28/02/2002
If shoots of gaint bamboo are cut into suitable sizes and salted for about three months, they can be eaten as fermented bamboo shoots. Myanmar people like the bamboo shoot curry cooked with chicken, pork or fish very much. The fermented shoot produced from Pyinmana is the most famous. It costs K 150 a packet.

27/02/2002
Many peddlers go around the city from early in the morning to evening. There used to be boiled pea peddlers and others in Japan. Now, they cannot be found. But here in Yangon, we can still see many peddlers. The earliest one is boiled pea peddler. Boiled pea is sold together with steamed sticky rice. This woman sold just boiled pea. When I suddenly took a photograph of her, she smiled at me. Friendliness is a thing necessary for sales person. Most of pea had already been sold out. May be, that is why she was in good mood. (k.k)

26/02/2002
This is famous World Buddhist Vipasana Centre in North Okkalapa. Foreign Language Courses on English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French, Italian, Russian and so on are conducted here at the monthly fee of K100 per head. Most students take English and Japanese. The students come here most on weekends. The class which Ihas taken responsibility will be a year soon. I am teaching 40 to 60 students who are studying aiming at level-2 of Japanese language proficiency examination. They are really interested in lessons and are really intelligent. I have to learn a lot of Myanmar language from them. (k.k)

25/02/2002
It is made in Dawei, located in Southern part of Myanmar. I came across the snack in front of Bogyoke Aung San Market and bought some because I like sweet snacks. Strange small beans are stuffed in it. It costs K100 for three pieces. I think it is the only place where the snacks are available because I have never seen the snacks selling in other places.(k.k)

22/02/2002
Chin National Day was held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall of Yangon University on 20th February. Chin traditional dances and Chin traditional costume fashion show were presented. The ceremony lasted from noon to 5 pm.

21/02/2002
Fish is crushed and fermented. It is a little like fish paste. But, fish paste can be eaten with rice. Fermented fish can be eaten after mixing it with onion and oil.

20/02/2002
This is the bus which has been running since 1930 (colonial period). It is still moving as a means of transportation of Myanmar for over seventy years. There are various kinds of buses and they are private-run. The floor this bus was made of wood and there were many holes on it. If small ornament jewellery of a woman falls through a hole and she is unlucky enough, it is impossible to get it back. Moreover, I who is 170 cm tall have to stand with my head a bit lower on the bus because ceiling is rather low. Ofcourse there are some seats, you can hardly get a seat if you are not lucky enough. Some buses have back entrance which a lot of men ride the bus clinging. There are buses oith about 300 passengers on it, trucks and buses made in Japan in downtown Yangon. Before you try to remember confusing number of buses so that you can go round the city freely using buses, you will need to make yout body strong and your mind hard. Or you will find it difficult to take a bus. (k.k)

19/02/2002
Most tourist destinations in Myanmar are pagodas. No matter it is in Inlay Lake or in Kyaikhtiyoe, there are scenic views. Their target places are pagodas. Recently, many pagodas were under construction. Apart from Lawkachantha Abhaya Laba Muni (Marble image) which has appeared in the section, the largest reclining Buddha image is under construction in Kyaikthalun village 30 minutes' drive to south from Mawlamyaing. The face of the image is almost finished. And finishing touches are being given to it. Although, thigh is not finished, one can go into the body of the image. There are four parts__ planes of existence of hell, human, (nats) spirits and celestial beings in the image. Any way, on completion of the image, it will become the biggest reclining image without a doubt. (k.k)

18/02/2002
Gradually, the cold season has ended. Then, it has become hot suddenly. Although, it is cold in the afternoon and at night, temperature rises in the afternoon. So, there are some people who have become ill during the change of weather. I also have a bad cold. I saw old seaves falling from the tree when I went for a walk with my dog. The new leaves have started to come out. Heaps of fallen leaves were cleaned last week. Then, the leaves had because a heap again under the roof of the teashop in two or three days. While I was feeling pleased with fallen leaves in the season that can be said autumn of Myanmar. The leaves made me upset at on sitting. (k.k)

15/02/2002
Trishaws are important means of transportation in downtown Yangon. This photograph was taken near Pazudaung Market while trishaw-men were waiting for passengers under a shady tree. House wives use trishaws to go nearby places after buying a lot of consumer goods and tolietries. They put goods at the back seat and it costs about 50 kyats to go a nearby place. There are restricted areas for trishaws in downtown area where traffic is very heavy. But, the trishaw-men have to send passengers by turns after waiting for a moment. But,they can send their regular customers without waiting for their turns. If one has so many regular passengers, he can earn more. (k.k)

14/02/2002
Bulletins of prediction for Myanmar New Year which falls in April are available at the moment. It contains horoscope for each person for forthcoming year and prediction about country. The (Thingyansar) predictions are peddled on ships and buses. It costs 50 kyats a copy.

13/02/2002
It is said that one will become rich if he or she visits Kyaik Hti Yoe(Golden Rock Pagoda) in three consecutive years. It is the fourth for me including this trip. We could climb up to the peak as I wished. I saw figs and dragonflies there for the first. We also saw the things that could not be found in Yangon. I saw a cute cub (a young bear) at a shop at the bottom of the mountain. I don't know it was being sold or kept. The cub is of a species which does not grow much.(k.k)

11/02/2002
Myanmar traditional boxing matches was held at Thuwunna Stadium. Ninety-nine percent of spectators were men. This was the fourth time for me to watch boxing matches. But, I was not lucky enough to have a chance to see matches of champion Wan Chai the previous matches. This time I saw strong Wan Chai. He was an attractive man with fair complexion. His body was strong and healthy. As the match started, he gave his opponent fierce blows. On his face was blood. The face of defending champion was like that of an ogre in red. It was fearful with the wounds near his eyes. He couldn't return any punch and blow to Wan Chai. The match ended with a draw. And it was Wan Chai's match. The fans gave Wan Chai a big applause. He was a hero of Myanmar.(k.k)

8/02/2002
This tree has borne a big jack fruit. It cannot be seen in downtown very much. Isaw it in the University of Foreign Languages in Yangon. About ten small fruits have borne on the stem of the big one. It is a delicious fruit. (k.k)

7/02/2002
There is a card-phone at the University of Foreign Languages. But, it can't be used because it broke about two years ago. I bought five cards at 200 K each. But, I couldn't find the machine to use the cards. I came across the card-phone in the general post office unexpectedly. There are not much road-side card-phones which are very convenient to use. So, I did not happen to use them. There are hardly any phones that can be used with coins that came into circulation two years ago. In there anyone who use the phones? Why are coins that are hardly in use still being made again? These are puzzles. (k.k)

6/02/2002
I took a friend Things for decoration and snacks for New Year celebration are being sold in China Town. Kayin New Year was celebrated in mid-January. There was stage performance of songs and dances of Kayin nationals in the pagoda near Swabwagyigon. The ceremony was crowded with people in Kayin nation costume. This is old Kayin national costume. In the ceremony, costumes, historical and cultural things of Kayin people were exhibited. (k.k)

China Town

Kayin New Year

5/02/2002
I took a friend of mine from Japan who wanted to have a look at Myanmar traditional musical instruments to U Kyaw Paw and Daw Ha Ma Family musical instrument sales center. They specially make drums. There are also metal instruments like gongs, flutes and soon. They receive orders from Shan State and countryside. Such instruments have gradually lost popularity in Yangon. I saw hides of cow, buffalo and goat being dried in the sun there. An interesting fact is that they sell irons although the shop is a musical instrument sales center. Sculpture shops at Shwedagon Pagoda also sell irons. The material used to make the irons are same. It is convenient to use the irons at the wards that have no electricity and have a lot of electricity blackout because the users have to use charcoal. (k.k)

4/02/2002
Recently, graduation ceremony universities were held. A staff of our company graduated from the university. Graduation ceremony was held one day after rehearsal. The ceremony was held two different group a day. The morning section was held from 9:00 a.m to 12:00 and the afternoon section was held 2:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. Resehearsal was held on 31.1.2002 and graduation ceremony was held on 2.2.2002.

2/02/2002
This is necklace of Chin woman. Canines from deers threaded in a necklace. These necklaces are put on at wedding receptions.

1/02/2002
Myanmar Art Exhibition is displayed from January 20th to February 2nd in Tatmadaw Hall.Myanmar art such as sculpture and a picture is displayed. A self-portrait is available with 200 kyats.