been started the new comers are still entering into the hall and perhaps they have no feeling of delicacy for their disturbance. So also some of the audience are still eating their snacks, making a lot of noises.

When the film shows, there is no captions on the screen. The Chinese and Indian movies also have no caption. The Laughable plots by the dialogues in the film get no response but only a small group laugh. I am not the member of this laughing group. Though the dialogues are not being understood, if the scene is laughable by the actions, all the people laugh at. Therefore perhaps they mainly show the action movie which is easy to understand by the movements, no need to understand the dialogues. It is the same condition for the Video Renting Shops.

When the film ends all the people get up and return their home. As soon as the story of the film ends they stand up and rush out of the hall. On the screen, the lines of words about the actors, director and the staffs of the other sectors are still showing and nobody waits to see it. So it is not shown till it finishes. The swiftness of there people is amazing. I have been many times to the rock concert in Yangon. When the last vocalist or pop star was singing, many people were leaving from the show. When the song ended there was not half of the audience in the show. The pop star might feel sorry. So also there was no request to sing again.

It is not a strange thing that the audience returns home as soon as the story of the film ends. If you have an opportunity, please, do come to Yangon and see the movie. Let me invite you all.