30/4/2001
Ordination ceremony of father of my friend was taken place in Mingaladon. There was a nat dance (dance of Impersonators) at a near by house. There were a lot of gays called "Nat Ka Daw"(Spiritualistic medium). The dance usually lasts for about three days. Belief in Buddhism and Nat (Spirits) is not specific like pagodas and temple for spirits in Japan. In the pagoda precinct there are also statues of guardian spirits.

27/4/2001
You can see the signboard "Vet Clinic". It is a veterinary clinic. I took my dog that I brought >from Japan th the clinic or vaccination. The dog is very much like a Myanmar dog. While I was about it, I bought a shampoo that can eliminate bacteria.

26/4/2001
Japanese Film Festival started on 24th at Thamada Movie Theatre. On 24th Gamera, on 25th Village of Dreams, on 26th Samurai Fiction on 27th Sumo do Sumo don't, on 28th Adrenaline Drive. I went to Japanese Embassy to collect free-tickets on 23rd April. I managed to get two tickets for there were many people. I will be able to see Japanese film that I have not seen for a long time.

25/4/2001
This is called 'At Pan'. 'At' means needle, 'Pan' means flower. Although I came across this orange colour, it is said there are some other colours.

24/4/2001
This beautiful flower is called Gangaw Pan (flower of the Ceylon iron wood). It has yellow stamen among white petals. They bloom in hot weather like this. They can be used as an ornament. Yellow stamen is believed to make the skin smooth when it is applied with Thanaka. As a matter of fact, it is sold as a cosmetics.

23/4/2001
I stopped walking to have a look at this garishly coloured house. When I was making my camera ready to take photo, about four of five dogs ran towards me and I had to run out of there. ( A friend of mine was said to be bitten by a dogs and to be undergone medical treatment for about 2 weeks. I took a photo when the dogs were not around. This shabby house ( I might be a bit rude to say so!) is said to be a Karaoke Lounge.

20/4/2001
What are these brown juice and thin roots in the plastic sachet? Are these vegetables? I thought these were pickled vegetables. But they are traditional shampoo. A lovely actress, Khaing Thin Kyi often said that she used these kinds of shampoo. She must be joking. It is used as shampoo. Then, pour water on it.

19/4/2001
If you go along the Inya Road to the north from　downtown, you will get to boat club at the back of Yangon University. The students were practising at the Yangon University boat club. In quiet and beautiful environment, there are Shwe Inya Restaurant, beauty salon and etc.

18/4/2001
Because there is electricity black-out right in the middle of hot weather in Yangon, I can't use fridge. I tried making preserved vegetables. And I also tried a method of making instant pickled vegetable that was taught by the owner of Nyaung Prince restaurant, Mr. Miura. (Instant pickled vegetable is made by putting salt and pieces of bread in beer.) This food is very suitable with the condition of this region and it can be made within two or three hours.
Right: White vegetable and thin sticks of carrot that are eaten with beer. The rest are vegetables fermented with rice bran and salt.

12/4/2001
How hot the weather is ! These have been successive extremely hot days on which the temperature is over 35.6. Although, the sun has set in the evening, it has not become cool yet. During this period, Myanmar New Year Festival (Water Festival) will be celebrated from 13 to 17 April. The festival may bring us some coolness.

11/4/2001
This yellow flower is chrysanthemum. It is called "Gandama Pan" in Myanmar. The white lily flower is like Japanese flower. I came across some in the market. Both of the flowers last long. They can be seen at the market all the year round.

10/4/2001
I moved to new apartment in Tamwe on 18 March. Majority of people are immigrants from Bangladesh. I often come across fine buildings. In every house, screen made of iron are installed at doors and windows. I took a photograph of one that design is good. Moreover mosquito screen is installed. Therefore,it has three doors.

9/4/2001
There are about twenty shops that sell plants in Kandawgyi Park in front of Japanese Embassy on Natmauk Road. Foliage plants, orchids, flower plants in pots are being sold there. These shops are very popular among towns people. Yangon is a city which has plenty of trees. The shops were crwoded with tree lovers.

6/4/2001
There are about four or five antique shops near Sedona Hotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road. Although I looked for colonial age furniture, they were not genuine antique. There were earthen ware from Shin dynasty, things that Japanese army used and Myanmar handicraft. It seems to take a long time to find things unearthed and need man power. There are also four or five antique shops on Damasedi Road near Savoy Hotel.

5/4/2001
The lovely girl has applied Thanakha on the whole face. Thanakha is natural make-up from a tree. It can protect from sun-burn and the skin feels cool when it is applied on the skin. Majority of girls apply Thanakha on body, hands and legs. Youths who like style apply spots on their face.

Photo by Goto Osami

4/4/2001
A carpet shop was opened near Furusato Restaurant recently. I thought how it was used such a hot country like this. But, interest things may not be the same in any country. They are laid on the mosque. Opening of such shops at a far place from downtown is the same in any country

3/4/2001
Pork chips shops can be said the best among road-side-shop in Myanmar. Small thin bamboo sticks are put into the porkchips. The meat including tripe looks delicious. Young girls frequent these shops. But I have never tried the meat for I don't like meat.

2/4/2001
Although, this news was a bit late, matriculation exam finished on 19 March. Number of students seemed to be more than previous years for the education system will be changed next year. The result will come out in July. This photo is taken infront of a school where exams are held. The family seemed to be waiting for their students worriedly. They continuously waited for five days infront of the school